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29 ADVANCING HAIR CARE QUOTE NEWS OF THE WEEK Specialty chemical firms make new ingredients to OF THE WEEK 5 BUILDING A BIONIC EAR meet the demands of a growing market. “Science opens Tissue engineering and electronics combine to doors for foreign surpass normal human sound perception. GOVERNMENT & POLICY policy objectives 6 FINDING BREAKTHROUGH THERAPIES 33 CONCENTRATES that aren’t New FDA process might speed drug testing and 34 SCIENTIFIC DIPLOMACY necessarily shut, approval, but details are scarce. U.S. State Department uses more science in but you would 6 FLAME RETARDANT PHASEOUT outreach, policy-making. have to use a Nations that are party to the Stockholm 38 U.S., ACS TAKE JOB SKILLS OVERSEAS crowbar to get Convention agree to ban BOOST initiative brings ACS career development them open.” hexabromocyclododecane. trainers to Malaysia and Indonesia. JONATHAN MARGOLIS, 7 DRUG DELIVERY IN A SNAP ACTING DEPUTY Breakable polymeric chains can incorporate SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANT SECRETARY, medicines for on-demand controlled dosing. 40 CONCENTRATES U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 7 ACCOUNTING FOR POLLUTION 42 TAILOR-MADE NANOSTRUCTURES BUREAU OF OCEANS Activists are suing EPA over claims that the Techniques for creating molecule-sized & INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL agency underestimates toxic air emissions. structures can lead to better catalysts, batteries. & SCIENTIFIC 8 LANGER RECEIVES WOLF PRIZE 45 ELUSIVE DRUG TARGET CRYSTALLIZED AFFAIRS PAGE 34 Celebrated MIT chemical engineer Robert S. X-ray structure allows scientists to propose Langer adds to his list of accolades. mechanism for growth-signaling enzyme mTOR. 8 AWARD FOR INNOVATIVE TOOLS Advances in mass spectrometry net Purdue EDUCATION University’s R. Graham Cooks the 2013 Dreyfus 46 CHEMISTRY FOR RELUCTANT STUDENTS Prize. Innovative lab lessons inspire nonmajors and 9 BIG VINYL VENTURE IN EUROPE their instructors. Solvay and Ineos join forces in polyvinyl chloride venture despite a troubled European marketplace. THE DEPARTMENTS 9 ASTRAZENECA FACILITY REPURPOSED 2 LETTERS 50 MEETINGS Former R&D center in England will become 3 EDITOR’S PAGE 52 CLASSIFIEDS multicompany biotech campus. 48 PEOPLE 56 NEWSCRIPTS

BUSINESS 24 CONCENTRATES COVER: Melissa Hogan’s son Case, who has Hunter 26 TOP 50 U.S. CHEMICAL COMPANIES syndrome, is in an enzyme replacement clinical study. His Financial results for 2012 reflect economic missing enzyme is delivered directly into his cerebrospinal 46 challenges, but rising stock prices are promising. fluid. Lisa Jarvis/C&EN

CENEAR 91 (19) 1–56 • ISSN 0009-2347 LETTERS THIS WEEK ONLINE Going a little further back, it would be nice ATTRIBUTING to revive the mammoths, which seem to Orphan Drug Renaissance UNDUE SIGNIFICANCE have been hunted to extinction. (The last Children with rare diseases have re- known mammoth died in South America ceived scant help from drug companies HAVING RECENTLY BECOME a 50-year around A.D. 600.) Revival of the two ex- that could not profit from small patient populations. Now changes in business member of the American Chemical Society, tinct species of dodo and the Rodrigues models, science, and Food & Drug Ad- I am embarrassed to see that C&EN has solitaire would be desirable, although they ministration regulations have sparked become a propaganda machine attempting would probably have to be kept in zoos; new treatments (see page 10). Online, to brainwash ACS members. Strong claim, their native habitat is now teeming with hear parent advocates describe chil- you say? too many predators for them to survive in dren’s therapies, watch a slide show The cover of the March 25 issue points the wild. Other species would be nice to of young patients, and read about a pharma scientist trying to kick-start to the article about ocean acidification revive, although we might not notice the new research efforts. with the words: “Shellfish die-off threat- difference. Audubon’s bighorn sheep were http://cenm.ag/rare ens Pacific Northwest” (C&EN, March 25, not that different from their Rocky Moun- page 36). The article says: “Over the past tain cousins. Analyzing Fingerprints 250 years, the average upper-ocean pH has However, there are some species we With A Dash Of Turmeric decreased by about 0.1 units, from about would not want to see revived, such as the Turmeric has a long history as a 8.2 to 8.1.” This is the only quantitative passenger pigeon. If we brought it back, we kitchen spice, dye, and tra- data, relative to ocean acidification, in this would probably lose all cereal grain farm- ditional medicine. two-page article. ing east of the Mississippi to vast flocks of Now researchers But 250 years ago an acid was a sub- feathered locusts. Another example is the have cooked stance that tasted sour, and a base was a Antillean giant rice rat, whose name speaks up a new substance that tasted bitter. Fritz Haber for itself. Let sleeping pests lie. use for the gold-colored and Zygmunt Klemensiewicz constructed James M. Castro powder: Its the first glass pH electrode in 1906. So the Helena , Mont. main ingredi- pH scale did not exist before 1909. In 1934 ent, curcumin, Arnold Beckman began marketing his com- could help forensic mercial pH meter, the first manufactured HOW TO REACH US scientists analyze the molecular in the U.S. constituents of fingerprints using mass CHEMICAL & ENGINEERING NEWS spectrometry. The convention taught in chemistry was LETTERS TO THE EDITOR http://cenm.ag/anl91 that the right-most digit of a quantitative ◾ Our e-mail address is [email protected]. SHUTTERSTOCK measurement was uncertain; it could be ◾ Our fax number is (202) 872-8727. ◾ Chemical Safety Roundup at least one or two units greater or lesser. Or you can send your letter to: Therefore, the data cited in the article C&EN Editor-in-Chief C&EN Senior Editor Jyllian Kemsley should not be interpreted as if any change 1155—16th St., N.W. recaps the latest news about chemical Washington, DC 20036 health and safety, including updates on has occurred. ◾ Letters should generally be 400 words or the investigation of the April 17 explo- Relative to a shellfish die-off threatening fewer and should include the writer’s full name, sion at a fertilizer facility in West, Texas. the Pacific Northwest, near the end of the address, and home telephone; letters may The National Council for Occupational article it says: “In recent years, the tribe’s be edited for purposes of clarity and space. Safety & Health released a report on natural resources have been threatened by Because of the heavy volume of mail received preventing workplace fatalities. And oil spills, overharvesting, and illegal poach- at C&EN, writers are limited to one letter in a in Florida, a high school student was six-month period. expelled for combining aluminum foil ers supplying the Asian seafood market.” and toilet bowl cleaner in a water bottle, Maybe it is these three factors, instead of REPRINTS AND PERMISSIONS causing it to explode. ocean acidification, that threaten Pacific ◾ Information on obtaining permission for http://cenm.ag/blg139 Northwest shellfish. copying articles is available at pubs.acs.org/ Jerry L. Krause cen/copyright.html. ◾ Bionic Ear Listens Salem , Ore. For quotes and information on ordering bulk To Beethoven reprints, e-mail [email protected]. Using a three-dimensional print- ADVERTISING er, researchers fabricated a bionic ear THOUGHTS ON DE-EXTINCTION ◾ For advertising rates and our editorial cal- that can detect sounds outside the endar, contact ACS Publications’ Advertising normal range of human hearing (see “REVIVING THE DEAD” brings up some Sales Group, 480 East Swedesford Rd., Suite page 5). In a video, C&EN Senior Editor fascinating possibilities ( C&EN, April 8, 220, Wayne, PA 19087; telephone (610) 964- Celia Arnaud explains how researchers 8061; or fax (610) 964-8071. integrated tissue engineering with elec- page 34). For the moment, let’s avoid any tronics to make the device and demon- “Jurassic Park”-type scenarios and con- ACS INFORMATION strates the ear’s response to the musi- fine ourselves to plant and animal species ◾ For more information about American cal strains of Beethoven’s “Für Elise” that have gone extinct during the past few Chemical Society activities and departments, broadcast through radio frequencies. centuries. call (800) 227-5558. When prompted, ask for http://cenm.ag/ear It would certainly be nice to bring back operator assistance. Or visit the ACS website, www.acs.org. the great auk and the Caribbean monk seal.

CEN.ACS.ORG 2 MAY 13, 2013 CHEMICAL & ENGINEERING NEWS FROM THE EDITOR 1155—16th St., N.W., Washington, DC 20036 (202) 872-4600 or (800) 227-5558 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: A. Maureen Rouhi DEPUTY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Josh Fischman MANAGING EDITOR: Robin M. Giroux EDITOR-AT-LARGE: Rudy M. Baum SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER: Marvel A. Wills Work-Life Balance

NEWS William G. Schulz, Editor Geraldine L. Richmond Celeste M. Rohlfing. BUSINESS This guest editorial is by and Richmond is the Michael McCoy, Assistant Managing Editor Richard M. & Patricia H. Noyes Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oregon and the direc- NORTHEAST: (732) 906-8300 Melody M. Bomgardner (Senior Editor), Lisa M. Jarvis (Senior Editor), Rick Mullin tor of COACh, a grassroots organization working to increase the number and career success of (Senior Editor), Marc S. Reisch (Senior Correspondent), Alexander H. Tullo (Senior Correspondent), Rachel women scientists and engineers. Rohlfing is the deputy assistant director of the Mathematical & Eskenazi (Administrative Assistant). HONG KONG: 852 9093 8445 Jean-François Tremblay (Senior Physical Sciences Directorate at the National Science Foundation. Correspondent). HOUSTON: (281) 486-3900 Ann M. Thayer (Senior Correspondent). LONDON: 44 1494 564 316 Alex Scott (Senior Editor) EQUILIBRIUM IS DEFINED as a state in velop and implement clear, concise family-

GOVERNMENT & POLICY which opposing forces or influences are friendly policies that will assist graduate Susan R. Morrissey, Assistant Managing Editor balanced. Although the academic scientific students, postdoctoral associates, techni- Britt E. Erickson (Senior Editor), Glenn Hess (Senior Editor), Cheryl Hogue (Senior Correspondent), enterprise prides itself on understanding cians, and faculty in staying on their career Jeff Johnson (Senior Correspondent), Andrea L. Widener (Associate Editor) these forces in laboratory systems, it has track when faced with dependent care re-

SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY/EDUCATION fallen short in recognizing and remedying sponsibilities. Last year, the grassroots or- BOSTON: (617) 395-4163 Amanda Yarnell, the imbalance between the demands of ca- ganization COACh conducted a Web-based Assistant Managing Editor, (973) 922-0175 Bethany Halford (Senior Editor). WASHINGTON: Stuart A. reer and those of personal life. This imbal- survey to learn how these groups combine Borman (Deputy Assistant Managing Editor), Celia Henry Arnaud (Senior Editor), Carmen Drahl (Senior Editor), ance contributes to extreme professional family responsibilities and academic ca- Stephen K. Ritter (Senior Correspondent),Lauren K. Wolf (Associate Editor). BERLIN: 49 30 2123 3740 sacrifices and lowered retention of many reers. Although sampling was not scientific Sarah Everts (Senior Editor). CHICAGO: (847) 679-1156 talented individuals striving for successful because respondents were self-selected, Mitch Jacoby (Senior Correspondent) WEST COAST: (925) 485-1034 Jyllian Kemsley (Senior Editor), careers in science. the 300 responses provide a useful snap- (206) 595-4788 Deirdre Lockwood (Contributing Editor), (510) 390-6180 Elizabeth K. Wilson (Senior Editor). The National Science Foundation’s shot of views and concerns on these topics. JOURNAL NEWS & COMMUNITY: (626) 765-6767 Michael Torrice (Senior Editor) Career-Life Balance Initiative, launched in Some respondents stated that their (510) 768-7657 Corinna Wu (Associate Editor) September 2011 at the White House with institutions had developed family-friendly ACS NEWS & SPECIAL FEATURES the first lady, Michelle Obama, is a notable plans, but when asked about a series of Sophie L. Rovner, Assistant Managing Editor Linda Wang (Senior Editor). DALLAS: federal agency step toward rectifying this specific policies, roughly half did not know (972) 529-4351 Susan J. Ainsworth (Senior Editor) imbalance. NSF policy currently permits whether their campuses or their depart- EDITING & PRODUCTION no-cost extension of award duration for ments had such policies. These numbers Kimberly R. Dunham, Assistant Managing Editor Craig Bettenhausen (Assistant Editor), principal investigators (PIs) who take an were highest for graduate students and Emily Bones (Associate Editor), Sophia L. Cai (Associate Editor), Nader Heidari (Assistant Editor), extended leave of absence for dependent postdoctoral associates. When policies Arlene Goldberg-Gist, Senior Editor care responsibilities, as well as the use of are not written, documented, and read- Jeff A. Huber (Associate Editor), Gail M. Mortenson (Associate Editor) award funds to temporarily replace proj- ily accessible, inconsistencies in their ART & DESIGN ect personnel who take a leave of absence implementation can occur. In fact, more Robert Bryson, Design Director Robin L. Braverman (Senior Art Director) because of dependent care responsibili- than 70% of the survey respondents said Yang H. Ku (Senior Associate Designer) ties. NSF also offers flexibility in the start that they find variability in family-friendly C&EN ONLINE dates of its awards. And NSF CAREER PIs policies or procedures from one depart- Rachel Sheremeta Pepling, Editor Tchad K. Blair (Visual Designer), Luis A. Carrillo can now submit supplemental funding ment chair to another. Respondents (Production Manager), Ty A. Finocchiaro (Web Associate), Pamela Rigden Snead (Web Products Manager) requests to support additional person- recommended that their institutions nel (for example, research technicians or promote clear and consistent policies that PRODUCTION & IMAGING Renee L. Zerby, Manager Production & Classifieds equivalent) for up to three months, for a are widely disseminated, more flexibility Tim Bauer (Lead Digital Production Specialist), Shelly E. Savage, Richard C. Smith, and Steven maximum of $12,000 in salary compensa- in scheduling, stable and well-supported J. Lovasz (Digital Production Associates) tion, for the purpose of sustaining research leave policies, and accessible and afford- SALES & MARKETING when the PI is on family leave. able child care. Elaine Facciolli Jarrett (Marketing Manager) Wendy Wise (Marketing Manager) The commitment to work-life balance in If federal agencies can make policy that Angela Yeo (Associate Marketing Manager) academia has recently been reinforced by helps support talented scientists to pursue ADVISORY BOARD another organization in the federal govern- their career dreams and have a family, so Gary D. Allred, Paul T. Anastas, Sherwood L. Boehlert, Paul J. Bracher, Yves J. Chabal, Seth M. Cohen, Kendrew H. ment: the Office of Management & Budget. too can academic institutions. When it Colton, Brian D. Coppola, Christopher C. Cummins, Joseph M. DeSimone, Michelle M. Francl, Donald Hilvert, OMB has released for public comment a comes to work-life balance, particularly for Rohit Khanna, John LaMattina, Abraham M. Lenhoff, Scott P. Lockledge, Michael W. Major, Michael A. Marletta, new circular on improved administration of graduate students and postdoctoral associ- Cheryl A. Martin, Stephen A. Munk, Michael O. Okoroafor, federal grants and cooperative agreements. ates who are in their prime childbearing Nick Roelofs, Melanie Sanford, John M. Schwab, Michael Strem, Linette M. Watkins, Christopher Welch, If implemented, it will allow inclusion of age, avoiding an open discussion and disre- Vicki Wysocki, David Zimmermann temporary dependent care costs directly garding these very real challenges are out- Published by the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY Madeleine Jacobs, Executive Director & CEO resulting from travel to scientific meetings of-date approaches. The time for action Brian Crawford, President, Publications Division as an allowable travel cost, family-related is now, and there is no better place to lead EDITORIAL BOARD: Stephanie L. Brock (Chair); leave as an allowable fringe benefit, and than from the chemistry community. ACS Board of Directors Chair: William F. Carroll Jr.; ACS President: Marinda Li Wu; Leah McEwen, John identification of locally available dependent N. Russell Jr., Nicole S. Sampson, Peter J. Stang care as an allowable meeting cost. Geraldine L. Richmond Copyright 2013, American Chemical Society Academic institutions must also de- Celeste M. Rohlfi ng Canadian GST Reg. No. R127571347 Volume 91, Number 19 Views expressed on this page are those of the authors and not necessarily those of ACS.

CEN.ACS.ORG 3 MAY 13, 2013 12 2013

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a combination of biological, electronic, and structural HEAR, HEAR FOR “inks.” The biological ink is a hydrogel matrix contain- THE BIONIC EAR ing cartilage-forming cells, the electronic ink is silver nanoparticles, and the structural ink is silicone. TISSUE ENGINEERING: The 3-D printer builds the structure layer by layer 3-D-printed in a few hours. “If it took longer, the cells would die,” devices detect frequencies McAlpine says. Then they put the ear in a cell culture beyond human perception medium to grow the tissue. “The tissue we have at the end completely surrounds the electronics, such that the electronics are interwoven with the biology,” he says. NE GOAL of tissue engineering is to create de- The engineered ear consists of cartilaginous tis- vices that give humans abilities that they don’t sue with an electronic receiver coil near the surface. Onaturally possess. For example, imagine being The coil penetrates the ear and connects to a cochlea- able to detect sounds outside the normal range of hu- shaped helical structure with nanoparticle electrodes. man hearing. Human ears can typically pick up sounds The cochlea is a spiral-shaped cavity containing hair within the frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. At the cells that convert acoustic vibrations to nerve impulses low end are the rumblings of engines; at the high end that are then interpreted as sounds by the brain. are the shrill screeches of high-pitched whistles. A new bionic ear, developed by a team of engineer- ing researchers at Princeton University, can detect not just those frequencies but others in the megahertz to gigahertz range—the range of radio waves. The bionic ear “hears” by detecting electromagnetic waves instead of sound waves, although the signals it detects can be converted into sounds audible to humans. WOJCIECHOWSKI FRANK To develop the device, researchers had to integrate sophisticated electronics—capable of transmitting sig- nals to the auditory nerve—into engineered tissue that looks and functions like an ear. The team, led by Mi- chael C. McAlpine, an assistant professor of mechani- cal and aerospace engineering, used three-dimensional printing to pattern the tissue (Nano Lett. 2013, DOI: 10.1021/nl4007744 ). Other researchers have previously made molds for ears using 3-D printing, or they have placed flexible electronics on top of bioengineered tis- sue. But McAlpine’s team is the first to have inserted McAlpine and coworkers exposed the 3-D printed The bionic ear electronics directly into growing tissue layers during ears to left and right channels of stereo music. They integrates cartilage the printing process. connected the cochlear electrodes to a digital oscil- with an electronic “This research team is the first to combine these loscope, which allowed them to visualize the sounds. receiver coil. individually demonstrated components into an inte- They also attached the cochlear electrodes to speakers, grated bionic construct,” says Jennifer A. Lewis, an en- which allowed them to play back the output. After go- gineering professor at Harvard University who was not ing through the entire system, the music was recogniz- involved in the work. able as Beethoven’s “Für Elise.” “The ear is one of the simpler organs to make, in the The ears detect radio waves and other electromag- sense that the cartilage has no vasculature,” McAlpine netic radiation, but McAlpine envisions 3-D-printing says. But at the same time, the outer ear’s complex other structures that detect acoustic signals directly. geometry is difficult to mimic with conventional tissue The ears are a long way from being used in a person, engineering methods. So he and his coworkers adopt a but “this work represents a first step,” Harvard’s Lewis new approach. says. “An important next step is to extend this work by In typical tissue engineering methods, cells are seed- printing more complex 3-D tissue with embedded vascu- ed on a scaffold. The cells excrete their own scaffold lar and conductive networks.”— CELIA ARNAUD as the tissue grows, and the original scaffold dissolves. McAlpine’s team instead uses computer-aided design To see bionic ears “listening” to Beethoven, VIDEO ONLINE to make a 3-D model of an ear, which they print using go to http://cenm.ag/ear .

CEN.ACS.ORG 5 MAY 13, 2013 NEWS OF THE WEEK

stage development to be labeled as such since April 1, ‘BREAKTHROUGH’ although FDA has yet to clarify what the status entails DRUGS RISING beyond a suggestion that the agency will collaborate with drug sponsors to expedite clinical trials and ap- PHARMACEUTICALS: plication review. New FDA The breakthrough therapy designation is part of last program could cut time for approvals year’s FDA Safety & Innovation Act. In a recent speech in half, but details are vague before the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg characterized the new program as a way to boost an existing priority N INVESTIGATIONAL hepatitis C treatment review process called fast track. from AbbVie , the pharmaceutical spin-off of Ab- The criteria for awarding breakthrough therapy Abott Laboratories, was granted “breakthrough designation are fluid, according to Michael Kleinrock, therapy” status by FDA this week. AbbVie’s combina- director of research development at IMS Institute tion therapy joins a fast-growing list of drugs in early- for Healthcare Informatics, who notes that the initial awards seem to have been made on a case-by-case basis. Nevertheless, LABELED FOR ACTION he is enthusiastic about the poten- Drugs recently granted FDA’s breakthrough designation tial. “It’s a real change in the speed COMPANY DRUG INDICATION with which drugs will make it from AbbVie ABT-450/r, -267 & -333 with ribavirin Hepatitis C discovery to market,” he says. Bristol-Myers Squibb Daclatasvir, asunaprevir & BMS-791325 Hepatitis C Whereas the fast-track desig- Johnson & Johnson Daratumumab Myeloma nation might shave a year off the Johnson & Johnson/Pharmacyclics Ibrutinib Blood cancer roughly 10-year drug development Merck & Co. Lambrolizumab Melanoma cycle, Kleinrock says, candidates Novartis LDK378 ALK & non-small-cell lung cancers Pfizer Palbociclib Breast cancer awarded breakthrough status could Scioderm SD-101 Inherited epidermolysis bullosa move from the start of trials in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Kalydeco with VX-809 Cystic fibrosis humans to the market in as little as three to five years.— RICK MULLIN

as alternatives to HBCD for polystyrene foam insulation GLOBAL BAN FOR for some time (C&EN, Oct. 29, 2012, page 39). The International POPs Elimination Network, a FLAME RETARDANT coalition of advocacy groups seeking eradication of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), also praised the UNITED NATIONS: Countries agree move to ban HBCD, saying it will protect people from to end production and use of harmful health effects. hexabromocyclododecane At the Geneva meeting, which ended on May 10, gov- ernment negotiators added HBCD to a list of 22 other substances targeted for global elimination under the HEMICAL MAKERS and environmental advo- Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollut- cates are praising a move last week by govern- ants. Other chemicals controlled by this treaty include C ments from around the world to end produc- polychlorinated biphenyls and a number of pesticides. Br tion and use of the flame retardant hexabromocyclodo- Parties to the treaty gave HBCD a reprieve before the Br decane (HBCD). Published studies show that HBCD, global ban takes effect. Under the agreement, HBCD can which has been widely used in polystyrene foam in- continue to be used in expanded or extruded polysty- Br sulation for buildings, is toxic to aquatic organisms, rene insulation for buildings until 2019, a UN spokesman can disrupt thyroid hormone in laboratory animals, tells C&EN. The industry forum says this exemption Br Br and persists in the environment. “will provide downstream users with the time that they Br The Bromine Science & Environmental Forum , a need to ensure a smooth transition to alternatives.” group of four chemical firms that make bromine- Treaty members also created labeling requirements Hexabromocyclododecane containing flame retardants, says it welcomes for new building insulation products that contain (HBCD) the HBCD phaseout, which governments adopted at a HBCD, says Joseph DiGangi, senior science adviser for United Nations meeting in Geneva. The forum says its the network of advocacy groups. Labels will provide in- members—Albemarle, ICL Industrial Products, Chem- formation to purchasers of insulation products and will tura, and Tosoh—“are committed to substituting HBCD also help ensure proper disposal of HBCD-containing with sustainable alternatives.” Chemical firms have been materials when buildings are renovated or torn down, developing and commercializing new flame retardants he says.— CHERYL HOGUE

CEN.ACS.ORG 6 MAY 13, 2013 NEWS OF THE WEEK

has nearly perfect control over composition, structure, DRUG DELIVERY and release profile,” Cheng says. “We are interested in WITH A BANG commercializing the technology.” Drug delivery specialist Kathryn Uhrich at Rutgers NANOSCIENCE: University and coworkers previously designed Poly- Chain-shattering Aspirin, in which the aspirin is also incorporated direct- polymeric therapeutics could ly into the polymer backbone. Cheng’s group combined release medicines on demand that concept with chain shattering to release drug mol- ecules on demand. They demonstrated 80% release of camptothecin, an anticancer agent, in about 10 minutes. OLYMER AND NANOPARTICLE conjugates Uhrich says “the chemistry is clever—relatively sim- have been widely studied for their potential to ple and broadly applicable to various functionalities” but P deliver drugs selectively to specific tissues and notes that in vivo delivery, formulation stability, possible organs, but many such conjugates are structurally di- side effects from polymer degradation, and other factors verse, and the amount of drug they deliver can be hard still need to be demonstrated or evaluated. to control—characteristics that are not conducive to Chun Li, a drug delivery expert at the University drug approval. A new class of conjugates called chain-shattering polymers, which have high- ly controlled structures and release predictable drug amounts, could help DRUG resolve such problems ( An- FIREWORKS gew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, DOI: 10.1002/anie.201300497 ). of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, says chain Chain-shattering The polymers, developed by Jianjun Cheng and cowork- shattering “can deliver high drug payloads, the release is polymer releases ers at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, sharp, and it can be done in a highly controlled fashion.” drug on demand in could be useful for treating skin lesions, tumors, and Capabilities for intravenous administration and target- response to a UV or other conditions at localized sites and tissues. ing of specific tissues and organs are important areas for peroxide trigger. Conjugates have often been structurally variable be- future evaluation, he notes. cause drugs attach to different numbers of polymer or ED. INT. CHEM. ANGEW. UV radiation doesn’t penetrate tissue easily but has nanoparticle sites. Chain-shattering polymers, which are potential for treating skin lesions, whereas peroxide made of alternating units of drug and “suicidal” chemi- can be generated internally and therefore has potential cal residues, have more highly controlled structure and for internal treatments. Cheng’s group is also trying composition because the drug is an integral part of the FROM ADAPTED to develop triggers based on near-infrared radiation, polymer backbone. In the presence of an ultraviolet or which penetrates tissue more deeply than UV does. peroxide trigger, a protecting agent is removed from If the polymers can be harnessed effectively in vivo, each suicidal group, causing polymer chain shattering they could have “a lot of potential benefits therapeuti- and near-complete drug release, making the amount of cally,” says Todd Emrick, a specialist in polymer thera- drug supplied more predictable. peutics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.— “This is the only polymeric nanomedicine I know that STU BORMAN

REGULATION EPA sued for undercounting toxic emissions at refineries, chemical plants

Several community organizations have Recent independent studies at Mara- public health. Basically, it’s an ‘enough is filed a lawsuit to force the Environmental thon Oil, Shell, and BP refineries mea- enough’ situation.” Protection Agency to review the way it sured actual emissions at levels 10 to 100 EPA has not reviewed its methodology measures toxic air pollution from oil re- times higher than estimates based on the for calculating air emissions from waste- fineries and petrochemical plants along methods facilities currently use to report water treatment systems since 1998, the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast. their releases, the suit says. and air emission equations for liquid In a complaint filed in early May in “We have filed this complaint as a storage tanks have not been examined the U.S. District Court for the District of last resort, and only because EPA has since 2006, according to the complaint. Columbia, Air Alliance Houston and three ignored repeated requests to address The Clean Air Act requires the agency to other activist groups charge that EPA’s the problem,” says Adrian D. Shelley III, review and, if necessary, modify the for- formulas for estimating emissions of executive director of Air Alliance Hous- mulas at least once every three years. benzene, butadiene, and other pollutants ton. “We must know what is in our air if An EPA official says the agency is re- are “outdated and inaccurate.” we are going to clean it up and protect viewing the suit. — GLENN HESS

CEN.ACS.ORG 7 MAY 13, 2013 NEWS OF THE WEEK

polymers steadily erode in water, releasing macromole- LANGER RECEIVES cules embedded in them. The erosion rate can be tuned by changing the chemical properties of the polymers. WOLF PRIZE Langer’s first therapeutic success in this area was with Gliadel wafers, which he developed in collabora- HONORS: MIT chemical engineer tion with Henry Brem, a neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins recognized for work in drug University. The wafers are surgically implanted to deliv- delivery and tissue engineering er a drug that treats brain cancer. Langer went on to de- velop many other polymer systems that release drugs in response to magnetic, ultrasonic, or biological stimuli. OBERT S. LANGER , a chemical engineer and In addition to his drug delivery work, Langer “has the David H. Koch Institute Professor at Mas- been the leader in designing bioabsorbable polymers to Rsachusetts Institute of Technology, received the serve as scaffolds for holding mammalian cells in place Langer (left) 2013 Wolf Prize in Chemistry on May 5 in a ceremony at during tissue reconstruction,” according to the Wolf receives the Wolf the Knesset in Jerusalem. The award was presented by Prize committee. Langer’s work in this area in collabora- Prize from Peres Israeli President Shimon Peres. tion with Joseph P. Vacanti of Harvard Medical School (center). The Wolf Prizes , which are sometimes called the led to the first approved artificial skin based on synthetic Israeli Nobels, are given by the Wolf polymers for burn patients. Foundation, a nonprofit organiza- Langer’s work has resulted in more than 800 patents. tion in Israel that honors scientists He has founded or cofounded at least 25 companies to and artists for achievements that commercialize his research. benefit humanity. Langer received Langer has received numerous other awards, includ- ODED ANTMANN the $100,000 prize in recognition ing the 2006 National Medal of Science. He received of his work on polymer systems for the Priestley Medal, the highest honor bestowed by the drug delivery and tissue engineering. American Chemical Society, in 2012. Notably, he invented polyanhy- The Wolf Prizes, which were established by German- dride polymers with tunable deg- born inventor and philanthropist Ricardo Wolf, have radation properties to controllably been awarded since 1978. In addition to chemistry, prizes release macromolecular drugs over are given in agriculture, mathematics, medicine, physics, sustained periods of time. These and the arts. — CELIA ARNAUD

Cooks’s group developed and commercialized hand- A MAJOR AWARD held MS instruments by shrinking individual compo- nents of conventional instruments. The team’s other FOR MASS SPEC achievements include important contributions to the development of tandem MS and ambient ionization MS HONORS: Dreyfus Prize given to techniques. R. Graham Cooks, who shrank MS Tandem MS improves on the structural information devices and expanded the technique available from conventional single-stage MS by frag- menting ions in two stages separated in space or time. PURDUE U U PURDUE The technique is a particularly powerful approach for OOD THINGS sometimes come in small pack- the study of complex mixtures. ages. The Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation Cooks and coworkers also pioneered ambient ioniza- Gtook that maxim to heart when bestowing its tion MS techniques such as desorption electrospray 2013 Dreyfus Prize in the Chemical Sciences on R. Gra- ionization and desorption atmospheric pressure ioniza- ham Cooks, a pioneer in mass spectrometry, including tion, in which molecular sampling and ionization are miniaturized MS instrumentation. concerted, making it possible to analyze samples rapidly The inexpensive miniaturized mass spectrometers in air at room temperature with no sample preparation. Cooks devised by Cooks and coworkers at Purdue University, Cooks “has invented technology for quick chemical where he is the Henry Bohn Hass Distinguished Profes- analysis that has applications ranging from medicine to sor of Chemistry, are portable handheld devices useful food safety to national security,” says Purdue President for many applications. But that is just one among sever- Mitchell E. Daniels Jr. “Advances made in his laboratory al notable developments in MS for which he is honored. have not only shaped his field of science but also created Cooks “has enriched analytical chemistry in unpar- tools to keep us safer and to make medical tests easier alleled ways,” the foundation notes. “Virtually every and treatments more precise.” pharmaceutical and biotechnology company relies on The biennial Dreyfus Prize consists of $250,000, a mass spectrometry at a level that has become possible, citation, and a medal. Cooks will receive the award at a in part, through Cooks’s innovations.” fall ceremony at Purdue. —STU BORMAN

CEN.ACS.ORG 8 MAY 13, 2013 NEWS OF THE WEEK

spend on high-value goods such as cars and housing.” EUROPEAN VINYLS Ineos CEO James A. Ratcliffe hopes consolidation GIANT EMERGES of the two units will help. “The newly combined busi- ness, which will be of world scale, will be able to better PLASTICS: respond to rapidly changing European markets and to Solvay, Ineos say match increasing com- joining together will help them petition from global

tough out a rough marketplace producers,” he said. SOLVAY Ineos, which is com- posed largely of the N A FURTHER CONSOLIDATION of the troubled cast-off assets of large European polyvinyl chloride industry, Belgium- chemical companies, Ibased Solvay and Switzerland-based Ineos have has been a consolida- agreed to pool their chlorine and PVC-related assets in tor in the European a new joint venture. PVC industry. In 2011, The venture will be the second-largest PVC maker in it bought Tessend- the world, behind Shin-Etsu Chemical and just ahead erlo’s PVC operations. of Formosa Plastics. The partnership will have $5.6 bil- Earlier this year, it an- lion in annual sales and about $340 million in before- nounced the closure of tax profits. It will operate 17 plants, all in Europe, and smaller PVC-related employ 5,650 people. The plants make PVC as well as operations at various raw materials such as chlorine, ethylene dichloride, and European plants. vinyl chloride. The partners, The aim of the joint venture “is to improve its com- however, don’t plan petitiveness in an environment which is, once again, a to shutter manufacturing capacity, Clamadieu said. Solvay’s PVC plant challenging one,” Solvay CEO Jean-Pierre Clamadieu Instead, they will seek to reduce costs through greater in Jemeppe-sur- told stock analysts last week. Europe has been a tough purchasing power for raw materials and electricity. Sambre, Belgium. region for PVC makers in recent years. According to For Solvay, the deal is a stepping-stone to an exit from Solvay figures, European demand for the plastic, used the PVC business. In four to six years after the joint in construction materials such as pipe, has declined venture is formed, Ineos will have an option to buy out 30% since 2007. Another European PVC producer, Kem Solvay’s share for 5.5 times earnings plus $325 million in One, recently declared bankruptcy. cash. In February, Solvay revealed its intention to sell off PVC demand is being hit on all fronts by the weak its Latin American PVC affiliate, Indupa. European economy, according to Janet Wright, chlor- Solvay’s interest in RusVinyl, a PVC joint venture alkali and vinyls business manager at the consulting with Russian partner Sibur, and its business in the pack- firm Tecnon OrbiChem . “This has impacted industries aging resin polyvinylidene chloride will not be included such as construction and automobile production, in the deal. which consume vast quantities of PVC,” she says. Neither of the parties is contributing any cash to the “Governments have very little money to spend on venture, though both are contributing liabilities such as infrastructure projects. Consumers are reluctant to debt and pensions.— ALEX TULLO

BRITISH BIOSCIENCE AstraZeneca’s Alderley Park site remade as multicompany biotech campus

Three U.K. biotech firms are moving R&D center where a team of 119 scien- medical needs, have already moved to to BioHub, a new bioscience center at tists will develop drugs for combating Alderley Park. With assistance from a AstraZeneca ’s Alderley Park research antibiotic resistance and new medicines government task force, AstraZeneca campus near Manchester, England. The for viral infections. Redx has secured a plans to attract more science companies influx comes less than two months after $7 million grant from the U.K. govern- to the site. AstraZeneca disclosed that it is ending ment’s Regional Growth Fund. AstraZen- Plans to repurpose Alderley Park as research at Alderley Park and mov- eca “made a compelling commercial case a biotech hub are similar to those that ing the site’s 1,600 scientists to other to attract us to Alderley Park,” says Redx followed Pfizer’s 2011 closure of an R&D locations. CEO Neil Murray. campus in Sandwich, England, a move Redx Pharma , a Liverpool, England- Imagen Biotech, a drug discovery firm that eliminated about 1,500 science jobs. based drug discovery and development and provider of screening technologies More than a dozen biotech firms have firm, is creating a subsidiary, Redx Anti- for the pharmaceutical industry, and since moved to the Sandwich site, where Infectives, that will locate in BioHub. The Blueberry Therapeutics , a drug discov- benefits include company tax relief. — new business will establish a $16 million ery firm targeting medicines for unmet ALEX SCOTT

CEN.ACS.ORG 9 MAY 13, 2013 SPECIAL REPORT

ORPHANS FIND A HOME After years of neglect by pharma companies, RARE DISEASE TREATMENT is coming into the limelight LISA M. JARVIS, C&EN NORTHEAST NEWS BUREAU

ne afternoon a week, usually on a Tuesday, a nurse arrives at the Elmwood Park, N.J., home of Jeff and Deena Leider to give their sons, Justin and Jason, their “muscle juice.” On each visit, she carefully inspects a handful of O vials, empties them into an intravenous bag, and calibrates a pump that will slowly dole out the bag’s contents. Justin, who at four is the younger of the boys, is the first to be hoisted onto the kitchen counter. After taking off his shirt, he sits, swinging his legs and patiently waiting for his superpowers to be activated. The nurse, whom the boys clearly adore, 50 different inherited diseases—known gently removes a bandage on Justin’s chest, broadly as lysosomal storage diseases—are revealing a small bump that allows her to caused by genetic mutations that disable home in on his implanted IV port. After one of those enzymes. she inserts an IV line, Justin pulls his shirt In Hunter syndrome, which affects only back on and shrugs on a Batman backpack boys, the buildup of sugar molecules over holding the IV bag and the pump. Fully time causes symptoms such as stiff joints, suited up, he reaches for a reward of a sour enlarged spleens, and difficulty breathing. gummy worm and hops down. Minutes For children like Justin and Jason, who have later, Jason takes his place on the counter, a form of the disease that affects the brain, and the nurse repeats the process with him. the accumulation also causes a rapid decline For the next four hours, while Justin in mental function. And it’s rare—just one and Jason go about their evening routine in 155,000 boys are born with the disease. with their matching backpacks in tow, their Elaprase replaces the missing enzyme, muscle juice—known to technical-minded iduronate-2-sulfatase, buying the boys grown-ups as Shire ’s drug Elaprase— valuable time by shrinking their spleens slowly infuses into their bloodstream. The and helping their heart and lungs function. superpowers it imparts make it easier for Yet it won’t save their lives. Elaprase can’t them to run, jump, and climb like other get past the blood-brain barrier, the cel- kids their age. lular security gate that protects our most The boys have Hunter syndrome, a complex organ, so it can’t stop the mental rare and fatal genetic disease caused by a deterioration that will cause the boys to deficiency in an enzyme that breaks down lose their ability to walk and talk. Most sugar molecules. The missing enzyme is boys with Hunter syndrome die by age 15. just one of more than 100 housed in the Elaprase is also breathtakingly expen- lysosome, the cell’s waste bin. Today, some sive. As his sons run in circles through

CEN.ACS.ORG 10 MAY 13, 2013 LISA JARVIS/C&EN LISA

the kitchen and living room, Jeff Leider billion-dollar blockbuster ROUTINE A nurse gives not immersed in the rare dis- holds up a small glass vial filled with clear drugs is coinciding with a Jason Leider his weekly ease world. Because Hunter dose of the treatment liquid. “That’s, like, $10,000 right there,” deeper understanding of the Elaprase, while his syndrome affects such a tiny he says, eying the bottle with a mix of awe genetic underpinnings of rare brother, Justin, watches. group, Shire charges a high and disbelief. Having two kids with Hunter diseases. And government They are two of only a few premium for Elaprase to syndrome who need several vials per treat- policies introduced just last hundred boys in the U.S. offset the risk and cost of de- ment, the Leiders’ annual bill approaches year have created new incen- with Hunter syndrome. veloping it. The boys carry backpacks $1 million. Deena’s insurance covers the tives to serve small patient containing an IV bag with The pricing paradigm has bulk of the cost, and Shire, the drug’s man- populations. the drug, which takes four put rare diseases on drug com- ufacturer, takes care of the rest through a The collision of factors hours to infuse into their panies’ radars. Even with few patient assistance program. has made rare disease drugs bloodstream. patients, there is money to Two-and-a-half years after Justin and one of the fastest-growing be made. As big pharma tries Jason’s diagnosis of Hunter syndrome, the areas of drug development. to reinvent itself in an era of high price of treatment and its limited ef- Orphan drugs will account for 15.9% of all few blockbuster drugs, that’s an attractive fectiveness have led the Leiders to start a branded-drug sales by 2018, up from just proposition. nonprofit and to lobby Congress to make it 5.1% in 1998, according to the health care When the Orphan Drug Act was intro- easier for children to get diagnosed and for consultancy EvaluatePharma. In five years’ duced 30 years ago to create incentives drugs to be developed. time, orphan drugs will be a $127 billion- to develop treatments for diseases with That has put the Leiders in the middle per-year business, the firm says. patient populations of less than 200,000, of a movement that is creating new treat- The surge in interest is made possible by the drug pipeline for the estimated 7,000 ments for even the rarest of diseases. Be- the inverse relationship between patient rare diseases was barren. Even as recently cause they afflict so few people, thousands population size and drug price. The high as a decade ago, the number of major com- of diseases have been ignored for decades. price for a treatment like Elaprase, which panies committed to developing drugs for Now, a shift in big pharmaceutical com- runs well into six figures, annually, per rare diseases could be counted on one hand. panies’ business models away from multi- person, might raise eyebrows for those But as Christopher P. Austin, director of

CEN.ACS.ORG 11 MAY 13, 2013 SPECIAL REPORT

the National Institutes of Health’s National of molecules in the lysosome and results in Center for Advancing Translational Scienc- a variety of problems. Complications from es (NCATS), declared at an event in Febru- Gaucher’s include enlarged organs, bone ary marking World Rare Disease Day, such pain, and anemia. illnesses are no longer in the wilderness. When Genzyme embarked on developing NIH and the Food & Drug Administra- JARVIS/C&EN LISA an enzyme replacement therapy for type 1 tion are trying hard to foster innovation Gaucher’s, which does not affect the central and clear the drug development path for nervous system, the disease was thought to often-overlooked patient populations. Last affect just 1,500 people worldwide. Conven- year, FDA was granted a new set of tools tional wisdom at the time was that a compa- that stakeholders describe as the most ny could not turn a profit on a drug for such important advancement in promoting rare a minuscule patient population. disease development since the Orphan But the naysayers were proven wrong. Drug Act. The Food & Drug Administration approved Patient advocates are the common de- the drug in 1994, and Genzyme charged an nominator pulling together the rare disease unprecedented $200,000 per year. Although movement. Their role in raising awareness insurance companies balked at the cost, they and encouraging drug development has eventually agreed to cover it. Companies been critical to piquing the interest of both like Genzyme ensured patient access by academia and industry. introducing assistance programs that helped Sometimes, patient advocates simply try tion is clear: They STICKER SHOCK families with potentially high copays. to raise awareness so that others can be di- are in a race for Elaprase, Shire’s With a treatment on hand, the diag- enzyme replacement agnosed and treated earlier. According to a their loved ones’ treatment for Hunter nosed patient population more than recent study conducted by Shire, a specialty lives. Jeff and Deena syndrome, is one of tripled, reaching roughly 5,000 people, pharmaceutical firm with a large presence wince each time the most expensive industry watchers say. Moreover, Genzyme in rare diseases, it takes on average 7.6 years they see a Facebook drugs in the world. had a captive audience: The first competi- and eight physicians for people with a rare photo of a friend’s tion for its drug, Cerezyme, didn’t arrive disease to be diagnosed. Often, they get two child with the cap- until 2010, when Shire won approval to sell or three misdiagnoses before someone can tion, “Time Flies.” That casual two-word re- a rival, Vpriv. At their peak in 2008, annual tell them what’s really going on. frain from fellow parents is another remind- sales of Cerezyme reached $1.2 billion. The Leiders’ foundation, Let Them Be er that time is running out for their boys. The success of that model—a small, Little x2, puts a spotlight on Hunter syn- genetically defined patient population and drome, with the hopes that awareness will a high-priced drug—spawned two other prompt more research and, eventually, a THE BUSINESS companies that continue to be mainstays cure. “I had a choice to make,” Jeff Leider in the rare disease arena: Transkaryotic says. “I could go in a closet and hide from OF RARITY Therapies, founded in Cambridge, Mass., this evil world, or I could scream and yell as The current groundswell of in 1988 and acquired by Shire for $1.6 bil- loud as I possibly can so that somebody will lion in 2005, and BioMarin Pharmaceutical, hear me.” interest in rare diseases can be started in 1997 in Novato, Calif. Together, Others are going further by directly traced to Genzyme, the first firm to Genzyme, Shire, and BioMarin have gone funding research, setting up patient reg- show that drugs for small patient on to develop some of the most expensive istries that can be useful for clinical trial populations could be profitable drugs—all enzyme replacements. recruitment, and even starting companies. Those three firms laid the foundation They’ve pushed the government to adjust ANYONE PUZZLING over the business case for the current corporate interest in rare its policies to fit the current state of drug for developing drugs for tiny patient popu- diseases. Alumni from Genzyme now pop- development for rare diseases, pointing to lations need look no further than Genzyme . ulate the executive suites of many of the the estimated 10% of the population suffer- Founded in Boston in 1981, the biotechnolo- companies focused on rare diseases. Nota- ing from a rare disease as evidence for the gy firm pioneered the model for rare disease bly, the chief executive officers of Aegerion common good the changes would bring. drug development that is followed today: Pharmaceuticals, Amicus Therapeutics, They connect previously disparate make an impact on a previously untreated Prosensa, and Synageva BioPharma all had research, invent new models for collabora- rare disease, charge high prices, and be re- stopovers at Genzyme. tion, and use social media to make their warded with significant revenues and a long But all this activity isn’t just about high voices heard. They tick off acronyms for reign in the marketplace. premiums, says Austin of NCATS. “I think government programs like true Washing- Genzyme made its mark by introducing people have really internalized the concept ton, D.C., bureaucrats, and they speak about the first treatment for Gaucher’s disease, that rare diseases are a window into com- research for their disease like Ph.D. scien- a lysosomal storage disease caused by a mon diseases,” Austin says. Rare genetic tists. Without their efforts and collabora- deficiency in the lipid-busting enzyme disorders occur when a gene is completely tion, company executives say, drug develop- glucocerebrosidase. Similar to Hunter turned off; more common diseases often ment would be difficult, if not impossible. syndrome, Gaucher’s occurs when the ab- happen when that same gene’s function is For these patient crusaders, the motiva- sence of that key enzyme causes a buildup simply turned down.

CEN.ACS.ORG 12 MAY 13, 2013 He points out that the first scientific See images of the patients and hear scientists and MORE ONLINE clue in the development of cholesterol- parents talk about their challenges at http://cenm.ag/rare . lowering drugs like Pfizer ’s Lipitor—for years the world’s best-selling drug—was has Sanfilippo type C, also known as MPS Pfizer’s Xalkori, a drug designed to treat the discovery of a cluster of families with IIIC, tried to impress upon her local con- roughly 7% of lung cancer patients whose a rare, genetic mutation that causes very gressmen that although Sanfilippo research disease is caused by a mutation in the ALK high levels of “bad” cholesterol. might directly affect only a few dozen chil- gene, illustrates how segmenting can be Rare disease advocates have taken that dren in the U.S., the greater good for soci- profitable. Because the drug makes such concept to heart. Hunter syndrome be- ety makes it a worthwhile investment. a dramatic impact on patients’ survival, longs to a collection of more than a dozen Congressional staffers’ eyes clouded Xalkori reached the market just four years diseases, each caused by a deficiency in a when Wood uttered words like mucopoly- after the discovery of the ALK mutation. different sugar-busting enzyme. Many of saccharidosis. They sat up and listened Clear efficacy data and a small patient these so-called mucopolysaccharidosis when she said Alzheimer’s. population enabled Pfizer to slap a $9,600 (MPS) diseases primarily affect the brain, Although rare diseases could open the monthly price tag on the treatment. Con- and patient groups trying to win funding door to treatments for common ailments, sultancy firm EvaluatePharma expects that for MPS research often point to the con- the flip side is that common diseases are Xalkori will bring in more than $900 mil- nection between MPS diseases and com- starting to be segmented into smaller sub- lion in annual sales by 2018. mon neurological disorders. populations on the basis of genetics. “The “Rare diseases in some ways set a tem- In 2009, for example, University of Cali- paradigm for orphan drug development plate for the future,” says Kevin Lee, chief scientific officer of Pfizer’s rare disease group. “We believe we’re going to learn far RARE DISEASES BY THE NUMBERS more about some of these basic diseases, A disease is defined as which will allow us to segregate them much orphan in the U.S. when it more specifically by molecular mechanism. affects fewer than 30 million people in the U.S. are Ultimately, these large diseases will be- living with a rare disease. This equates to come constellations of many small diseas- 200,000 1 in 10 Americans. es, all of which have the same symptoms.” people Meanwhile, scientific understanding of rare diseases has grown by leaps and There are approximately bounds. Although the Human Genome Project failed to deliver on the promise of 7,000 clear drug targets for common diseases, the types of rare diseases rapid gene-sequencing and publicly avail- and disorders able data it spawned have enabled scientists to swiftly figure out the underlying cause Approximately of many rare diseases, NCAT’s Austin says. Two decades ago, scientists had teased out 95% 80% 30% the molecular basis for fewer than 50 rare of rare diseases of rare diseases of children with a 50% diseases, Austin says; today, they know the have no FDA- are genetic in of those affected rare disease will genetic underpinnings for roughly 4,500. approved drug origin by rare diseases not live to see “That is a complete sea change,” Aus- treatment are children their fifth birthday tin says. “Thirty years ago, when I was in training, I saw patients with these rare syn- Average number Average dromes that were characterized in really : of physicians visits : number of 7+ years: arcane, clinical ways. We had no idea what 8 before diagnosis 3 misdiagnoses Average time until diagnosis the molecular basis was.” That jackpot of genetic information has SOURCES: National Organization for Rare Diseases, Global Genes Project drawn new players to the rare disease space. Agios Pharmaceuticals, for example, saw fornia, Los Angeles, scientists discovered today may become the paradigm of more exploring genetically defined rare metabolic that children with a type of MPS disease common drug development tomorrow,” diseases as a natural progression for its drug called Sanfilippo syndrome produce high says Philip J. Vickers, global head of R&D discovery platform, which was built to tack- levels of tau, one of the two telltale pro- for Shire’s rare disease unit. le cancer cell metabolism. At the same time, teins found in the brains of people with Industry experts like to hold up lung small patient populations mean Agios can Alzheimer’s disease. cancer as an example of this shift. As sci- develop its own pipeline of drugs without The link means that better understand- entists pick apart the different biological the infrastructure needed to commercialize ing the mechanism of Sanfilippo could lead drivers of lung cancer, they can provide treatments for more common diseases. to treatments for Alzheimer’s. At a recent more personalized treatments for the Investors like the strategy. In late 2011, lobbying day for rare disease advocates, Jill nearly 230,000 people diagnosed with the Agios was able to raise $78 million to sup- Wood, a mom from Brooklyn whose son disease each year. port its foray into rare diseases.

CEN.ACS.ORG 13 MAY 13, 2013 SPECIAL REPORT

Disease: MPS I Common name: Hurler Disease: MPS II Deficient enzyme: α-L-Iduronidase Common name: Hunter Big pharma’s interest in rare diseases Incidence: 1 in 144,000 Deficient enzyme: Iduronate-2-sulfatase Drug Drug inin deve development:lopment: Intrathecal ERT Incidence: 1 in 155,00 0000 took longer to foment. When Summit Corp. Approved treatments: BioMarin Drug in development: Shire’s intrathecal ERT was spun off from England’s Oxford Uni- & Genzyme’s Aldurazyme, Phase of drug: I/II versity in 2003 to develop drugs for Duch- hematopoietic stem cell transplant Approved treatment: Shire’s Elaprase enne muscular dystrophy, a fast-moving muscle-wasting disease, it was clear that “big pharma just wouldn’t look at a disease like DMD,” says Andrew Mulvaney, a Sum- D isease: MPS IIIA Disease: MPS IIIB mit cofounder and its director of business Common name: Sanfilippo type A Common name: Sanfilippo type B development. At the time, the biotech firms Deficient enzyme: Heparan Deficient enzyme:y α-N-Acetyyglglucosaminidase working on rare diseases were largely fo- N-sulfatase Incidence: 1 in 200,000 cused on lysosomal storage diseases, where Incidence: Incide 1 in 100100,000 000 Drug in development: Shire’s intrathecal ERT Drugs in development: Shire’s the orphan drug model had been proven. Phase of drug: Preclinical intrathecal ERT, Lysogene’s Approved treatment: None Today, a race for FDA approval between gene therapy two firms—Prosensa and Sarepta Thera- Phasese of drugs: I/II peutics—with drug candidates that treat Apprroved treatment: None a small slice of the DMD population is one Disease: MPS IIID of the closest-watched competitions in the D isease: MPS IIIC Common name: Sanfilippo type D biotech industry. And Summit, which has Common name: Sanfilippo type C Deficient enzyme: N - a drug with the potential to treat all chil- Deficient enzyme:zym HeparanHeparan-p α- AAce tlltylglucosamine-6-sulfatasei 6 lf t dren with DMD, suddenly finds itself being glucosaminide N-acetyltransferase Incidence: 1 in 1,00,000 Incidence: 1 in 1,500,000 courted by big pharmaceutical companies, Approved treatment: None Mulvaney says. Approved treatment: None The shifting interest comes as big pharma struggles to get new drugs across the finish line to offset revenue losses as, one after another, its blockbuster products lose patent protection. Suddenly, orphan Disease: MPS IVA Disease: MPS IVB products, including those for the rarest of Common name: Morquio type A Common name: Morquio type B the rare diseases, carry appeal. Deficient enzyme: Galactose 6-sulfatase Deficient enzyme: β-Galactosidase IInc ididence: 1 in 200,000200 000 (A(A+B B)) Incidence: I id 1 in 200,000200 000 (A(A+B) B) In 2010, GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer Drug in development: BioMarin’s ERT Approved treatment: None became the most visible new players when Phase of drug: III they formed dedicated rare disease units. Approved treatment: None Others, such as Roche, have made a series of deals that collectively amount to a siz- able rare disease portfolio. But it was Sanofi’s purchase of Genzyme for $20 billion in 2011 that really put the Disease: MPS VI Disease: MPS VII Com mon name: Maroteaux-Lamy Common name: Sly spotlight on rare disease assets, according Deficient enzyme: Deficient enzyme: β-Glucuronidase to Ritu Baral, a stock analyst at the invest- N-Acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfataseA tl l t i 4 ulfata IncIncideidence: <1 in 250250,0 000 ment firm Canaccord Genuity. Incidence: 1 in 250,000–600,000 Drug in development: Ultragenyx’ ERT Venture capital firms have become Approved treatment: BioMarin’s Phase of drug: Preclinical equally enchanted with the rare disease Naglazyme Approved treatment: None space. Not only is significantly more ven- ture capital being devoted to rare disease drugs today than in the past, “but I think there’s more venture capital money for or- Diseases: ML II, ML III Disease: MPS IX Common names: Inclusion cell, Pseudo- phan drugs than for any other type of drug, Common name: None Hurler Polydystrophy save oncology,” Baral says. Deficient D ficient enzyme: HyaluHyaluronidase ida Deficient enzyme: N-Acetylglucosamine-1- Some firms have even started funds spe- Incidence: One known case phosphotransferase cifically targeting rare diseases. Among the Approved treatment: None Incidence : 2–3 in 1,000,000 (II+III) biggest moves was a partnership between Approved treatment: None Atlas Venture and Shire to make early-stage investments in rare disease opportunities. N And just last month, New Enterprise As- sociates and Pfizer Venture Investments TREATMENTS These 13 mucopolysaccharidosis diseases are caused by a committed $16 million to Cydan, which defi ciency in an enzyme that breaks down sugar molecules. Expensive enzyme replacement therapies are approved for three MPS diseases. But none of the

will pluck rare disease projects from aca- ERSTOCK/C&E demia and start companies around the marketed drugs address the neurological ef ects of MPS.

most promising ideas. ERT = enzyme replacement therapy. SOURCES: Companies, J. Am. Med. Assoc., MPS Society, NIH SHUTTERSTOCK/C&EN

CEN.ACS.ORG 14 MAY 13, 2013 Figures for how much money has been substantially over the next few years. He’ll Their motivation springs from neces- T poured into drugs for rare diseases are hard most likely be confined to a wheelchair, sity. Not all 7,000 rare diseases attract the to come by. Many drug development pacts feeding tube, and won’t really know who I same level of attention or offer the same have been inked, but even venture capital am by the time he’s 15 years old.” commercial potential. firms working in the space can’t quantify Whether it’s to a congressman or a re- Under the Orphan Drug Act, a drug the overall investment, a kind of hand wav- porter, Wood speaks about Jonah’s disease developed for any disease that affects ing that contributes to worries that interest with urgency, rattling off scientific facts fewer than 200,000 people is eligible for in rare diseases is a fad. at a speed that can be disorienting for rare orphan designation. When created 30 years One statistic everyone touts is growth in disease newbies. After she walks away from ago, the legislation was intended to draw R&D projects. According to a recent report a group, there’s often a moment of stunned orphan diseases out of the wilderness by by the Analysis Group and Pharmaceutical silence while people digest what they’ve creating incentives to develop drugs for Research & Manufacturers of America, a heard, followed by a quiet comment: small patient populations. A drugmaker drug industry trade association, 1,795 proj- “Wow. She is amazing.” that wins approval for an orphan drug en- ects in the clinical pipeline as of October She’s also quick to laugh and has a joys seven years of marketing exclusivity 2011 had orphan designation. And between warmth that inspires people to join her regardless of its patent status, gets a waiver 2001 and 2010, the number of products with orphan designation grew 10% annu- ally, despite a decline in the total number of drug candidates during that period.

PATIENTS IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT Although companies ultimately bring treatments to market, it’s patient groups that are creating PEAR PHOTOGRAPHY DODI HOLM/RUSTIC the awareness needed to start the drug discovery process

MOST PEOPLE think of a patient advocate as someone who is raising money for a charity. Many e-mail in-boxes and Face- book pages contain pleas for donations to the latest walk for breast cancer awareness or bike ride for AIDS research. But in the fight for Jonah. Indeed, in SUPPORT Jonah’s mom, for the fee the Food & Drug rare disease space, patient advocates aren’t the three years since Jonah’s Jill Wood, is fighting Administration charges when for her son’s life. Her just walking in the 5K, they’re organizing it diagnosis, Wood has amassed foundation, Jonah’s a New Drug Application is and immediately sending the proceeds to a a network of collaborators Just Begun, supports filed, and is granted tax credits researcher. They tweet, they blog, and they whom she groups into three academic drug for half the cost of the drug’s create apps to update patients on research categories: “my scientists,” discovery efforts for development. or keep tabs on clinical trials. “my moms,” “my mentors.” Sanfilippo type C. The incentives have Jill Wood’s son, Jonah, was diagnosed in With their help, she started worked: Whereas just 10 treat- May 2010 with Sanfilippo syndrome type C, a nonprofit that has raised ments for orphan indications one of four subtypes of mucopolysacchari- substantial money for Sanfilippo type C were approved in the decade before the act dosis (MPS) III, each of which is caused research. More recently, she founded a was introduced, more than 400 have come by the lack of an enzyme needed to break virtual biotech company to develop any to market in the subsequent 30 years. down heparan sulfate. No treatments exist drug candidates that might arise from their But there’s the legal definition of an for Sanfilippo, and although the subtypes work. orphan disease, and then there’s the reality progress at different rates, each type leads Wood is part of a legion of advocates tak- that not all diseases have the same com- to dementia and loss of motor function. Ul- ing on more active roles in the drug devel- mercial potential. In the post-blockbuster- timately, patients succumb to the disease opment process. Patient advocates “really drug era, it’s a no-brainer to take on a in adolescence or early adulthood. are at the core” of the recent progress in disease with a patient population nearing “He’s in the prime of his life at four- rare disease R&D, according to Stephen C. 200,000, no existing treatments, and and-a-half years old,” Wood explained to Groft, director of the National Institutes of reasonable science behind it. Convincing congressional staffers at a lobbying event Health’s Office of Rare Diseases. Because companies to invest in a disease affecting in Washington, D.C., during a week of ac- of their hard work and determination, only 200 people is a much harder sell. tivities in February marking World Rare he says, “all of a sudden, there are a lot of The 7,000 rare diseases include a long Disease Day. “This disease will progress pieces of the puzzle coming together.” tail of disorders that affect anywhere from

CEN.ACS.ORG 15 MAY 13, 2013 SPECIAL REPORT

a few dozen to a few thousand people. The tiniest patient populations struggle to get “How long can you keep going to your NIH funding for the kind of research that tight-knit supporters of family and friends can spark interest from industry. Even if academic research efforts are under way, and ask for compassion for your story?” advocates think the regulatory incentives aren’t enough to catch the eye of indus- try. “The Orphan Drug Act is great, but it “chaperone therapy” approach is being support CF research seems out of reach for doesn’t meet our needs yet,” Wood told her pursued for several lysosomal storage dis- nonprofits supporting diseases with names state’s representatives at the lobbying day. eases and is the basis of Amicus Therapeu- that are hard to pronounce and that person- Some advocates for diseases with tiny tics’ drugs in development for Fabry and ally touch so few. Although rare disease patient populations have started to identify Gaucher’s diseases. groups have gotten creative to pull in funds, themselves as part of the “ultrarare” com- Meanwhile, Wood teamed up with three they see the limits to that approach. munity. The term carries no legal signifi- other families with Sanfilippo type C foun- “How long can you keep going to your cance, Groft warns, but patient advocates dations—based in Massachusetts, France, tight-knit supporters of family and friends say it helps them unify the thousands of and Spain—to jointly fund drug discovery and ask for compassion for your story?” disparate patient groups. Alone, they are and development efforts in labs across the asks Lori Sames, who has raised millions of the orphans of the orphans. Collectively, globe. They brought researchers together dollars to support Hannah’s Hope Fund, a their voice has heft. for the first time with patients and physi- nonprofit focused on an ultrarare disease The divide between the rare and the cians and in the past three years have sup- called giant axonal neuropathy. “That well ultrarare became crystal clear for Wood in ported many approaches to tackling the dis- can only get drained so many times.” May 2010. When Jonah was diagnosed with ease. In addition to Pshezhetsky’s chaper- Even as Wood and her collaborators Sanfilippo type C, which affects just a few one therapy, they have high hopes for a gene move as fast as they can to develop potential dozen kids in the U.S., she was heartbroken therapy project by stem cell specialist Brian drugs, they are keenly aware of the unlikeli- to learn that not only were there no treat- Bigger at the University of Manchester, in hood that any firm—be it biotech, venture ments, but scant research was under way to England, and separate efforts by two scien- capitalist, or big pharma—will be willing to find them. tists at the Telethon Foundation, in Italy. risk trying to commercialize their product. Her response was to take action. Just Together, the four family-run organiza- Dozens of patients may seem like an months after Jonah’s diagnosis, Wood’s tions have sunk roughly $500,000 into impossibly small market, but drug execu- mom and her best friend organized a wine- Sanfilippo type C research over the past tives say the bar for corporate investment tasting fund-raiser in Oregon. With their two-and-a-half years. Wood has even is dropping. At the time the Orphan Drug help, by August 2010 Wood had pulled to- started a company, prompted by a chance Act was passed, no one was interested in gether $20,000, started a nonprofit called encounter at a conference with former investing in diseases affecting fewer than Jonah’s Just Begun, and wrote her first pharma researcher Sean Ekins. 100,000 people, says John F. Crowley, check to a scientist. They launched Phoenix Nest last year. chief executive officer of Amicus. Crowley, The money went to University of Mon- For now it’s inactive while the families wait whose two kids have Pompe disease, was treal biochemist Alexey Pshezhetsky, one for their investments in academic science instrumental in bringing the first treat- of two researchers who popped up on to pay off. If one of the projects is promis- ment for that lysosomal storage disease to Wood’s Internet search about the disease. ing and an industry partner doesn’t step market. In 2006, Pshezhetsky and his team discov- in to support it, the idea is to develop it “Now, if you find something that’s ered the genetic mutations that cause San- through Phoenix Nest. 1,000, it’s a home run,” Crowley says. filippo type C, in which an enzyme called The bootstrapping done by Wood and “Really, the break point in the last couple heparan-α-glucosaminide N -acetyltrans- her partners reflects an increasingly com- of years has been 500 to 1,000—and now ferase (HGSNAT) is lacking. mon approach to early drug development. we’re measuring sub-500.” Pshezhetsky was able to turn Wood’s They are walking in the footsteps of venture Many in the rare disease field hold up Ul- $20,000 gamble into a five-year grant philanthropy pioneers like the Cystic Fibro- tragenyx Pharmaceutical ’s ability to raise from the Canadian Institutes of Health sis Foundation and nonprofits supporting $75 million in venture funding in late 2012 Research. The $130,000 in annual funding Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). as a sign that investors see opportunity in from the government agency helped the CF Foundation, which began investing in the ultrarare space. The company is pursu- scientist better understand the pathology drug discovery efforts in 1998, reached the ing a treatment for MPS VII, which affects of the disease and create a mouse model for ultimate goal last year when FDA approved just 200 patients in the developed world. Sanfilippo type C, a critical tool if a drug is Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ Kalydeco, the But Ultragenyx’ CEO, Emil D. Kakkis, going to be developed. first drug to correct the underlying genetic cautions against making sweeping as- Researchers have shown that sugar defect in a subset of CF patients. Similarly, sessments based on that product. “I’d say molecules don’t aggregate in the cells of the DMD foundations are supporting sev- we’re an outlier,” he says. MPS VII affects Sanfilippo type C mice that make as little eral disease-modifying drugs, two of which tissues—the liver, spleen, and joints—that as 10% of the normal amount of HGSNAT. are currently racing toward approval. are accessible with an enzyme replacement With this in mind, Pshezhetsky is looking Small, family-run nonprofits look to larg- therapy. “When you start talking about for drugs that can assist the faulty enzyme er organizations with both awe and envy. the bone and the brain, it becomes ever produced by Sanfilippo patients. This The hundreds of millions of dollars raised to more difficult. Clinical trials are challeng-

CEN.ACS.ORG 16 MAY 13, 2013 BUILDING BETTER BONDS SPECIAL REPORT

ing, and the cost of doing them is high.” a project is commercially viable but rather ran sulfate. An effective drug could treat all Kakkis, who earlier in his career devel- asks a few key questions: Are there clear four subtypes of Sanfilippo, bringing it into oped Aldurazyme, a BioMarin Pharmaceu- endpoints for a clinical trial? Are there the realm of commercial viability. tical product that was the first drug for an enough patients for a trial? And are there Developing technologies that could MPS disease, thinks the bar is higher. “You advocacy groups that can help the company yield multiple drugs or address multiple probably will have trouble getting financial navigate the space? “When you’re under patient populations underpins Glaxo- support to do development for a disease 1,000 patients, it’s tough to have all that,” SmithKline’s efforts in rare diseases. The with less than 500 patients in the devel- Shih says. A disease with several thousand big pharma firm’s establishment of a dedi- oped world,” he says. patients is “more of our comfort zone.” cated unit for rare disease research was a And some observers are doubtful that One way to get around the commercial tacit acknowledgment that things must be big pharma firms will ever cross into the limitations of the ultrarare world is to find done differently for this market. realm of the ultrarare. “It’s not hard for me treatments or technology that can benefit With more traditional products, the com- to imagine a big biotech company looking more than one disease. Back when Wood mercialization plan is well defined, explains at a disease that affects 1,000 people in the first heard a doctor utter the words San- Mike Diem, head of business development Western world,” says Philip R. Reilly, a part- filippo type C, just one company was work- for GSK’s rare disease unit. “Take diabetes,” ner at the investment firm Third Rock Ven- ing on a treatment that might help her son. he says. “GSK has been developing drugs tures. “It’s still hard for me to believe that Zacharon Pharmaceuticals, with finan- here for many years, and we have a very big pharma would fit that into its portfolio.” cial backing from the nonprofit Team San- simplified path we go down when we know a Alvin Shih, chief operating officer of Pfi- filippo Foundation, was trying to prevent space well.” With small patient populations zer’s rare disease unit, says the firm doesn’t the cellular buildup by developing small and no existing treatments, companies are have hard-and-fast rules to decide whether molecules that block the synthesis of hepa- walking into the unknown. “You’re defin-

GROWING INTEREST January 2013: BioMarin Phar- maceutical acquires Zacharon Deals To Develop Rare Disease Therapies Pharmaceuticals, gaining small Have Proliferated In The Past Three Years molecules to block heparan sulfate synthesis for mucopoly- October 2009: In a pact worth October 2010: GSK partners that can cross the blood-brain saccharidosis disorders and up to $680 million, Glaxo- with Amicus Therapeutics to barrier and treat lysosomal ganglioside synthesis inhibitors SmithKline and Prosensa team develop Amigal, a small mol- storage diseases. for Tay-Sachs disease. to develop RNA-modulating ecule to be used with enzyme June 2012: Roche and Seaside February 2013: Roche pays therapies for Duchenne muscu- replacement therapy for Fabry Therapeutics agree to jointly Chiasma $65 million up front lar dystrophy. disease. develop mGluR5 antagonists for for the rights to Octreolin, a December 2009: Pfizer agrees February 2011: Sanofi agrees the treatment of fragile X and peptide in a Phase III trial for to pay Protalix Biotherapeutics to acquire Genzyme for $20.1 autism spectrum disorders. acromegaly, a rare hormonal up to $115 million for worldwide billion. July 2012: Sanofi and Spain’s disorder. rights to taliglucerase alfa, to April 2011: The International Centre for Genomic Regula- February 2013: The European treat Gaucher’s disease. Rare Diseases Research Con- tion sign a three-year research Commission sets aside $187 February 2010: GSK launches sortium is established to help collaboration that emphasizes million in funding for 26 rare a unit dedicated to developing coordinate global efforts in rare genetic and rare diseases. disease projects. treatments for rare diseases. disease research. November 2012: Shire and March 2013: Shire acquires March 2010: GSK and Isis November 2011: Agios Phar- Boston Children’s Hospital sign Premacure, gaining a protein Pharmaceuticals establish maceuticals raises $78 million a three-year research pact to replacement therapy for a rare a pact to develop antisense to support a research ef- develop treatments for rare pe- eye disease that primarily af- therapies for rare diseases. fort around inborn errors of diatric diseases. fects premature infants. metabolism. June 2010: Pfizer establishes a November 2012: Pfizer and April 2013: Roche pays Isis dedicated rare disease unit. November 2011: Roche pays the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation $30 million as part of deal to September 2010: Pfizer ac- $30 million for worldwide rights establish a six-year preclinical develop antisense drugs to quires FoldRx Pharmaceuticals, to PTC Therapeutics’ spinal research program to find drugs treat Huntington’s disease. which brings a portfolio of muscular atrophy program. for people whose CF is caused April 2013: New Enterprise compounds to treat diseases December 2011: Shire and by the ΔF508 mutation. Associates and Pfizer Ven- caused by protein misfolding. Atlas Venture team to identify January 2013: Shire buys ture Investments lead a $16 and invest in early-stage rare October 2010: GSK, the Tele- Cambridge, Mass.-based Lotus million round of financing to disease therapeutics. thon Foundation, and the San Tissue Repair, gaining a protein launch Cydan, an orphan drug Raffaele del Monte Tabor Foun- February 2012: GSK pays An- replacement therapy for the accelerator. dation join to develop gene ther- giochem $31.5 million as part treatment of dystrophic epider- apies for rare genetic disorders. of a deal to develop compounds molysis bullosa. SOURCE: Companies

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ing the path as you go along,” Diem adds. could protect or restore that neurological diseases and gathering enough evidence to To mitigate that risk and create a sustain- function. convince the Food & Drug Administration able model for rare disease drug develop- Synaptic markers in the brain appear to it is safe and effective is no cakewalk. ment, GSK has moved beyond the one-drug be reduced in all four types of Sanfilippo. Trying to win approval by showing that approach. Diem points to the company’s Moreover, Pshezhetsky thinks the effect disease progression has slowed or stopped collaboration with the Dutch biotech firm could exist in the broader MPS population; is one of the bigger challenges in the rare Prosensa as an example of how a technol- academic studies are ongoing to confirm disease space. Patient populations are often ogy-based approach can generate a whole the hypothesis. He is also testing existing heterogeneous, meaning everyone declines pipeline of products. The companies are neuroprotective drugs to see whether any at different rates and with different symp- developing antisense therapies for DMD, a show signs of efficacy. toms. With so few patients and so much disease that is primarily caused by deletions Wood, meanwhile, is still waiting for variation, it’s difficult to choose endpoints of one or more exons in the DMD gene. more news of Zacharon’s heparan sulfate for a clinical trial that can show a drug is, Much attention is focused on inhibitors. In 2011, Pfizer partnered with statistically speaking, making a difference. GSK2402968, the partners’ lead candidate, the biotech firm to develop rare disease Few clinicians know the challenges bet- which is in Phase III studies and addresses drugs. The partnership gave Wood and oth- ter than Joseph Muenzer, a pediatrics pro- the roughly 13% of patients who have a er Sanfilippo families hope that big pharma fessor at the University of North Carolina, deletion at exon 13 in the DMD gene. But was swooping in to speed the molecules Chapel Hill. Muenzer has run clinical trials behind that program are five or six ad- through development. But that deal ran for several mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) ditional therapies addressing other exon into trouble, and in the end, investors sold enzyme replacement therapies, including deletions. The regulatory path for the first Zacharon to BioMarin. Aldurazyme, for MPS I, and Elaprase, for drug will be rocky, but GSK is betting that it Despite the new owner’s long-standing MPS II, or Hunter syndrome. can “learn from the first one to develop the commitment to rare diseases, Wood is wor- Muenzer’s experience with treating cer- second, third, fourth, and others in a more ried that research momentum has slowed. tain MPS diseases is so vast that his office efficient manner,” Diem says. The relationship she had developed with is often the first stop for families with a re- GSK is replicating the approach in other Zacharon’s research chief, Brett Crawford, cently diagnosed child. As Jeff Leider, whose collaborations. A partnership with Angio- has changed. Now, when Wood runs into two sons recently enrolled in a UNC study chem around peptide-drug conjugates Crawford at conferences, she dissects of the cognitive progression of boys with that can cross the blood-brain barrier is fo- his every sentence and parses his every Hunter syndrome, puts it, “He’s the guru.” cused on treating the neurological impact gesture, trying to get a sense of what’s go- Now Muenzer is contributing to the de- of lysosomal storage diseases. “If you’re ing on with the program. “You just try to velopment of Shire’s HGT-2310, an enzyme leveraging what you’re learning along the analyze everything,” she says. “Nobody can replacement therapy for Hunter syndrome way, something ‘ultra orphan’ theoretically tell us what’s happened, so there are lots of that is delivered directly into the spinal ca- could be viable in the scheme of building rumors going around.” nal. Known among Hunter families as the a platform around five or six products in- BioMarin says heparan sulfate inhibitors IT trial because it is administered intrathe- stead of one,” Diem says. are an active project but that it is still in the cally, the study is intended to address the Wood is well aware that attracting the process of optimizing the molecules. “It is neurological effects of the disease. attention of venture capitalists or biotech too early to predict when, or even if, we will Last month, on a sunny day in Chapel firms will require coming up with a drug be successful at making a compound suit- Hill, Muenzer was sequestered inside or drug delivery method that could affect able to move into clinical development,” UNC’s North Carolina Children’s Hospital a larger patient group than the few dozen the firm says. to give two boys in the study their monthly kids with Sanfilippo type C. She has one dose of HGT-2310. One of the boys was Case project up her sleeve that she thinks has a Hogan, a deliciously rambunctious six-year- chance. THE REGULATORY old who, that morning, was darting around Montreal’s Pshezhetsky recently found the hospital in red cowboy boots and a hat. something unexpected in the brains of mice FRONT After about an hour of shuttling between with the Sanfilippo type C mutation. As Patient advocates and companies rooms to check Case’s vitals and go over the central nervous system of the mice is are encouraged by the recent a long list of questions from Case’s mom, progressively debilitated by the buildup of Melissa Hogan, Muenzer was ready to get sugar molecules, the mice become hyper- introduction of new regulatory the show on the road. A crew of nurses active, fearless, and lose their ability to learn. tools to speed the development of trailed the lanky physician into yet another But Pshezhetsky made a curious observa- drugs for rare diseases but worry room, where he hopped up on an examin- tion: The symptoms aren’t caused by dying they may not go far enough for ing table and lifted Case up next to him. neurons. the smallest patient groups Hogan hovered over Case, who clutched That finding runs counter to common his DVD player, not wanting to shift his wisdom that the brain cells of Sanfilippo EVEN AS JILL WOOD breathes a little focus from “The Princess Bride.” A mask kids become clogged and die. The scientist easier knowing several drug discovery delivering anesthesia was placed over Case’s hypothesizes that the buildup is instead programs to treat her son’s rare disease, mouth, and as he squirmed in protest, Ho- causing defective synaptic transmission, or Sanfilippo syndrome type C, are under way, gan and the nurses broke into song to soothe a disruption in the cross talk between brain she’s also aware that the hardest part is him. After three short rounds of “You Are cells, and he is searching for molecules that yet to come. Testing a drug in kids for rare My Sunshine,” Case was out.

CEN.ACS.ORG 20 MAY 13, 2013 LISA JARVIS/C&EN LISA

The nurses quickly slipped off BRAVE COWBOY and stay nimble on his feet. His Hogan is over the moon about Case’s his cowboy boots—purchased Case Hogan, behavior and ability to focus have progress, which also has raised hopes in who loves his red days earlier in Gatlinburg, Tenn., cowboy boots, improved as well. When he first the Leider household that Justin and Jason, during the family’s trip from their rests after his arrived at UNC to be evaluated, their sons with Hunter syndrome, might home in Nashville to the hospi- dose in a clinical Case was in a stroller with a six- benefit from the approach. But Muenzer is tal—and Hogan left the room to trial to treat the point harness because he was too cautious about the next steps for the drug. neurological let Muenzer work his magic. effects of Hunter unfocused and hyperactive. The looming question is what kind of data More than two years into syndrome. On their long drive to Chapel FDA will want to approve the treatment. Case’s participation in the IT Hill last month, Hogan had a mo- The challenge will be to come up with ap- study, the team has this routine ment of panic when she thought propriate endpoints, or measurements to down pat. she had forgotten something; prove a drug’s efficacy, for an upcoming Between April 2010, when the family first then she took a breath and realized they late-phase clinical trial, which Shire ex- suspected he might have Hunter syndrome, were simply traveling like a “normal” fam- pects to begin by the end of this year. and early 2011, when he entered the clinical ily—no wheelchair stroller, no special As Shire considers the design of the trial, Case’s mental decline was precipitous. equipment or food. Indeed, the boy sitting trial, industry observers say the company’s He began to stutter and lose words, going in the recovery room after the procedure experience mirrors what other firms face from nine-word sentences to two- or three- eating pudding, flirting with the nurses, when trying to develop drugs for rare word phrases. Hogan looks back at photos and generally charming anyone in his vicin- diseases. Those with a history in rare dis- from a family vacation about a week before ity was far from vacant. eases argue that the challenge of pulling they realized Case might have an MPS dis- In March, Muenzer and colleagues pre- together the right patients and designing order and sees a boy who looks vacant. sented early data from the IT enzyme trial the right trials to get drugs approved goes But by winning a spot in the clinical at the American College of Medical Genet- underappreciated. trial, the Hogans now have reason for hope. ics & Genomics’ annual meeting in Phoe- Newcomers look at the relatively small On each visit, Muenzer draws out a bit of nix. They reported a drop in the level of the trials and see an easy path to approval. spinal fluid—or, as he calls it, liquid gold— built-up sugars, glycosaminoglycans, in the According to a recent study by Evaluate- that he sends to Shire for analysis. Muenzer cerebrospinal fluid of patients receiving Pharma, a Phase III study for an orphan then injects a dose of the enzyme that two high doses of the enzyme, compared drug enrolls on average 528 patients; the Case’s body is unable to produce. with high levels of glycosaminoglycans in average Phase III trial for a nonorphan drug The entire process takes minutes, but four untreated patients. enrolls 2,234 patients. And several drugs for Hogan it’s nothing short of a miracle. Muenzer detailed signs of improve- have been approved on the basis of studies As she broadcasts on her blog, Saving Case, ments in cognitive measures. Case is one with just a few dozen patients. Moreover, the changes in her son’s behavior and cog- of four boys in the small study who have FDA offers a slew of incentives designed to nitive ability were almost immediate after shown stable or improved cognitive mea- trim the timeline and cost for getting a rare the first injection. surements. One child, who has been in the disease drug to market. Two-and-a-half years into the study, IT trial the longest, is now able to attend a Rare disease veterans suggest tempering Case can do simple puzzles, count to 20, regular kindergarten class, Muenzer notes. those rosy assessments. “It’s a bit of a fal-

CEN.ACS.ORG 21 MAY 13, 2013 SPECIAL REPORT

lacy that it’s easier, or that the bar is lower,” immense pressure to get the design of the have more of a voice in the review process. says Genzyme’s Chief Executive Officer natural history study right. The National Organization for Rare David Meeker. “We’ll never be able to do it again,” Disorders (NORD) calls FDASIA the most The flip side of having so few patients is Wood says. “We don’t have the patient important piece of legislation for the rare having only one chance to get things right. population to do it again.” disease community since the Orphan Drug In April, Muenzer flew to Washington, Patient advocates are hopeful that FDA Act. John F. Crowley, CEO of Amicus Ther- D.C., to join Shire executives in a meeting is becoming more willing to accept surro- apeutics, puts it succinctly, “We’ve just with FDA to discuss the data needed to gate endpoints, or measurements such as turbocharged regulatory science.” approve the drug. Earlier that day, Hogan biomarkers that suggest a drug is working, FDA appears to be taking the leeway quizzed him on what FDA wants. Muenzer, rather than data that directly prove that a offered by the new law seriously. Between whose relationship with Hogan feels more potential treatment helps people live lon- July 2012, when FDASIA was signed into like teacher and student than physician and ger or feel better. They are encouraged by a law, and April 25, FDA received 39 requests parent, walked her through the complexi- series of incentives and changes introduced for breakthrough therapy designation. All ties and realities of drug development for of the requests were reviewed within 60 ultrarare diseases. days of receipt, and 11 treatments received As he explained, all the kids in the study the designation. appear to have stabilized. They aren’t all Still, FDASIA alone isn’t enough to bring necessarily seeing the same cognitive im- more rare disease drugs to market, says

provements that Case is, but they also aren’t JARVIS/C&EN LISA Anne Pariser, associate director for rare declining. Yet that kind of soft measurement diseases at FDA’s Center for Drug Evalu- is unlikely to be enough to convince FDA ation & Research (CDER). “If you look at that the IT delivery is working. drug development and disease research “I can’t tell FDA at what rate they decline along a continuum, a lot of the work goes because we didn’t ever have that quantita- on pre-FDA,” she notes. New ways to in- tive data to say, ‘Here’s what we anticipate volve the National Institutes of Health, for this population,’ ” Muenzer says. academia, and other stakeholders will be For more common diseases, informa- equally important to finding treatments. tion about patients is compared with a And rare disease veterans point out that large pool of historical data culled from the new incentives and tools introduced others with the disease. But another major with the passage of FDASIA are, for now, challenge for rare disease drug develop- largely theoretical. The policy “creates a ment is the lack of understanding of the framework which has a high potential to natural history of a rare disease—that is, have a positive impact,” says Philip J. Vick- how it progresses in the absence of medical ers, global head of R&D for Shire’s rare intervention. disease unit. “But it’s really a framework Companies usually have to conduct at the moment, and the details need to be their own natural history study, an expen- worked out.” sive and lengthy process in which a group The devil is indeed in the details. Al- of untreated patients is watched over time though the agency has been quick to hand to determine what biomarkers could be out the breakthrough designation, no one is useful in a clinical trial and to define end- sure what the status means in practice. FDA points that can show a potential drug is also has agreed to include patient voices, effective. with the passage last MARKED Case but it has yet to define a role for advocacy A natural history study is at the top of year of the FDA Safe- Hogan has a groups. The question of the role of surrogate medical tattoo the mental checklist Wood keeps of things ty & Innovation Act, to distinguish his endpoints, like the ones that the Hogans and needed to get a treatment for Sanfilippo or FDASIA, which two ports; one is other Hunter families hope will be useful in type C into the clinic. The consortium of reauthorized FDA’s for intravenous a trial of Shire’s drug, also remains. families she works with is funding a natural ability to collect fees delivery of Still, some executives are confident com- Elaprase, and history study of the disease, slated to start from industry. the other is for mon ground is forming between companies in the next month, that will collect the data Advocates are intrathecal delivery and regulators about clinical trial design. they think will be essential if a drug candi- most excited about of an enzyme. Genzyme’s Meeker sees FDA moving to- date makes it into the testing clinic. a measure that ward an era where data suggesting a posi- Wood is aware that a misstep in how expands to rare dis- tive effect, combined with changes in bio- resources are spent could cost both her eases the accelerated approval path, which markers, could be enough for approval. “I son and other kids with Sanfilippo type C allows early approval of a drug on the basis think increasingly there will be a willingness who haven’t been diagnosed yet. “I’m the of surrogate markers, and a measure creat- to allow these products to be approved,” kind of person that jumps in headfirst, but ing “breakthrough status,” an incentive to Meeker says, provided that companies com- I’ve found really fast that this is going to speed development of innovative drugs mit to monitoring patients over time. affect generations to come,” she says. “I that show promise in early human studies. While families and companies worry can’t make rash decisions.” She feels an The legislation also calls for patients to about what regulators want, FDA officials

CEN.ACS.ORG 22 MAY 13, 2013 Even the mention of other lysosomal “More access to accelerated storage diseases that affect the brain brings approval could reduce the cost of hope to a legion of parents. But hope is a tricky word. It leads to a roller coaster of development by almost two-thirds.” emotions with guaranteed highs and im- possible lows. For Melissa Hogan, Shire’s IT trial has point out that the agency has a long history between patient group size and drug cost fundamentally changed her outlook for of being flexible when reviewing New Drug to hold up. Already, some governments her son Case. “When we started the trial, Applications for rare disease treatments. are toughening their stance on big-ticket my whole goal was just to save his life. All It’s “a pretty common misconception” drugs. The U.K., for example, agreed to I wanted was life,” she says. Now, with that FDA has the same expectations for cover the cystic fibrosis drug Kalydeco, the dramatic improvement she sees in rare disease drug applications as it does for which costs nearly $400,000 per year, Case, she’s gone from no expectations ones for more common diseases, says Gay- only after a highly publicized campaign to finding herself imagining her son as a atri R. Rao, director of the Office of Orphan by patients. And although high prices are grown man. Products Development at CDER. “I think generally accepted in the U.S., more than Around Christmas, someone sent the folks believe that two randomized, well- 100 oncologists recently lodged a public family a gift made by adults with special controlled trials will always be required, protest over the cost of cancer drugs. needs. Hogan was hit with the realization even for small patient populations.” If scientists are to develop treatments that Case could live and even have a job. That’s true in cases where there are for the 10% of the population that has a And yet, she’s afraid to hope and has a hard enough patients, Rao says. But more often rare disease, the price of health care under time not analyzing the tiniest details about than not, FDA is willing to work with com- the current model will skyrocket, warns her son’s behavior and wondering whether panies to support a clinical program that Emil D. Kakkis, Ultragenyx Pharmaceuti- the drug has stopped working. makes sense for the disease. At the same cal’s CEO. “More access to accelerated Hogan’s progress reports about Case time, patients and drug developers need to approval could reduce the cost of develop- have kept hope alive for Jeff and Deena remember the efficacy bar is not lower just ment by almost two-thirds,” he says, citing Leider. But they are in a torturous holding because patients lack treatment options, a study he authored in Orphanet Journal of pattern while Shire settles the details of the Pariser says. Rare Diseases. Instead of developing six or next IT trial. They worry that by the time it She stresses that FDA has “a long and seven drugs with $1 billion in investment, is under way, their sons’ IQs won’t be in the established record of flexibility” when it 36 drugs could be developed, he adds. right range or that they will miss other cri- comes to small patient populations. Pariser “We need to find that place where teria to be included. They worry that each points to a 2011 study by NORD as proof there’s comfort with the amount of data day they have to wait, Jason, who is older of FDA’s willingness to adjust its standard you really need and number of patients and whose disease is more advanced, will mode of operation when it comes to rare needed,” Kakkis says, “and accept the fact not benefit from treatment. diseases. NORD waded through the 135 that we can’t spend hundreds of millions With no treatments available for her son noncancer orphan drugs approved be- of dollars for every single rare disease and Jonah, Jill Wood is careful about the word tween 1983 and June 2010 and found that expect the system to work.” hope. She prefers to talk about action. As the agency exercised a degree of flexibility she says, “I busy myself controlling the in two-thirds of the cases. controllable.” Marc Beer, CEO of Aegerion Pharma- THE KIDS ARE Wood does believe that 2013 will be a ceuticals, is confident that the agency is big year for Sanfilippo research. Jonny Lee evolving. Over the past two decades, he has WAITING Miller, the star of “Elementary,” a television participated in four review panels for or- Progress can’t happen fast show that Wood’s husband, Jeremy, works phan products, and in each case, “the FDA enough for patient advocates, who on, agreed to fund-raise on behalf of Jonah’s got it right,” Beer recounted earlier this worry that time is slipping away Just Begun in conjunction with an ultra- year at a conference in New York City. The for their children marathon he ran earlier this month. Thanks agency took the time to understand the to corporate sponsorships, Miller’s tweets, intricacies of each disease and understand IF SHIRE DOES SUCCEED in getting the and television appearances to promote the the drug at a deep level, he noted. Hunter syndrome treatment HGT-2310 event, the nonprofit collected more than The difference between the FDA of the over the finish line, the door is opened for $130,000. Wood already has plans for every early 1990s and the FDA that reviewed Ae- other lysosomal storage diseases where the last dime and is plotting where the next in- gerion’s Juxtapid, approved last year for a brain is affected. The company is already flux of cash might come from. rare form of high cholesterol, was the level testing an intrathecally (IT) delivered But amid that momentum came a re- of communication between the company enzyme for Sanfilippo syndrome type A minder of the urgency of her efforts. While and the agency. “It wasn’t a ‘pass it over the and has started a natural history study for in Oregon in March, Wood got word that transom’ type relationship,” Beer said. “It Sanfilippo type B that could lay the ground- another child with Sanfilippo type C died in wasn’t just ‘give us the data.’ ” work for a clinical development program. her sleep. Mia Pruett, who was 19, had been With more companies dipping their toes “We’re very actively considering other pro- high functioning and hadn’t even been sick into the rare disease market, many ques- grams,” says Philip J. Vickers, global head of prior to her death. “I’m just heartbroken,” tion the ability for the inverse relationship R&D for Shire’s rare disease unit. Wood says. ◾

CEN.ACS.ORG 23 MAY 13, 2013 BUSINESS CONCENTRATES

ACRYLONITRILE FUMES KILL ONE IN BELGIUM LG READIES BATTERY PLANT A 64-year-old man died and 116 other LG Chem Michigan says it will begin long-delayed production in July at its nearby residents were taken to the hospital automotive lithium-ion battery cell plant in Holland, Mich. The business, a as a result of exposure to fumes from burn- U.S. arm of South Korea’s LG Chem, will supply batteries for General Mo- ing acrylonitrile after a train carrying the tors’ Volt, a plug-in electric hybrid. In 2010 the Michigan plant was awarded chemical derailed and more than $150 million in funding from the Department of Energy and tax relief from state and local governments worth up to $175 million. Battery caught fire near Wetteren, The derailed Belgium. Hydrogen cya- train carried cell assembly was supposed to begin in 2012, and the plant was expected nide is generated when acrylonitrile to employ 440 workers. But demand for the batteries was slow, and LG acrylonitrile burns. The and butadiene. instead supplied GM from its factory in South Korea. In January, LG paid back $842,000 of the DOE grant after a government audit found that it had used the money to pay workers who “had little work to do and were spend- ing time volunteering at local nonprofit organizations, playing games, and watching movies.” LG Chem says it has set up three of five planned produc- tion lines at the site and is planning to attract more electric-vehicle busi- ness in the U.S. In 2012, GM sold 23,461 Volts, up from 7,671 in 2011. —MMB

District of Utah ruled that information for election of Quinpario’s Jeffry N. Quinn and the manufacture of 2,2-dipyrromethane FrontFour’s David A. Lorber. A third dis- and other Frontier compounds that Prabhu sident representative, Nadim Qureshi of Mohapatra e-mailed to a would-be competi- Quinpario, will not stand for election and incident happened in the early hours of tor did not meet requirements to be consid- instead a current Ferro board member will Saturday, May 4, as the train was traveling IMAGES/NEWSCOM DOPPAGNE/AFP/GETTY BENOIT ered proprietary information. Mohapatra be the third candidate. After the election, from the Netherlands to the port of Ghent pled guilty a year ago to unlawful access to Quinn, Lorber, and three yet-to-be-deter- in Belgium. The acrylonitrile was made by a protected computer, and the Utah judge mined Ferro directors will form a commit- DSM and was being transported in tank cars ordered him to pay compensation of $3,435 tee to look at ways to enhance shareholder leased by the firm. “We deeply regret the to his former employer. —MSR value. Sure to be considered is an unso- incident,” DSM says. Authorities are still licited takeover bid made in March by the investigating the cause. — AS plastics company A. Schulman. — MSR BAYER WILL EXIT CARBON NANOTUBES KUWAITI COMPANY CHINESE PROTEST SETTLES UP WITH DOW Bayer MaterialScience is winding down its AROMATICS AGAIN carbon nanotubes business, saying it wants Dow Chemical has been paid $2.2 billion to focus on activities more closely linked Residents of Kunming, in southwestern by Petrochemical Industries Co. of Kuwait to its core polymer operations. Bayer’s China, gathered on May 4 to protest the over the failure of their planned K-Dow nanotube assets include a $30 million construction of a p -xylene plant by the joint venture in late 2008. Dow expected to plant it built in Leverkusen, Germany, in state-owned conglomerate PetroChina . Ac- reap $7 billion from forming the joint ven- 2009. The company once had high hopes cording to China’s Xinhua news agency, 200 ture, which would have been made up of the for nanotubes, but CEO Patrick Thomas people took part in the protest while about bulk of Dow’s petrochemical operations. now says the potential markets are either 1,000 watched. Another report, on the web- The Kuwaiti government scuttled the deal, very fragmented or have little overlap with site of the People’s Daily, claimed that the and Dow turned to the International Cham- its core business. Bayer says it’s in contact Kunming government has not yet approved ber of Commerce to arbitrate the dispute. with parties interested in the know-how it the project. In recent years, residents of Dow has other ties with PIC, including has generated.— MM several Chinese cities have protested in Equate, a Kuwaiti joint venture that makes large numbers against p-xylene plants. The ethylene glycol and polyethylene.— AHT chemical is mostly used to make polyester FERRO, DISSIDENTS fiber and plastics. — JFT REACH AN AGREEMENT CHEMIST NOT GUILTY OF SECRETS THEFT Ferro and dissident shareholders Quin- SHOKUBAI RESTARTS pario Partners and FrontFour Capital MORE PLANTS IN JAPAN An organic chemist charged with stealing Group have buried the hatchet and now trade secrets from his employer, Frontier jointly support a revised slate of directors Japanese authorities have authorized Nip- Scientific, has been found not guilty. A judge for election at the company’s May 15 an- pon Shokubai to reopen its methacrylic acid for the U.S. District Court for the Northern nual meeting. Ferro will now support the and methyl methacrylate facilities in Hime-

CEN.ACS.ORG 24 MAY 13, 2013 BUSINESS CONCENTRATES AESICA ji, Japan. The company had to shut down AMBRX AND BMS JOIN most of its Himeji operations after a deadly FOR DRUG CONJUGATES fire and explosion in an acrylic acid tank at the site in September 2012. At the time, the Ambrx and Bristol-Myers Squibb have site accounted for about 20% of the world’s agreed to discover and develop antibody- supply of superabsorbent acrylic polymer drug conjugates using Ambrx’ protein me- (SAP), a material used in disposable diapers. dicinal chemistry technology. In exchange The SAP facilities have yet to restart.— JFT for commercial rights, BMS will supply institute in less than six A researcher Ambrx $15 million up front, R&D funding, months. The partners plan at Aesica’s and up to $97 million per product upon ICIG GETS ANOTHER to introduce amide bond Cramlington, reaching certain milestones. The two com- England, site. TESSENDERLO BUSINESS formation techniques that panies have worked together since Septem- offer high chemical yields ber 2011 on the discovery of biologic drugs. Belgian chemical maker Tessenderlo has at lower cost and with less environmentally As a result of that work, BMS is currently sold its Tessenderlo Italia industrial chemi- harmful reagents compared with existing developing a potential diabetes drug and a cal subsidiary to International Chemical In- processes. The new technology is based on heart failure treatment. — AMT vestors Group for an undisclosed sum. The a coupling agent developed by the univer- business, which had sales last year of around sity in 2005. — MM $40 million, produces chlorinated aromat- ASTELLAS SIGNS NOVEL ics and operates two hydroelectric power DEVELOPMENT PACT plants. Tessenderlo sold its pharmaceutical TAKEDA CONTINUES chemicals business to ICIG last year. ICIG, PUSH INTO VACCINES Astellas and Drais Pharmaceuticals will which already owns four sites in Italy, calls collaborate on the development of an itself a significant customer of Tessenderlo Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical has agreed Astellas compound that treats nocturia, Italia’s and thus a natural owner.— MM to acquire Inviragen , a Fort Collins, Colo.- a sleep disorder. Under the agreement, based vaccine developer, for $35 million Astellas will license ASP7035, currently in plus future payments of up to $215 million. Phase II clinical trials, to Tacurion Pharma, AESICA TAPS ACADEMIA Inviragen’s lead candidate, now in Phase II a virtual company operated by Drais. FOR AMIDE SYNTHESIS clinical trials, is a four-strain recombinant The deal is similar to two others Astellas viral vaccine for the prevention of dengue entered with other Drais-run virtual com- Aesica , a British contract manufacturer for fever, a mosquito-borne illness. Building panies, Telsar Pharma and Seldar Pharma, drug firms, has formed a research partner- on a Japanese vaccine business, Takeda to develop drugs for ulcerative colitis and ship with England’s University of Not- launched a global vaccine division in Janu- inflammatory bowel disease. Astellas and tingham to develop commercial methods ary 2012. Later that year it acquired Ligo- two venture capital firms, InterWest Part- for amide bond synthesis. It is the firm’s Cyte Pharmaceuticals and its norovirus ners and Sutter Hill Ventures, will invest a fourth collaboration with an academic vaccine candidate. — MM total of $15 million in Tacurion.— RM

BUSINESS plants. The firm did not Solazyme expects oils izing agent derived from maceuticals on designing ROUNDUP say how many jobs will be to be available from its apple and citrus peels. deuterium-modified com- affected. Brazilian joint venture DSM has the option to pounds to target cancer OMV, an Austrian refiner, next year. increase its stake to a and inflammation. Cel- is investing $300 mil- EXXONMOBIL has majority at a later stage. gene will pay an up-front lion to expand butadiene signed formal agree- PIXELLIGENT Technolo- Andre Pectin posts annual fee to Concert and pos- production at two of its ments regarding the sale gies, a maker of nano- sales of about $40 million. sibly more than $300 mil- refineries. It will build a of its biaxially oriented crystal dispersions for lion in milestones for each new butadiene plant in polypropylene film busi- electronic display, semi- NIMBUS DISCOVERY candidate it pursues. Burghausen, Germany, ness to the Indian firm conductor, and indus- and Shire are teaming up and expand an existing Jindal Poly Films for trial markets, has raised to develop small-molecule ABIDE THERAPEUTICS plant in Schwechat, Aus- $235 million. BOPP films $5.1 million in a round of treatments for rare ge- and Merck & Co. will tria. The company expects are used in packaging equity funding led by cur- netic diseases known develop small-molecule strong growth for the syn- such as potato chip bags rent investor Abell Foun- as lysosomal storage therapies to treat meta- thetic rubber raw material. and cigarette boxes. dation. The Baltimore- disorders. The partners bolic disease with a focus based company began say they will use Nimbus on type 2 diabetes. Abide , INTERNATIONAL Fla- SOLAZYME, a developer commercial shipments computational chemistry a specialist in hydrolase- vors & Fragrances will of algae-derived oils, has earlier this year. to develop drugs that can targeting drug develop- close its fragrance ingre- formed a partnership with penetrate inaccessible ment, will receive an dients manufacturing AkzoNobel to develop DSM has acquired a 19% tissues. up-front payment and as facility in Augusta, Ga., by renewable oils for surfac- stake in Yantai Andre Pec- much as $430 million in July 2014 and consolidate tants and coatings, two of tin, a Chinese producer of CELGENE is collaborat- milestone payments for production in existing Akzo’s main businesses. pectin, which is a textur- ing with Concert Phar- three products.

CEN.ACS.ORG 25 MAY 13, 2013 BUSINESS

considered a disappointment, it should be noted that the 2011 total was a record. TOP 50 U.S. CHEMICAL Profits also fell. The 42 chemical firms in the ranking that report operating prof- PRODUCERS its together posted a 3.2% decrease to $38.9 billion. As was the case for sales, the comparison year of 2011 was a record for Financial results reflect the economic challenges chemical company profitability. of 2012, but stock values point to OPTIMISM Only one firm, Ferro Corp., reported a ALEXANDER H. TULLO , C&EN NORTHEAST NEWS BUREAU loss. Ferro is a company in turmoil. Its CEO resigned last year. Activist shareholders are trying to get new directors elected to its C&EN’S LATEST SURVEY of the Top 50 from 2011. Twenty-six of the companies— board. And it is fending off a hostile take- U.S. chemical companies reveals a chemi- and seven of the top 10—posted sales over attempt by plastics compounding firm cal industry that, although healthy, is in no declines. Although the sales figure can be A. Schulman. better condition than it was a Mergers and acquisitions year ago. Both sales and profits had a big impact on the Top 50 for the largest chemical makers MARKET CAPITALIZATION ranking this year. Four firms were down slightly in 2012, the DuPont slipped but held on to the lead that previously appeared didn’t period of record for the survey. for the third consecutive year make the list this year because of However, chemical company acquisitions. stock prices rose strongly over MARKET CAP TPC Group, number 30 in RANK ($ MILLIONS) CHANGE FROM the course of the year. Investors 2012 2011 COMPANY 2012 2011 2012, was acquired by the pri- are apparently sending a signal: 1 1 DuPont $41,966 -1.0% vate equity firms SK Capital The sluggishness experienced 2 2 Dow Chemical 38,903 14.2 Partners and First Reserve and by the global economy in 2012 3 3 Praxair 32,419 1.6 no longer reports its results. was only temporary, and many 4 4 Mosaic 24,107 12.4 Solutia, number 34 last year, 5 6 PPG Industries 20,790 63.9 of the problems that worried 6 5 Air Products 17,443 -2.8 was purchased by tenth-ranked investors early in the year—in- 7 7 CF Industries 12,799 35.0 Eastman Chemical. Titanium cluding a European recession 8 11 Eastman Chemical 10,473 95.9 dioxide maker Tronox, number and softness in China—will be 9 8 Sigma-Aldrich 8,830 16.8 37 in last year’s survey, merged overcome. 10 10 FMC Corp. 8,058 34.2 with the mineral sands business In his letter to shareholders, 11 9 Celanese 7, 107 2.6 of Exxaro Resources and now 12 13 Ashland 6,352 41.9 Andrew N. Liveris, chief execu- 13 12 Albemarle 5,522 20.7 has its headquarters in Aus- tive officer of Dow Chemical , 14 16 Westlake Chemical 5,305 98.3 tralia. Sunoco, number 45 last noted the challenges he faced 15 14 W.R. Grace 5,083 49.8 year, exited chemicals through navigating his firm, again 16 15 Rockwood Specialties 3,883 28.2 deals such as the sale of its poly- number one in C&EN’s rank- 17 18 Huntsman Corp. 3,789 60.8 propylene business to Brazil’s ing, through a difficult year. 18 17 NewMarket Corp. 3,513 32.4 Braskem. 19 21 Cytec Industries 3,090 52.1 “The world continued its rocky 20 22 Cabot Corp. 2,547 25.8 recovery in 2012, with volatil- 21 20 Kronos Worldwide 2,260 8.1 OTHER TRANSACTIONS ity and uncertainty proving to 22 25 Chemtura 2,083 90.8 made chemical firms move up be the new normal,” he wrote. 23 24 H.B. Fuller 1,738 51.9 and down the ranking. Ashland “Persistent weakness in Europe 24 23 Olin 1,732 10.0 jumped to 14, from 20 the year was a continued drag on global 25 30 Axiall 1,424 113.7 before, thanks to a full year [economic] growth, while dra- 26 27 Stepan 1,222 49.4 of regular operations after its 27 26 Innophos 1,014 -3.4 matic declines in China, Brazil, 28 32 Innospec 804 24.5 2011 purchase of International and other emerging geographies 29 29 Koppers 786 11.0 Specialty Products. Cytec In- introduced new risks to a sus- 30 31 Kraton Polymers 776 19.1 dustries dropped to 35, from 26, tained recovery.” 31 28 OM Group 708 -0.8 largely because of the divesti- U.S. chemical companies 32 25 Ferro Corp. 390 -14.5 ture of its coatings resins busi- were pulled down by these 33 35 Omnova 329 56.1 ness to the private equity firm factors, but not sharply. Com- NOTE: Based on share prices on Dec. 31, 2012 and Dec. 30, 2011. These 33 companies Advent International. are firms on the Top 50 list that generate more than half of their revenues through bined sales for the Top 50 were chemical manufacturing. Mergers and acquisitions $318.7 billion, a 3.1% decline activity also influenced C&EN’s

Investors are apparently sending a signal: The sluggishness experienced by the global economy in 2012 was only temporary.

CEN.ACS.ORG 26 MAY 13, 2013 TOP 50 U.S. CHEMICAL FIRMS Revenues declined at most large companies because of economic woes in 2012

CHEMICAL CHEMICAL OPERATING CHEMICAL OPERATING CHEMICAL SALES AS CHEMICAL PROFITS AS IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS RETURN SALES CHANGE % OF OPERATING CHANGE % OF TOTAL OPERATING CHEMICAL AS % OF ON RANK ($ MILLIONS) FROM TOTAL PROFITSa FROM OPERATING PROFIT ASSETS TOTAL CHEMICAL 2012 2011 COMPANY 2012 2011 SALES HEADQUARTERS ($ MILLIONS) 2011 PROFITS MARGINb ($ MILLIONS) ASSETS ASSETSc 1 1 Dow Chemical $56,786 -5.3% 100.0% Midland, Mich. $4,425 -2.1% 100.0% 7.8 % $ 69,6 0 5 100.0% 6.4% 2 2 ExxonMobil 38,726 -7.7 8.5 Irving, Texas 4,885 -16.9 6.4 12.6 26,124 7.8 18.7 3 3 DuPontd 30,216 -13.1 86.8 Wilmington, Del. 4,688 -15.5 97.0 15.5 16,243 64.0 28.9 4 5 PPG Industries 14,168 2.5 93.2 Pittsburgh 2,199 13.9 97. 2 15.5 10,990 69.2 20.0 5 4 Chevron Phillips 13,307 -4.5 100.0 The Woodlands, na na na na 9,409 100.0 na Texa s 6 6 Praxaird 11,224 -0.2 100.0 Danbury, Conn. 3,460 -0.1 100.0 30.8 18,090 100.0 19.1 7 7 Huntsman Corp. 11,187 -0.3 100.0 Salt Lake City 931 23.6 100.0 8.3 8,884 100.0 10.5 8 8 Mosaice 11,108 11.8 100.0 Plymouth, Minn. 2,675 -2.7 100.0 24.1 16,690 100.0 16.0 9 9 Air Productsf 9,192 -5.1 95.6 Allentown, Pa. 1,582 -2.6 97. 3 17. 2 15,574 91.9 10.2 10 11 Eastman 8,102 12.9 100.0 Kingsport, Tenn. 920 -9.2 100.0 11.4 11,619 100.0 7. 9 Chemical 11 10 Momentive 7, 1 1 3 -9.3 100.0 Columbus, Ohio 465 -39.7 100.0 6.5 6,229 100.0 7. 5 12 12 Celanese 6,418 -5.1 100.0 Dallas 583 - 27. 3 100.0 9.1 9,000 100.0 6.5 13 17 Honeywell d 6,184 9.3 16.4 Morristown, N.J. 1,154 10.7 19.6 18.7 6,396 15.3 18.0 14 20 Ashlandf 6,172 36.2 75.2 Covington, Ky. 628 108.6 72.7 10.2 9,665 90.5 6.5 15 13 Dow Corning 6,119 -4.8 100.0 Midland, Mich. na na na na 13,301 100.0 na 16 15 CF Industries 6,104 0.1 100.0 Long Grove, Ill. 2,962 7. 1 100.0 48.5 10,167 100.0 29.1 17 14 Lubrizol 6,100 0.0 100.0 Wickliffe, Ohio na na na na na na na 18 16 Styron 5,500 -8.3 100.0 Berwyn, Pa. na na na na na na na 19 19 Ecolab 5,161 11.0 43.6 St. Paul 682 27. 2 53.1 13.2 11,215 63.8 6.1 20 18 Occidental 4,580 -4.9 18.9 Los Angeles 720 -16.4 9.3 15.7 3,854 6.0 18.7 Petroleum 21 22 FMC Corp. 3,748 11.0 100.0 Philadelphia 696 12.4 100.0 18.6 4,374 100.0 15.9 22 23 Monsanto g 3,715 14.7 27.5 St. Louis 477 69.8 15.7 12.8 4,280 21.2 11.1 23 21 Westlake 3,571 -1.3 100.0 Houston 615 37.7 100.0 17. 2 3,412 100.0 18.0 Chemical 24 25 Cabot Corp.f 3,300 6.4 100.0 Boston 290 19.3 100.0 8.8 4,399 100.0 6.6 25 24 W.R. Grace 3,156 -1.8 100.0 Columbia, Md. 564 7. 5 100.0 17.9 5,090 100.0 11.1 26 27 Rockwood 2,819 -7.7 80.4 Princeton, N.J. 363 -26.3 75.1 12.9 4,070 68.1 8.9 Specialties 27 29 Albemarle 2,745 -4.3 100.0 Richmond, Va. 518 -11.9 100.0 18.9 3,437 100.0 15.1 28 31 Axiall 2,685 4.3 80.7 Atlanta 302 96.4 94.3 11.2 1,147 63.6 26.3 29 28 Chemtura 2,629 -13.1 100.0 Philadelphia 348 0.3 100.0 13.2 3,030 100.0 11.5 30 33 NewMarket Corp. 2,212 3.5 100.0 Richmond, Va. 366 21.1 100.0 16.5 1,258 100.0 29.1 31 35 Kronos 1,976 1.7 100.0 Dallas 377 -31.9 100.0 19.1 2,027 100.0 18.6 Worldwide 32 39 H.B. Fullerh 1,886 21.1 100.0 St. Paul 163 26.0 100.0 8.6 1,786 100.0 9.1 33 36 Stepan 1,804 -2.1 100.0 Northfield, Ill. 129 8.6 100.0 7. 1 986 100.0 13.1 34 32 Ferro Corp.d 1,769 -18.0 100.0 Mayfield Heights, -5 def def def 1,079 100.0 def Ohio 35 26 Cytec Industries 1,708 -44.4 100.0 Woodland Park, 326 5.8 100.0 19.1 3,922 100.0 8.3 N.J. 36 40 Sigma-Aldrich 1,574 4.7 60.0 St. Louis na na na na na na na 37 41 Kraton Polymers 1,423 -1.0 100.0 Houston 102 -45.4 100.0 7. 2 1,229 100.0 8.3 38 42 Olin 1,411 1.6 64.6 Clayton, Mo. 263 7.4 81.5 18.7 1,782 64.1 14.8 39 39 Goodyear 1,260 -20.9 6.0 Akron, Ohio na na na na na na na 40 43 Reichhold 1,162 -1.8 100.0 Research Trian- na na na na na na na gle Park, N.C. 41 — Taminco 1,116 -0.6 100.0 Allentown, Pa. 120 -23.1 100.0 10.8 1,847 100.0 6.5 42 46 Koppers 1,106 8.9 71.1 Pittsburgh 83 -6.7 65.6 7. 5 516 66.2 16.1 43 48 MeadWestvaco 939 15.8 17.2 Richmond, Va. 224 10.3 32.1 23.9 506 9.1 44.3 44 47 Omnovai 865 -9.2 76.8 Fairlawn, Ohio 90 3.6 95.9 10.4 543 62.1 16.5 45 44 OM Group 864 -22.2 52.8 Cleveland, Ohio 44 -69.0 nm 5.1 1,092 43.7 4.1 46 48 Innophos 862 6.4 100.0 Cranbury, N.J. 110 -19.7 100.0 12.8 739 100.0 14.9 47 50 Innospec 776 0.3 100.0 Littleton, Colo. 100 91.0 100.0 12.8 579 100.0 17. 2 48 — Petrologistics 751 22.1 100.0 Houston 144 221.9 100.0 19.2 798 100.0 18.1 49 — PolyOned 704 29.2 23.5 Avon Lake, Ohio 67 53.9 40.0 9.5 888 41.7 7. 5 50 — Emerald Perfor- 700 5.3 100.0 Cuyahoga Falls, na na na na na na na mance Materials Ohio a Operating profit is sales less administrative expenses and cost of sales. b Operating profit as a percentage of sales. c Chemical operating profit as a percentage of identifiable assets. d Sales include a significant amount of nonchemical products. e Fiscal year ended May 31. f Fiscal year ended Sept. 30. g Fiscal year ended Aug. 31. h Fiscal year ended Dec. 3. i Fiscal year ended Nov. 30. na = not available. nm = not meaningful. def = deficit.

CEN.ACS.ORG 27 MAY 13, 2013 ranking of the Top 25 foreign firms by PRODUCTS AIR U.S. chemical sales. For example, Solvay climbed to number eight because of its 2011 acquisition of French chemical mak- er Rhodia. AkzoNobel fell four spots to number nine after selling its U.S. architec- tural paints business to PPG Industries. Christopher D. Cerimele, director of the chemical practice at the investment banking firm Houlihan Lokey, has seen a pickup in deal-making over the past year. Companies that are selling are trying to get rid of divisions that are no longer a good fit, he says, and those that are acquiring want operations that line up closely with what they already have.

A DECADE AGO, in contrast, companies often ventured into unfamiliar territory for greater size and diversification. “Com- meltdown, has come back ALL CLEAR Workers in the Private equity firms also panies in this market are not making big strong, largely because control room at Air Products & have a positive impression Chemicals’ Pasadena, Texas, stretches to grow revenues,” Cerimele of central bank policies customer service center. of the chemical sector, ac- says. “Now there is a strong strategic around the world aimed cording to Cerimele. “They rationale.” at stimulating economies see it as an attractive sector Private equity firms are also eyeing the with low interest rates. within industrials right chemical industry, Cerimele says. Financ- “The financing markets are as good as they now,” he says. Because chemical compa- ing, which took a hiatus during the housing have ever been,” he says. nies supply every sector of the economy, a chemical investment is a way for a private equity firm to position itself for a strong STRONG YEAR recovery ahead. Foreign-owned chemical firms mostly saw strong increases Stock buyers seem to agree. C&EN’s ranking of firms by market capitalization U.S. CHEMICAL U.S. CHEMICAL shows that 2012 was a good year for chemi- SALES CHANGE SALES AS RANK ($ MILLIONS) FROM % OF TOTAL cal stock prices. The combined market capi- 2012 2011 COMPANY 2012 2011 U.S. SALES COUNTRY talization for the 33 publicly traded chemi- 1 1 BASF $18,772 -0.9% 100.0% Germany cal firms in the Top 50 was $277.2 billion 2 2 LyondellBasell Industries 12,934 -13.1 100.0 Netherlands at the end of 2012, an 18.1% increase from 3 3 Agrium a 10,776 12.8 100.0 Canada 4 4 Bayer 5,908 20.5 48.0 Germany 2011. In contrast, the Standard & Poor’s 500 5 6 Air Liquide 3,996 8.7 100.0 France stock index rose 13.4% during the year. 6 7 Evonik Industries 3,116 -12.4 100.0 Germany DuPont held on to the top spot in this 7 15 Linde 3,095 44.6 91.9 Germany ranking, despite a 1.0% decline in its mar- 8 22 Solvay 3,002 100.6 100.0 Belgium ket cap. Its margin over number two Dow 9 5 AkzoNobel 2,950 -30.8 100.0 Netherlands shrank to $3.1 billion from $8.3 billion the 10 10 Alfa Group 2,935 15.7 64.0 Mexico year before. 11 8 Braskem 2,889 12.1 100.0 Brazil 12 12 Arkema 2,819 12.6 100.0 France There were a few impressive gainers 13 17 Indorama 2,719 36.5 100.0 Thailand in the capitalization ranking. Axiall, the 14 9 Potash Corp. 2,648 2.8 100.0 Canada polyvinyl chloride and chlor-alkali firm 15 14 Syngenta 2,577 19.4 65.6 Switzerland formerly known as Georgia Gulf, enjoyed 16 11 Nova Chemicals 2,309 -8.7 100.0 Canada a 113.7% increase in market cap to $1.4 bil- 17 16 Yara 2,253 10.7 100.0 Norway lion. Axiall is merging with PPG’s com- 18 18 DSM 2,093 8.2 100.0 Netherlands 19 20 Lanxess 2,071 10.5 100.0 Germany modity chemicals business. Three other 20 21 Sasol b 2,031 26.2 100.0 South Africa firms—Eastman, Westlake Chemical, and 21 19 Shin-Etsu Chemicalc 2,000 4.3 100.0 Japan Chemtura—each posted gains of more 22 23 Lonza 1,803 48.2 100.0 Switzerland than 90%. 23 13 Total 1,759 -28.3 7.8 France If the instincts of stock investors and 24 25 Israel Chemical 1,115 8.1 100.0 Israel private equity firms turn out to be correct, 25 — Wacker Chemie 1,051 4.4 100.0 Germany C&EN’s 2014 U.S. Top 50 will reflect strong NOTE: Figures from companies that report in native currencies were converted to dollars at average annual improvement in the chemical sector. Per- exchange rates from the Federal Reserve. a Sales include a significant amount of nonchemical products. b Fiscal year ended June 30. c Fiscal year ended March 31. haps the industry will even return to hit- ting records for sales and profits. ◾

CEN.ACS.ORG 28 MAY 13, 2013 BUSINESS

HAIR FIX Dow

DOW CHEMICAL out and strengthens scientists examine the fiber.” Intra- hair treated for curl retention. Cyclane can be found in the filler serum Fiberceutic by L’Oréal Professional. Germany’s Henkel is also on the hunt for novel hair care ingredients. “Innovation in hair repair is a key element in Henkel’s hair care strategy,” Erik Schulze zur Wiesche, head of hair care basic development, tells C&EN. “A deep understanding of hair com- position and the mechanisms of aging are the basis of new hair repair innovations.” Among those innovations is a combina- tion of nine amino acids with structural proteins known as keratins that Henkel de- veloped and patented for its BC Bonacure Hairtherapy line. The active ingredients add “strength and elasticity for outstand- HAIR CARE INGREDIENT ing shine,” according to Henkel. COMPANIES SEEK OUT novel ingredi- MAKERS GET CREATIVE ents to gain a competitive advantage in the global hair care products business, which Chemists meet demand for NOVEL INGREDIENTS attracts more than $60 billion in annual that repair, add shine, and protect color consumer spending, according to industry consultants Kline & Co. About 21% of the MARC S. REISCH , C&EN NORTHEAST NEWS BUREAU $300 billion spent globally last year on per- sonal care products was devoted to clean- ing, conditioning, dyeing, and arranging CONSUMERS DEMAND A LOT from hair combing, says Ameann DeJohn, a prod- human tresses. Only skin care gets a bigger care products beyond keeping hair clean. uct development consultant for small to share of consumers’ wallets. They want shampoos and conditioners medium-sized consumer product formula- Overall, the retail hair care market is that make hair shiny, manageable, and tors. These products are being called on growing by 4.5% per year, according to soft. They want to repair hair damaged and to strengthen the hair so it doesn’t break, Nikola Matic, chemical and materials in- weakened in the dyeing process, and they repair frizzy hair, and give hair the radiant dustry manager at Kline. Growth rates are want to protect newly colored hair from shine of youth. faster, Matic says, in emerging markets— fading in the sun or with repeated washing. “In many ways, hair care formulators they are as high as 8.0% in China, Southeast They also want a tonic, if they can get it, to are treating hair like skin, with antiaging Asia, and India. A growing middle class in make hair grow. ingredients,” DeJohn says. Just as skin care these regions is demanding products that Chemists who formulate hair care companies incorporate sunscreens in their have long been available in Europe and the products and those who develop new in- products to protect the skin from the dam- U.S., he notes. gredients bring a veritable arsenal of raw aging effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays, Chemical companies, which supply materials to hair treatment. Some of them hair care firms are developing ingredients the cosmetics industry with $14 billion to work for major consumer product brand that protect hair from the bleaching and $18 billion per year of ingredients, should owners such as L’Oréal and Henkel ; others fading effects of the sun. also see sales grow quickly in emerging work for chemical companies that supply The major consumer brand owners often markets, Matic says. Specialty ingredients ingredients to the personal care industry. set the pace for ingredient invention. Paris- for hair care products is a lucrative $2.5 bil- Ingredients for hair care include the well based L’Oréal, for instance, has developed lion subset of their business, he points out. established: silicones for shine, quaternary a number of novel ingredients for hair. The Out to garner a piece of the hair care in- ammonium compounds for easier comb- firm describes Intra-Cyclane, introduced in gredients market is Symrise , an established ing, proteins for thickening, and polyvinyl- 2010, as a molecule capable of penetrating supplier of fragrances and sunscreens that pyrrolidone for shaping and styling. But to the core of hair fibers to create “a flexible is becoming increasingly interested in hair the hair care sector is being enlivened by and resistant molecular network that fills care. At the In-Cosmetics ingredient sup- entirely new ingredients as well as propri- etary packages that combine the old stand- bys in novel ways. “People are damaging their hair more and These days, shampoos and conditioners are meant to do more than cleanse and ease more with what they do to stay beautiful.”

CEN.ACS.ORG 29 MAY 13, 2013 BUSINESS

pliers’ show in Paris last month, Symrise says, when Cutech Biotechnology, an Italian debuted SymHair Force 1631, an algae- PERSONAL CARE Hair and skin and hair testing laboratory with which derived compound intended to prevent skin care products dominate the Symrise has a long relationship, paired Sym- hair loss and encourage hair growth. consumer market. rise with Archimede. Oral care Of the thousands of microalgae spe- 9% INGREDIENT SUPPLIERS have long had Skin care cies known, only a few are commercially an interest in hair growth, especially since Fragrance 29% available, Maurin explains. One of those 11% minoxidil, a blood pressure medication, screened by Symrise and Cutech seemed was found years ago to prevent hair loss promising: Isochrysis, a species of micro- and induce new hair growth. L’Oréal, for algae that comes from Mataiva Atoll, in Toiletries instance, developed stemoxydine, an ingre- 15% French Polynesia. dient that it claims revitalizes hair follicles Easily cultivated in photobioreactors, Makeup Hair care that have become dormant while increasing 15% 21% the microalgae are currently used as a fish the volume and density of hair. European food because they are loaded with un- consumers can find the ingredient in 2012 worldwide retail sales = $300 billion saturated fatty acids and micronutrients. L’Oréal’s Neogenic by Vichy hair treatment. SOURCE: Kline & Co. Symrise found in laboratory tests that an Makers of similar active ingredients extract from the algae prevented hair loss generally try to avoid claiming that those dil is the only FDA-approved hair growth and improved volume. “We don’t know ingredients actually grow new hair. Com- ingredient in the U.S. what the active component is that makes panies that make the claim in the U.S. take Symrise’s target market for SymHair— SymHair effective,” Maurin acknowledges. the risk of running afoul of Food & Drug at least in the U.S.—is formulators of Minoxidil aside, hair care companies Administration regulations that prohibit minoxidil-free products that profess to pre- can’t necessarily make hair grow, but they cosmetic makers from making druglike vent hair loss. The development of SymHair can bring an arsenal of ingredients to the claims for their products. Since 2002, FDA was a joint effort with the Italian microalgae task of protecting its color. Given the mul- has sent warning letters to six cosmetics producer Archimede Richerche, explains titude of people who color their hair, prod- makers that claim their products grow hair Véronique Maurin, global product director ucts that protect color between dye treat- or prevent male pattern baldness. Minoxi- for Symrise. Opportunity knocked, Maurin ments have become something of an indus-

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CELEBRATES 90 YEARS 9 Stronger bonds..

CEN.ACS.ORG 30 MAY 13, 2013 O + CH3 N N H R CH O CH3 try obsession. Examples on store shelves little to protect 3 – molecule’s active include Avon’s Advance Techniques Color the hair, Koshti Cl cationic center R = C22H45 Protection shampoo, Nivea Color Protect says. Galaxy’s new GalHueShield HCS gives it a high affin- conditioner, and Dove Hair Therapy Con- GalHueShield Hair ity for hair, leaving more of ditioner Color Repair. Color Seal combines in a single molecule the active ingredient behind after rinsing “the best” quaternary ammonium com- to condition dyed hair and protect its color. SILICONES TEND TO BE the workhorse of pound, behenyl trimethyl ammonium Other chemistry systems also compete hair conditioners and shampoos. They are chloride, with “the best” UV absorber, in the color protection space. Some are widely used to make hair shiny and easy to octyl methoxy cinnamate, he claims. The based on acrylic technology, such as a new comb, but more recently silicones have been developed that coat the hair, protecting it from breakage and helping to preserve color. “A major trend is the Swiss-Army-knife ap- proach to hair care ingredients,” says David Cohon, personal care global marketing di- rector for Momentive , a silicones supplier. With silicones such as its Silsoft AX- emulsion formulation, Momentive can provide consumer product formulators with multiple benefit claims. Those claims, Cohon says, include color protection, hair repair, shine, and protection from damage caused by blow-dryers and curling irons. Silicones are often seen as the chemis- try to beat in the hair conditioning arena. Under attack a few years ago because of suspicion that they harm the environment, silicones have been seen more favorably since the Canadian government agency En- vironment Canada gave silicones used in hair care a clean bill of health in 2012. In addition, silicones are often attacked because they are not considered natural ingredients, acknowledges Stewart Long, global market manager for Dow Corning , another major silicone supplier. “The rea- son silicone chemistry was invented was to get properties not already in nature,” he says. The trick is to use the right technol- ogy in the right place, he adds. Very small amounts of silicones can often allow formulators to provide more desirable consumer products, Long says. For instance, Spectrum offers a Full line of Controlled Substances formulating shampoos and conditioners with just 2% of Dow Corning’s CE-8411 non- & Custom Synthesis of small molecules. ionic silicone emulsion provides color pro- tection benefits, enhances hair shine, and helps prevent hair breakage, Long says. ® One challenger to silicones is the com- Spectrum Brand Chemicals are in Pharmaceuticals, Cosmetics, Food, bination of a quaternary ammonium com- Aerospace Industries, Research Laboratories, Analytical Laboratories pound and an ultraviolet light absorber. & most Industries where High Purity Chemicals are Required. Hair care product makers have recently launched a number of shampoos and sprays Also available from Fisher Scientific & VWR International intended to protect dyed hair from color washout and ultraviolet light damage, notes and other Domestic and International Distributors Nirmal Koshti, innovation process head at India’s Galaxy Surfactants. Often the prod- 800.772.8786 ucts incorporate this ingredient pairing. But such water-soluble formulations SpectrumChemical.com tend to rinse off in the shower, leaving

CEN.ACS.ORG 31 MAY 13, 2013 BUSINESS O NH2

O O line of ingredients from Ashland , which Dow touts EcoSmooth’s N Symrise also has a plant-

N H N

H bought International Specialty Products low toxicity to aquatic organ- O H derived hair care ingredient, and its personal care ingredients business isms. Other firms, meanwhile, Dragoderm 118726, intended in 2011. “People are damaging their hair are emphasizing hair treatment to make hair softer and shinier. H N more and more with what they do to stay agents based on nature-derived 2 O A hydrophobic solution of wheat beautiful,” says Dianne Leipold, Ashland’s ingredients. Dragoderm proteins, the product coats the care specialties marketing director. Tri-K Industries , a U.S.-based hair shaft and helps keep colored Ashland’s Conditioneze 22, an aqueous cosmetic ingredients supplier owned by hair from fading, Symrise says. copolymer of dimethyl ammonium chlo- India’s Galaxy, used a protein from grain, A new ingredient from BASF , called Plan- ride and acrylic acid, for instance, can be in this case quinoa, to design a conditioner taquat NC, calls on plant-derived lecithin to incorporated into a hair coloring system to help dyed hair retain its color after give conditioning properties. Ulrich Issber- as well as into shampoos and conditioners repeated washing. “Consumers are look- ner, head of hair care marketing for BASF, for damaged and treated hair, Leipold says. ing for conditioners that help with color says the lecithin-based ingredient “gives Using acrylics makes it possible to offer retention in addition to strengthening and performance that couldn’t be achieved with formulators a high-performance system “at repairing hair weakened in the dyeing pro- an all-natural conditioner before.” Blending price points amenable to mass markets,” cess,” says Elzbieta Kasprzyk, innovation in an anionic surfactant forms an emulsion she adds. and application director at Tri-K. allowing the lecithin to more effectively de- Another silicone challenger using acrylic posit on the hair, reducing hair breakage and chemistry is Dow Chemical ’s EcoSmooth ON THE BASIS OF the amino acid pro- adding volume to thin hair, Issberner says. Silk. Its acrylic-based polymer helps dis- file of Quinoa Pro Ex, the Tri-K protein, Given the large number of consumers perse an anionic polyolefin that binds to company scientists theorized that it could who color their hair, Matic, the Kline con- the hair surface, offering protective ben- be especially color protective, Kasprzyk sultant, predicts that conditioning polymers efits, Dow says. Greater use of heat to dry says. Pro Ex forms a “protective scaffold” will be the fastest-growing specialty ingredi- and style hair means a need for condition- around hair to lock in and protect the color, ent category. And with consumers obsessed ing agents that protect hair from damage, she says. It brings other benefits as well, with colorful, glowing, shiny hair, chemical says Lucréce Foufopoulos, a Dow general she adds, such as making hair easier to companies should have a ready market for manager for Europe, Middle East, and Asia. comb and giving it a youthful sheen. ingredients of all types for years to come. ◾

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CEN.ACS.ORG 32 MAY 13, 2013 GOVERNMENT & POLICY CONCENTRATES

CO 2 CAPTURE EFFORT GOVERNOR SEEKS CHANGES PROGRESSES TO PROPOSITION 65 The Department of Energy will support the FutureGen carbon capture and storage California Gov. Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr. (D) is proposing changes to facility in Meredosia, Ill. In a draft envi- the state’s Proposition 65 . That 1986 law lists chemicals known to cause ronmental impact statement, DOE recom- cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm; requires warning labels on mends spending $1 billion in cost-shared funding to modify a 168-MW coal-fired products that contain those substances; and prohibits their discharge electric generation plant to use advanced into drinking water sources. One reform Brown proposed last week would affect warning labels for products containing chemicals causing repro- combustion technology to capture CO 2. If completed, the modified facility will ductive toxicity. Prop 65 now exempts businesses from labeling such capture, compress, and transport some chemicals if they are present in a product at a concentration no greater 90%, or 1 million metric tons, of the plant’s than 0.001 of the level at which there are no observed effects in humans yearly CO2 emissions. CO 2 would be in- for that substance. Citing advances in risk assessment since 1986, Brown jected at a geological storage site 30 miles is seeking to loosen this limit to 0.01 of the no-observed-effects level. The away. First announced in 2003, this project proposal also would toughen legal requirements for those suing business- has had difficulty finding investors willing es for allegedly violating Prop 65. — CH to match DOE’s funding. Although Future- Gen would be the world’s largest carbon capture facility, it would only incremental- ly reduce U.S. CO2 emissions. For compari- ability from the rail carrier to the shipper CANADA REVAMPS son, coal-fired plants in 2012 released some is reasonable. Under the proposal, chemi- RESEARCH COUNCIL 1.6 billion metric tons of CO2 . —JJ cal shippers would have been required to indemnify Union Pacific for “any and Canada’s ruling conservative government all liabilities,” except those caused by the announced last week that it will refocus the BOARD REJECTS BID TO negligence or fault of the rail company. But country’s National Research Council (NRC) SHIFT HAZMAT LIABILITY STB ruled that the plan was “overly broad” on industry-related research. The organiza- because it would have required shippers to tion, which includes 4,000 workers in 50 The Surface Transportation Board (STB) shield Union Pacific from liability even in research facilities nationwide, had primarily has rejected a petition filed by Union Pacif- situations where the railroad “can already supported basic science since its founding ic that would have allowed the freight rail- protect itself through insurance.” — GH in 1916. NRC will now focus on “large-scale road to require shippers research projects that are directed by and of highly toxic chemicals for Canadian businesses,” according to a to assume most of the statement announcing the change. The financial risk of trans- goal is to help companies bridge technol- porting these commodi- ogy gaps. “The refocused NRC will provide SHUTTERSTOCK ties. The board, which is Canadian industries with access to strategic part of the Department research and development; technical servic- of Transportation, con- es; and specialized scientific infrastructure, cluded that Union Pa- technical expertise, and people,” says Gary cific failed to adequately T. Goodyear, minister of state for science show that shifting li- and technology. — AW

GOVERNMENT accepting comments on competitive grants at the eration units of less than tons, or nearly 85% of its ROUNDUP the plan through May 21. Departments of Defense 5 MW (S. 306, S. 545, H.R. declared stocks. and of Energy. 628, and H.R. 267). MILK’S legal definition, THREE NEW manufac- NANOPARTICLES of along with those of 17 oth- turing research institutes ENERGY BILLS were ap- LIBYA has completed germanium dioxide are er dairy products, would will be launched in 2013, proved by the Senate En- the destruction of sulfur now covered by a new change under a pro- the White House says. ergy & Natural Resources mustard agent that was regulation in Canada. posal from dairy industry The centers will focus Committee last week. The stored in bulk in transpor- Manufacturers must groups. It would allow on integrating digital measures would encour- tation containers, says notify the government producers to include arti- design and robotics with age energy efficiency in the Organisation for the if they make more than ficial sweeteners without manufacturing, designing buildings for both the Prohibition of Chemical 100 kg per year of GeO2 using a prominent label. advanced materials, and public and private sec- Weapons. That brings the nanoparticles. Canadian Current rules require a creating the next genera- tors (S. 761) and support total amount of chemi- regulators are concerned label descriptor such as tion of electronics. They development of small hy- cal weapons destroyed about the potential toxic- “reduced calorie.” FDA is will be chosen through dropower electricity gen- by Libya to 22.3 metric ity of this nanomaterial.

CEN.ACS.ORG 33 MAY 13, 2013 GOVERNMENT & POLICY

CONNECTIONS “Science is central Gast (right)has to some of the major tea in Uzbekistan foreign policy chal- DEPARTMENT OF STATE OF DEPARTMENT with local residents (center) lenges today, and the during her trip to really remarkable Central Asia as a thing has been the science envoy. State Department’s recognition of that,” says Vaughan Tu- rekian, chief international officer with the American Association for the Advance- ment of Science (AAAS). The new secretary of state, John F. Kerry, recognizes the international importance of science and its value in addressing some of the world’s most entrenched challenges such as climate change.

THAT WASN’T THE CASE in 1999, when STATE OF SCIENCE NRC released its report criticizing State’s knowledge of and expertise in science. In the wake of the Cold War, much of the sci- DIPLOMACY ence knowledge that State had built up— primarily surrounding nuclear weapons Science is becoming increasingly important in issues—began fading. The report called for DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS at the State Department the agency to make major changes to ensure that it was not isolated from important sci- ANDREA WIDENER , C&EN WASHINGTON ence developments affecting the world. “An appreciation of how [science, tech- nology, and health] factors are inextricably AL I C E P. G AS T isn’t a diplomat. But when (NRC) report 14 years ago criticized the embedded in international relations is es- the Department of State asked the president department for its lack of science ex- sential if the department is to effectively of Lehigh University to serve as a science pertise, State has increased its efforts to avail itself of the expertise of the U.S. [re- envoy to Central Asia, she was eager to help. understand and incorporate science into search] communities,” the report states. Gast, a chemical engineer, traveled with its diplomatic work. Further spurring this “More importantly, the department must State Department representatives across change was demand from countries that be equipped to reach its own conclusions, the part of the former Soviet Union that State works with as well as recognition by particularly when conflicting technical bridges the Middle East and Asia. She talked those inside the department of the scien- views are expressed by vested interests with all types of people, from presidents to tific challenges that all nations face, from outside the department.” business leaders to student scientists. disease pandemics to water shortages. State did not implement all of the chang- Her work as a science envoy was “an op- “We are trying to use science as a tool to es suggested in the report, but it has made portunity to bring a private citizen—not a advance a more prosperous, secure, peace- major efforts to bring more science knowl- member of the diplomatic corps—in to talk ful world,” says E. William Colglazier, sci- edge into the department. The highest- to fellow scientific and government leaders ence adviser to the secretary of state. “I’m profile change was creating the position in ways that were really beneficial,” says really optimistic” that science can help. of science adviser to the secretary of state, Gast, who has international interests and Both supporters and critics say State whose office serves as the go-to location research connections dating back to when could do better, but acknowledge that in for those interested in science diplomacy, she was a postdoc in Paris in 1984 and 1985. the past decade the department’s scientific both inside and outside the department. Science envoys are high-profile scien- expertise has improved. However, State is “I think the issues are still real, but a lot tists chosen by the State Department to fighting an uphill battle against those—in- has changed,” says Norman P. Neureiter, a make connections and identify opportuni- cluding several prominent members of Con- chemist who served as the first science ad- ties for engagement in different regions. “I gress—who would prefer that research done viser from 2000 to 2003 under both Mad- would hope that my report on the situation in the U.S. stay at home. eleine Albright and Colin Powell. there will help point out how to build more U.S. bridges in that region,” Gast says. The four-year-old science envoy pro- gram is just part of the increasing recogni- “The hallmarks of good science ... just tion at the State Department that science happen to reinforce good government can play a valuable role in diplomacy. Since a National Research Council concepts and democratic procedures.”

CEN.ACS.ORG 34 MAY 13, 2013 In the everyday affairs of your average in 2011–12 from the Colorado School of example, the science adviser to the secre- embassy or consulate, “science is usually Mines, says he felt underutilized writing tary of state actually reports to the under- not the dominant issue,” Neureiter says, speeches and going to meetings. secretary for economic growth, energy, and and foreign service officers on the ground “Meeting and talking with people is the the environment. He thinks the State De- often lack scientific expertise. This be- number one priority” at State, he says. “The partment needs more of a scientific culture comes a problem when they need to make value system is quite different” from his re- of research and analysis. a policy recommendation on an issue but search mentality as an academic chemist. Although Ph.D. scientists are still in might not recognize that science could Eberhart is concerned that science ad- the vast minority at State, their numbers help them in the first place. vice isn’t reaching the highest levels—for are increasing, Colglazier says. Many fel- “A policy decision usually starts down low and has to come up through the chain,” Neureiter says. “It is too late if you are wait- ing to whisper in the secretary’s ear.” Some offices within the State De- partment, like the Bureau of Oceans & Environmental Scientific Affairs (OES), had that expertise internally, but science wasn’t part of the larger foreign service culture. “The challenge was, how do we bring the scientific advice necessary for the conduct of foreign policy not just to oceans and environment issues but to the broad sweep of issues we have to deal with as a department?” explains Jonathan Mar- golis, acting deputy assistant secretary for OES.

IN RESPONSE, State has been increas- ing the number of scientists who come into the department on a temporary basis through fellowship programs and work at different parts of the agency. Science and technology policy fellows from AAAS form the largest block at State, but other fellowships also bring scientists into the department, including State’s own Jef- ferson Science Fellowships for midcareer scientists. Shara Williams’ experience as a fellow gave her insight into how complicated international relations can be. “You get an understanding of all of the different issues that need to be weighed and the amount of effort that goes into a policy statement,” says Williams, who was an American Chemical Society policy fellow at State in 2004 and stayed on at State in 2005. Even if a fellow’s training is in, say, chemistry or physics, “it could be surpris- ing to find out that you really are the clos- est thing to a marine fisheries expert that is available,” says Williams, who is now at RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research organization. “What that background does is equip you to have a conversation with someone who knows the science.” The transition from scientist to policy expert, even temporarily, isn’t always easy. Mark E. Eberhart, who came to State as a midcareer Jefferson Science Fellow

CEN.ACS.ORG 35 MAY 13, 2013 GOVERNMENT & POLICY

Finland Sweden Estonia Norway Russia Latvia Denmark Germany Poland Hungary Czech Republic Slovenia Ukraine Croatia Slovakia Switzerland Romania Kazakhstan France Bulgaria Italy Uzbekistan Spain Turkey Japan Macedonia Greece Georgia Armenia China Morocco Cyprus Atlantic Ocean Jordan South Korea Algeria Libya Mexico Egypt Pakistan India Vietnam Pacific Ocean Bangladesh Saudi Arabia Philippines Malaysia Colombia

Indian Ocean Indonesia Pacific Ocean Brazil

Chile Australia

Uruguay South Africa Argentina SCIENCE OUTREACH The U.S. currently has New Zealand formal science and technology agreements with 54 countries and the European Commission. SOURCE: Department of State lows end up staying on as staff in various ence & Technology Cooperation, provide a marks of good science—peer review, meri- offices. And now someone with a science formal connection between the countries tocracy, transparency of operations, access background is part of each of the regional on issues ranging from research projects of to information, accountability—those bureaus, he points out. mutual interest to economic development just happen to reinforce good government In addition, all foreign service members opportunities. concepts and democratic procedures,” who serve as the environment, science, Margolis says. “We can talk about scientific technology, and health officers for embas- IN GENERAL, much of State’s science goals in a whole range of countries where sies get two weeks of training about science work, including the formal agreements and there would be reticence to talk about de- and how it fits into foreign policy issues. informal relationships, is with countries mocracy goals.” Perhaps most important, the training tells that are at a level of development to benefit For example, U.S. diplomats can talk them whom to ask for help when faced with from science exchanges, which Margolis about equal opportunities for women in a science question. estimates at 140–150 countries worldwide. science in countries where women haven’t Those changes are, at least in part, Countries that are in crisis—where their traditionally been seen as equal, and the driven by demand from the countries State people are struggling with war, food short- discussion can include the challenges fe- works with. More and more countries see ages, or other imminent disaster—often male scientists in the U.S. continue to face. science and innovation as a way to lift their work through the U.S. Agency for Interna- Or they can discuss how the U.S. govern- developing economies and view access to tional Development, which has also greatly ment goes to its own scientists to get inde- the U.S. R&D infrastructure as a way to do expanded its science programs recently. pendent advice on the problems it faces. that. State has developed a number of “My view is it is in the U.S. interest to “In most countries in the world right programs to work with those 140–150 have all countries be more scientific in the now, the lightbulb has gone on: If they are countries on ways to raise their level of sci- way they think about things, which will going to advance, they are going to have to entific capability and scientific expertise. hopefully lead to more rational policies,” up their game in science and technology,” In recent years, several department pro- Colglazier says. Colglazier explains. “The U.S. is still the grams have focused on science as a tool for State has also increasingly recognized leader, so they want to engage with us.” economic development, like the Building that science can be a good tool to make That is shown by the increasing number Opportunity Out of Science & Technology connections with countries that it couldn’t of formal science and technology agree- program (see page 38). have made otherwise, Margolis says. ments between the U.S. and its partner These programs also give U.S. diplomats During the Cold War, connections nations, now up to 55. These agreements, the chance to talk about issues that might among U.S. and Russian scientists were overseen by the department’s Office of Sci- be taboo otherwise. “If you look at the hall- one of the only ways that the countries

CEN.ACS.ORG 36 MAY 13, 2013 interacted. And even now, scientists in the zakhstan, but not with the support of State, ing internationalization of science—and U.S. are connected to researchers in Iran, which funded her for just one year. She State’s need to play a role in it—is part of where the U.S. doesn’t have diplomatic has kept in touch with the ambassador to the challenge for the agency moving for- relations. Kazakhstan, and she’s going back soon for a ward, Margolis says. “Science opens doors for foreign policy biking vacation around the country. “The only way that the U.S. is going to objectives that aren’t necessarily shut, but “I feel strongly that while I’m not an of- stay in the forefront in science and technol- you would have to use a crowbar to get ficial science envoy anymore, to them I am ogy is to work with the best, wherever they them open,” Margolis says. “When you their only science envoy,” she says. are in the world,” Colglazier says. “To do think about our relationship with Russia or Carrying the message of the increas- that you have to engage with them.” ◾ China, where there are clearly many areas of friction, it is often in the science area where we can build bridges.” But State should be doing more to reach out through science, says Nina Fedoroff, who served as science adviser to then- secretary of state Condoleezza Rice from 2007 to 2010.

“SCIENCE DIPLOMACY is best is when it goes both ways. It builds bonds that connect people across the vast chasms of religion and ethnic identity,” Fedoroff says. But State isn’t a part of that vigorous in- ternational science conversation, which is happening mostly through nonprofits and universities. Being part of that conversation “is a powerful tool that [the nation has] yet to seize upon,” Fedoroff says. Finding the right balance is a difficult challenge. Because it doesn’t fund research, State is never going to be a “science agen- cy.” In fact, State doesn’t have a formal bud- get for science and doesn’t know how much it spends on science programs because they are integrated with other activities, officials acknowledge. They do say the funds spent on science represent only a small portion of the department’s $47.8 billion budget. The department’s major role in science is as a convener, Margolis says. State of- ficials identify major international issues and bring in researchers from inside and outside government to figure out the best way to tackle those problems A few countries—Egypt, India, Israel, and Mexico, for example—have specific funds set up by Congress to promote co- operative science projects with the U.S. Officials at State point out that it would be useful to have money in its budget to sup- port projects like this in other countries. “The question is, how do you make the case to the American public, and specifically to Congress, that the reasons we need to engage in international science activities are not only foreign policy driven?” Margolis asks. Being intimately involved in science is important to the U.S. economy, too, he says. Gast is continuing her work with Ka-

CEN.ACS.ORG 37 MAY 13, 2013 GOVERNMENT & POLICY

was fortuitous. The Malaysian government has increased funding for scientific research EMERGING ECONOMIES at the university, but graduate students and lecturers there are not familiar with interna- GET CAREER HELP tional journals or with communicating their work to the public. Moreover, the University State Department program brings ACS career of Malaya hasn’t yet developed many ex- MALAYSIA AND INDONESIA change programs with schools abroad, but development training to the researchers there are already eager to SOPHIE L. ROVNER, C&EN WASHINGTON, AND interact with foreign scientists. JEAN-FRANÇOIS TREMBLAY , C&EN HONG KONG “ACS is a good partner for us because they have quite a few high-impact jour- nals,” said Sithi V. Muniandy, deputy dean IT’S DEPRESSINGLY COMMON that eties and their regional branches to design of the faculty of science. “This program when a speaker makes a presentation at a the program, which was presented at eight helps us to improve our outreach, to help conference, several attendees chitchat or events across the two countries. The two us start to collaborate on research projects fiddle with their smartphones. But when Southeast Asian societies also provided lo- with scientists abroad.” an American Chemical Society team pre- cal organization such as finding facilities, sented a career development workshop at arranging catering, and helping promote THE ACS SEMINAR addressed issues that the University of Malaya, in Kuala Lumpur, the program. are relevant to young faculty in Malaysia, in late February, they faced a dream crowd: In each of eight cities selected with the said Ramili Ismail, a lecturer at the Univer- a roomful of attentive participants who help of the Southeast Asian societies as sity of Technology, Malaysia, who attended asked thoughtful questions at the end of well as U.S. embassy and consular staff, a talk on how to submit papers to interna- every panel. ACS International Activities Committee tional journals. The talk, given by Steven ACS was in town thanks to a $198,000 Chair H. N. Cheng and ACS staff members Meyers, ACS manager for international grant from the U.S. State Department’s gave workshops on four topics: publish- activities, included tips on how to write an Building Opportunity Out of Science & ing research, communicating science to abstract and a discussion of the inner work- Technology program. The department has the general public, mapping out career ings of the journal peer review process. funded four other BOOST projects that are pathways, and developing “People are really keen to publish being spearheaded by U.S. universities. All research proposals. At the in high-impact journals because it’s of the projects are based in Indonesia, Ma- end of the day in each city, ENTHUSIASTIC an important part of our assessment laysia, Morocco, Tunisia, or Turkey. the attendees gathered for TRAINEES BOOST and salary level,” Ismail told C&EN. BOOST “fits into the broader State De- a session on mentoring the attendees register “This seminar helps me to under- at a hotel in partment mission to use science as one of next generation. Balikpapan, an stand how a reviewer thinks.” our tools for diplomacy,” according to Sam- The timing of the event Indonesian city on Bradley Miller, head of interna- uel B. Howerton, a chemist and the deputy at the University of Malaya Borneo’s coast. tional activities at ACS, supported director of the department’s Office of the ACS team in Malaysia by present- Science & Technology Cooperation ing a panel on how to communicate (see page 34). The idea is to provide with the public about science. The skills and training to young men and seminars have been helpful within women who are interested in science the country as well as beyond its bor- and technology and who are likely ders, he noted. to contribute to their nations’ eco- JODI WESEMANN/ACS “We’re helping Malaysian scholars nomic growth. “That serves the U.S. to be more effective scientists, which interest as well, because economic is good not only for them but also for growth leads to economic stability, global science,” Miller said. In fact, which leads to regional stability,” one goal of the training is to help the Howerton explained to C&EN, which attendees build networks so they can is published by ACS. “People who collaborate with each other on future have jobs are less likely to want to use projects. their skills and intellect for nefarious Cheng, who spent eight years as purposes.” a youth in Malaysia and Brunei, also By the time the ACS team of presented some of the workshops on trainers reached the University of communicating science to the pub- Malaya, they had already been on lic. The Department of Agriculture the road for 18 days, presenting their chemist urged the participants to use one-day program at universities informal encounters—at a barbeque throughout Indonesia and Malaysia. or a barbershop, for instance—to ACS worked closely with the Indo- briefly and simply explain to the pub- nesian and Malaysian chemical soci- lic what they do for a living. In that

CEN.ACS.ORG 38 MAY 13, 2013 kind of setting, a researcher could say, “I’m the U.S. to test out some of the workshop a chemist, and I’m trying to develop a drug material. It also consulted with the chemi- to cure a disease.” Alternatively, a chemist JODI WESEMANN/ACS cal societies in Indonesia and Malaysia “to could write a letter for a newspaper’s op-ed make sure the materials we were bringing page about a topic such as climate change were general enough and weren’t focused or clean water. on a U.S. audience,” Meyers said. The attendees hadn’t previously given The ACS team and the State Department much thought to this type of outreach, hope that now that the attendees have Cheng noted, but they responded enthusi- returned home, they will spread the word astically. “Scientists don’t make the most about the concepts they learned. money in the world. Many of us become sci- To encourage that diffusion, the State entists because we enjoy science, we believe Department grant includes funds for ACS to it is important for society, and we would like host a “train the trainer” session in August. other people to respect us,” he said. “But if Attendees from the first batch of workshops we don’t say good things about science, who will compete for a chance to go to Thailand is going to do that for us? If all of us can do WARM WELCOME ticipate in the events. and learn additional leadership skills, in- this, and do it effectively, we can change the Local volunteers ACS was careful to cluding how to present the program them- prepare for a general public’s image of scientists.” BOOST event at design a program that selves. ACS will work with them to tailor the All together, the eight events drew some the University would be relevant, Mey- materials for their local markets, including 750 attendees from more than 100 univer- of Indonesia, ers noted. For instance, the use of translation services, if desired. sities, companies, and other places of em- in Depok. the career path work- “I’ve been an ACS member for a long ployment. About half were students; the shops included appear- time—31 years—and there are only a few rest were faculty members or government ances by local experts programs where I can see the immediate or company employees. More than half who have jobs in government, industry, aca- impact of what we do,” Cheng said. “But were women. Two-thirds were chemists deme, or entrepreneurial endeavors. And this is definitely a case where you get an or chemical engineers. And some attend- before heading to the region, ACS hosted instant reaction, and the reaction is over- ees traveled significant distances to par- focus groups with international students in whelmingly positive.” ◾

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CEN.ACS.ORG 39 MAY 13, 2013 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CONCENTRATES

AIRBORNE MINERAL DUST IS KEY TO CIRRUS CLOUD ALLOY MAKES IRON CREATION … ON THE CHEAP

Clouds play a key role in climate by reflect- Electrodes made of a chromium-iron alloy may reduce the energy con- ing solar radiation and by trapping heat sumption and carbon footprint of iron production. Conventional smelters from Earth. Understanding how clouds use carbon (coke) to chemically reduce ores composed of iron oxides. form is critical to modeling climate ef- fects. Studies reveal that airborne mineral The process releases that carbon in the form of CO 2 , emitting a mas- dust and metal particles are essential for sive quantity of the greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. Now, Donald R. forming cirrus clouds, which are wispy Sadoway, Lan Yin, and An- and found in high altitudes (Science 2013, toine Allanore of Massachu- DOI: 10.1126/science.1234145 ). A group setts Institute of Technology led by Daniel J. Cziczo of Massachusetts have directly separated the

Institute of Technology studied cirrus ice iron and oxygen in iron ore SHUTTERSTOCK crystals during four aircraft measurement in a bench-scale electroly- campaigns from 2002 to 2011. The re- sis experiment by using an searchers found that most of the particles anode made of a cheap al- in the air near clouds are made of sulfate loy of the Earth-abundant and organic carbon. They metals chromium and iron also found that in the A crew ( Nature 2013, DOI: 10.1038/ cloud formation process, prepares the NASA WB-57 nature12134). Other groups ice preferentially con- high-altitude have demonstrated similar metal oxide electrolysis An electrolytic iron- denses on aluminosilicate plane to study with iridium electrodes, but that rare element is too making method dust or metal particles. cirrus cloud expensive for wide use. The MIT team’s alloy anode could reduce energy The results point to a formation. input and CO2 produces higher purity iron than that made by con- output compared ventional smelting methods and liberates molecular with conventional oxygen as a secondary product. The iron-smelting smelting (shown). industry, which has a capacity of billions of metric tons per year, could reap efficiency gains from processes based on the alloy, says University of Cambridge materials chemistry professor Derek Fray in

BILL STAFFORD/NASA BILL a commentary about the work. The process could also provide breathable oxygen to astronauts in space, he adds. — CB

ticularly important process. A research CLICKING PYRROLES group led by Peter Hoppe, Eliza Harris, and INTO PLACE Bärbel Sinha of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, in Germany, now pinpoints The synthetic tools known as click reac- transition-metal ions as key oxidants that tions, which assemble molecules with 2– heterogeneous ice nucleation mechanism turn SO2 into SO4 on airborne mineral high efficiency, selectivity, and yield, in clouds, akin to getting a compound to dust within clouds (Science 2013, DOI: help chemists construct compounds. In crystallize from solution by scratching 10.1126/science.1230911 ). The team stud- addition to their application in organic the beaker, rather than a homogeneous ied so-called orographic clouds at Mount synthesis, they’ve been used for medicinal mechanism in which ice nucleates without Schmücke, in Germany, where clouds form chemistry, surface science, polymer chem- a substrate.— JK as air rises to go over the mountain. The istry, and bioconjugation applications. researchers compared sulfur isotope ratios Now, chemists in China are introducing a upwind and downwind of the clouds to new click reaction to the … AND TO ADDING determine whether SO 2 was oxidized by toolbox ( Angew. Chem. Int. SULFATE TO PARTICLES H2 O 2, O3 , or transi- Ag CO WITHIN CLOUDS tion metals. They H + O 2 3 O estimate that transi- N N H Aerosol particles in the air undergo chemi- tion metals may ac- O C O 2– cal reactions that change their size and count for about 1% of SO4 production in hygroscopicity. Those properties in turn urban locations but as much as 58% in rural Ed. 2013, DOI: 10.1002/anie.201302604 ). A influence how airborne aerosols affect areas. If incorporated into climate models, team led by Aiwen Lei of Wuhan University climate by scattering radiation and modify- the results would decrease the amount found that Ag2 CO 3 can catalyze cycload- ing the brightness and lifetime of clouds. and change the geographic distribution of dition of terminal alkynes and isocyanides Adding sulfate to those particles is a par- aerosol-driven climate cooling. —JK to generate pyrroles (shown). Pyrroles are

CEN.ACS.ORG 40 MAY 13, 2013 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CONCENTRATES

+ H3N

– CO2 N N common structural motifs in natural prod- switching the engine from a fuel-lean to a 3+ + Protein ucts, biologically active alkaloids, pharma- Tm fuel-rich mode. In contrast to previously N N ceuticals, and agrochemicals. The reaction studied lean NO trap materials, the new –O C CO – x works best in N -methyl-2-pyrrolidone at 2 2 compound resists sulfur poisoning and does 80 °C and can generate a variety of sub- Transglutaminase not depend on costly platinum. In addition, stituted structures. Interestingly, Ag 2CO 3 – lean NO x trap technology could be simpler CO2 proved to be a key component to the reac- and smaller than an alternative NO x treat- tion, whereas other silver salts, such as HN N N ment method that requires carrying an on- 3+ Ag2 O and AgNO3 , were ineffective. “From O • • • • • • • Tm board tank of a reductant such as urea.— MJ a synthetic point of view, this protocol Protein N N – – represents an extremely simple, efficient, O2C CO2 and atom-economic way to construct sub- EARTH AND MOON CEST-active agent stituted pyrroles in good yields with high SHARE WATER SOURCE selectivity,” the researchers note. — BH an enzyme, transglutaminase, which is as- sociated with tumor growth and drug resis- Two years ago, scientists discovered that tance (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, DOI: 10.1021/ bubbles of preserved magma in ancient YOUNG BLOOD HEALS ja400254e). Prior attempts to detect trans- rocks on Earth’s moon contained large AGING HEARTS glutaminase in tissue by MRI sometimes amounts of water, a finding that contra- yielded false positives on normal tissue dicted the notion that the moon has always In news that may hearten vampires surrounding tumors. So Pagel’s team devel- been bone-dry. Now, the same group, worldwide, medical researchers have oped an agent with an easy-to-follow change headed by Alberto E. Saal of Brown Uni- discovered that a dose of youthful blood in MRI signal. The group’s contrast agent versity, finds that this lunar water has the can rejuvenate an aging heart—at least in features an amine side chain that transgluta- same isotopic composition as water on mice. Specifically, a protein called growth minase recognizes. The enzyme cross-links Earth, implying that Earth and its moon differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) found the contrast agent to proteins on a tumor, have a common water source ( Science 2013, in the blood of young mice can reverse a forming an amide bond that generates a DOI: 10.1126/science.1235142). The group common heart condition in the elderly signal in an MRI technique called chemical examined samples of moon rocks returned called cardiac hypertrophy, which often exchange saturation transfer (CEST). Some to Earth from the Apollo 15 and 17 mis- leads to heart failure. To investigate the of the contrast agent may remain in tissues antiaging compound, a team of research- without being cross-linked, but it generates ers led by Amy J. Wagers and Richard T. a different CEST signal so it can be disre- Lee at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute garded. The agent has not yet been tested connected the circulatory systems of old in live animals or people. But if it can detect and young mice so that they shared the transglutaminase activity in a tumor, it same blood. After four weeks of sharing could indicate drug resistance, which would the same circulatory system, the cardiac dictate treatment decisions. —CD hypertrophy in the old mice “dramatically regressed,” they report in Cell (2013, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2013.04.015 ). The team used EXHAUST CATALYST proteomics methods to identify the rejuve- TRAPS AND SCRUBS NO X WASHINGTON OF INSTITUTION CARNEGIE nating protein in young mouse blood that is

lost with age. Finally, to confirm that GDF11 Automobile engines designed to combust LABORATORY/ JOHN ARMSTRONG/GEOPHYSICAL was the youthful elixir and to rule out other fuel in a large excess of oxygen can achieve sources of age reversal, the researchers higher fuel efficiency than other common A 30-μm- sions. Earth’s water injected the protein directly into old mice engines. But standard catalytic cleanup diameter lunar is believed to have and saw the same rejuvenating effects. If technology cannot readily scrub (chemically melt inclusion been seeded by carbo- from an Apollo 17 the protein works the same way in humans reduce) the nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2 , mission sample naceous chondrites, as it does in mice, the discovery may even- or NO x ) in the exhaust of these so-called contains water which are common tually lead to new heart therapies.— SE lean-burn engines because of the over- resembling that meteorites hailing whelming excess of O2 . A research team led found on Earth. from an asteroid belt by Hui Xian of Tianjin University, in China, near Jupiter. Because MRI SPOTS ENZYME has demonstrated that NOx can be scrubbed the moon was likely formed from debris CROSS-LINKER effectively by using a palladium-doped flung from the impact of a Mars-sized aster- LaSrCoO3 material to trap and treat the oid on the nascent Earth, the new finding Magnetic resonance imaging is a powerful pollutants (ACS Catal. 2013, DOI: 10.1021/ suggests that Earth was already wet at the tool for locating tumors. It may soon also cs400136t). The method works by oxidizing time of impact. Researchers have also as- help clinicians choose a course of treat- NOx compounds in excess O 2 and trapping sumed that the moon’s lighter elements, ment. Mark D. Pagel and colleagues at the them as nitrates. The nitrates are periodi- such as hydrogen, would have boiled off into University of Arizona have developed a cally purged and reduced by hydrocarbons, space after the impact, but this idea may new contrast agent to detect the activity of which are deliberately generated by briefly need to be rethought, the authors say. — EKW

CEN.ACS.ORG 41 MAY 13, 2013 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

TAILORED GEOMETRY

FOR NANOSTRUCTURES COMMUN. CHEM. Unique properties could improve CATALYSIS, BATTERIES MITCH JACOBY , C&EN CHICAGO ADAPTED FROM FROM ADAPTED

LIKE JACKS OF ALL TRADES working in Because of the material’s band gap—an construction, materials chemists serve as energy range that’s inaccessable for the civil engineers and architects, designing material’s electrons—TiO 2 does not absorb BOWLED OVER improve photo- materials from the ground up and consid- much visible light. That portion of the solar Decorated with catalytic activity. gold nanoparticles, ering the form and function of internal and spectrum, therefore, can’t be used in appli- the hollow bowl- Gong stresses external structures. They also serve as car- cations. In addition, after TiO2 undergoes shaped titania that the light- penters, masons, and roofers, setting every light-induced electronic excitation, it often nanostructures absorbing char- building block precisely in its place. de-excites before the absorbed light can be shown in this SEM acteristics of gold Some of the structures have dimensions exploited to trigger decomposition of pol- image are highly nanoparticles can active photocatalysts. measuring mere nanometers from end to lutants or used in other ways. be fine-tuned via end, which can make the assembly job highly To address those problems, Gong, particle size, which could lead to cus- tomized nanostructures for solar cells and other photo-harvesting applications.

IN ANOTHER RECENT study, Weiyang Li, Yi Cui, and coworkers at Stanford Univer- sity turned to nanocrystal engineering to come up with a form of sulfur that can be used as a high-performance battery cath- ode. Sulfur’s high charge capacity, which is five times greater than that of common COURTESY OF ULI WIESNER/CORNELL U WIESNER/CORNELL ULI OF COURTESY metal oxide cathode materials, could make the abundant element a rock star in the long-lasting lithium battery arena. But sulfur-based batteries’ ability to hold that high charge fades after just a few charging cycles. There are a number of demanding. Today, though, MULTIFACETED Porous Jianwei Lu, Peng Zhang, and reasons for the diminished ability. Sulfur- researchers are using a variety particles with distinct coworkers used silica-based based cathodes in test batteries expand, of synthesis techniques that body and arms (TEM templating followed by chemi- crack, and slowly disintegrate when they image and drawing) empower them with extreme might one day be cal etching to form cup- or react with lithium, the reaction that gener- dexterity and the ability to tai- used to separately bowl-shaped porous TiO2 ates battery power. And loss of charge ca- lor molecule-sized structures store and deliver nanocrystals decorated with pacity also results from cathode reactions to suit their needs. As a handful incompatible drugs. gold nanoparticles. In a series that form polysulfide compounds that dis- of just-published studies show, of control tests using light in solve in the electrolyte solution, the medi- that level of adroitness enables the visible range, the group um in which lithium ions shuttle between scientists to custom-design materials with demonstrated that their nanosized TiO2 - electrodes during battery operation. unique properties that lead to improved gold structures decompose methylene The Stanford group approached these performance in catalysts, batteries, drug de- blue, a stand-in for organic pollutants, far problems by using a single-step room- livery applications, and other areas. more effectively than reference photocata- temperature reaction to make polymer- In one case, researchers in China boosted lysts (Chem. Commun. 2013, DOI: 10.1039/ encapsulated hollow sulfur nanospheres. the photocatalytic properties of titanium c3cc42029a). Cui explains that by engineering empty dioxide by preparing a crystalline form of As Gong explains, the presence of gold space in the interior of the particles and the material with customized morphology boosts TiO2 ’s ability to harvest visible light. wrapping them in a polymer, the nano- and composition. TiO 2 is used extensively as And the unusual cup shape further improves spheres don’t expand outward upon lithia- a photocatalyst but suffers from two impor- light absorption, aids adsorption and dif- tion and crack cathodes that contain the tant shortcomings, explains Tianjin Univer- fusion of pollutant molecules, and helps nanospheres. In addition, the polymer pro- sity’s Jinlong Gong, who led the study. disperse the nanocups in water, all of which tects the particles from dissolving, and the

CEN.ACS.ORG 42 MAY 13, 2013 nanoscale size enhances ion and electron transport. Tests show that the custom sulfur & particles lead to high charge capacity that resists fading even after hundreds of charge- discharge cycles (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2013, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1220992110 ). OUT Meanwhile, a team of researchers led by Ulrich Wiesner of Cornell University has MAKE A MAJOR IMPACT come up with a surfactant-directed colloidal chemistry method for synthesizing porous Impact Analytical is a contract analytical laboratory providing testing silica nanoparticles featuring structurally support in preclinical and Phase I-III drug development, for both small distinct compartments within a single parti- and large molecule APIs and drug products. Our technical expertise cle. These Jekyll and Hyde particles consist will navigate you through strict regulatory requirements and quality of cagelike crystalline cores with up to four compliance, to get your product safely to market. precisely aligned arms protruding from the Pharmaceutical Testing Services: cores’ vertices. The cores’ interior channels Molecular Characterization Raw Materials sit in a cubic arrangement, whereas those in Method Development/ Extractable and Leachable the arms are arranged hexagonally (Science Validation/Transfer Analysis 2013, DOI : 10.1126/science.1231391 ). Stability Studies Dissolution Testing The team notes that they can control the Batch Release Testing Impurity Identification extent to which the arms grow simply by ad- justing the concentration of one component Call today to talk to one of our experts: in the synthesis. They add that differences in impactanalytical.com/pharma the compartments’ structures suggest that 855-IA SOLVE (855-427-6583) they could be selectively tailored to have distinct chemical properties. Dual personal- cGMP and GLP compliant | FDA Registered | ISO 9001:2008 Certified | DEA Licensed ity in a single particle might be exploited to store incompatible drugs in one place but POWERFUL. PORTABLE. C&EN MOBILE. PROC. NATL. ACAD. SCI. ACAD. NATL. PROC.

Scan the code to view the video. CHARGED UP avoid the incompat- ACS MEMBERS Polymer-coated ibility problem by GET FREE ACCESS hollow sulfur TO C&EN ISSUES! nanospheres delivering them on dif- (seen in this ferent timescales. SEM image) The studies cause show promise as Robert A. Wolkow, battery materials. a physics professor at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, to think back to his days at Bell Laborato- ries in the 1980s when Louis E. Brus and Download the FREE app to access: Michael L. Steigerwald were conducting some of the earliest nanoparticle investiga- • Entire issues of C&EN—Free for ACS members tions. “I admired their pioneering nanopar- • C&EN’s Latest News—Updated Daily ticle studies and have kept an eye on the • CENtral Science • Recent Chemistry Job Listings area ever since then,” Wolkow says. “These most recent advances appear to take sub- stantial steps toward general shape and More information at cenmobile.org function control, which further open the door to useful applications.” ◾

CEN.ACS.ORG 43 MAY 13, 2013 WEBINARS

Stronger Improving your Analysis by Design bonds. Date: May 21st, 2013 Time: 11:00 a.m. EDT / 8:00 a.m. PDT / 16:00 BST / 17:00 CEDT

The development of a chromatographic method for the separation Key Learning Objectives: and quantification of a series of components is done routinely in many laboratories. It is often seen as an art and not as a scientific practice. There QHow  to optimize column selection is a perception that it requires many years to learn the subtleties of column selection and even longer to understand the nuances of mobile phase and Q How to ensure the correct mobile phase is chosen pH determination to optimize a separation. The seminar will begin by looking Q at what key physiochemical properties of the molecules to be separated are How to do some basic troubleshooting of an assay important and how this information can be readily obtained and then used to in the method development stage develop a separation. This seminar will also unravel some of the mysteries associated with column selection. The approach will be to combine characterization tests (popularized by Tanaka as a way of fingerprinting some of the key mechanisms that can drive a separation process), with the information gathered from the molecule to predict a separation. Speaker The choice of mobile phase can be critical in optimizing a separation and Tony Edge, several key components will be considered including: R&D Principal, Chromatography Consumables Division, • The effect that pH can have on the resolution of critical pairs and as well Thermo Scientific as peak shape. • How buffer selection can have an important effect on the robustness of the assay. • The choice of optimization of organic solvent will be investigated. Moderator Stu Borman, Examples will be given throughout the seminar to demonstrate how this Senior Correspondent, C&EN approach is effective in providing a quick and robust approach to developing a separation.

Who Should Atend: • All practicing chromatography method developers • Analytical scientists who are interested in learning how science can be applied to the art of chromatography

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mutations that inappropriately activate this protein,” they add. That’s why mTOR LAYOUT, WORKINGS OF is a cancer target. Pavletich and coworkers coaxed hu- DRUG TARGET FOUND man cells to produce mTOR, assembled it with a stabilizing subunit, and identified a truncated version they could crystalize Researchers obtain structure and propose mechanism and analyze. The structure enabled them of GROWTH-SIGNALING ENZYME mTOR to propose how mTOR works and how its inhibitors achieve their potency and selectivity. THE ENZYME mTOR is the target of an ap- mTOR plays a critical role in both can- “The solution to the problem is beauti- proved immunity-suppressing drug as well cer and immunity by stimulating produc- ful and elegant,” Schreiber says. Normally, as drug candidates for cancer and other tion of components needed for protein mTOR’s FRB (FKBP12-rapamycin bind- conditions. Some scientists have longed synthesis and the growth and division of ing) domain “dangles in front of the kinase to know its structure, how it interacts with cells, including cancer and immune-sys- domain, luring into the active site certain substrates, and how it catalyzes reactions tem cells. The approved drug that interacts mTOR substrates.” When FKBP12-ra- so they could use the information to de- with mTOR is the immunosuppressant pamycin binds FRB, however, the domain velop safer and more powerful mTOR-tar- rapamycin (sirolimus), a microbial natural “clamps down on the enzyme active site, geted medications. But it’s been difficult product that prevents people’s immune blocking access to substrates and prevent- to obtain sufficient material suitable for systems from rejecting transplanted kid- ing FRB from playing its normal substrate- structural analysis. neys, livers, hearts, and other organs. recruitment role,” Schreiber says. He adds Nikola P. Pavletich and coworkers at In 1994, two groups, led by Harvard that he would now like to explore new ways Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center University chemistry professor Stuart L. to achieve the exquisite target selectivity have now succeeded in obtaining crystals Schreiber and Johns Hopkins University of small molecules like rapamycin “by ex- and have analyzed mTOR structurally neuroscientist Solomon H. Snyder, discov- ploring ideas that result directly from this and mechanistically (Nature 2013, DOI: ered that rapamycin and a protein called important advance.”— STU BORMAN 10.1038/nature12122 ). The work suggests FKBP12 collaborate to bind mTOR and that one of mTOR’s protein domains is a inhibit its activity. The result of those stud- gatekeeper that controls substrates’ access ies was the discovery and naming of mTOR TM DARIO ALESSI & YOGESH KULATHU YOGESH & ALESSI DARIO to the enzyme’s active site. (mammalian target of rapamycin). PixClear “My first impression is ‘Wow!’ ” says Schrei ber of the new study. “I’ve been waiting for years to see these insights.” ZrO2 Nanocrystal The work by Pavletich and coworkers “fills Dispersions for ATP FRB in critical gaps in our understanding of a P (gatekeeper) remarkable feat of natural selection”—the Advanced Electronics engagement of a microbial product and a P small protein to form a composite surface Applications P Active site that targets the huge mTOR and shuts FATC down its operation, he says. FAT ‡ Activation In a Nature commentary, Dario R. Alessi High Refractive Index loop and Yogesh Kulathu of the MRC Protein ‡ Highly Transparent Phosphorylation & Ubiquitylation LBE Kinase Unit at the University of Dundee, in ‡ Low Haze domain mLST8 Scotland, point out that the func- ‡ Improved Scratch tion of mTOR in cells is to catalyze the Resistance phosphorylation of signaling molecules, which sends signals that tell cells to grow and multiply. “mTOR integrates and inter- CAVEAT mTOR mTOR’s structure prets all sorts of factors that influence cell includes FAT, mLST8, LBE, FRB (FKBP12- growth—including nutrients, stressors, rapamycin binding), and kinase domains and the outputs of signal-transduction plus an activation loop. The active site networks—by targeting a multitude of sub- includes a magnesium ion (green circle) strates that drive processes such as protein and ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which translation, metabolism, and cell division,” order online at: provides phosphate for mTOR-catalyzed they explain. www.pixelligent.com/ce2 phosphorylation. FKBP12-rapamycin “Research into mTOR-mediated signal- Or call +1-877-333-9245 ext. 1 inhibits mTOR by binding FRB, blocking ing has taken on added urgency since it substrate access to the active site. was discovered that most cancers contain

CEN.ACS.ORG 45 MAY 13, 2013 EDUCATION

tional information says the chips contain. Students also make a sunscreen lotion LAB LESSONS FOR and test its ultraviolet-light-absorbing prop- erties, extract the flavor and color additives RELUCTANT CHEMISTS in candy, and extract essential oils to make perfumes. “I’m always trying to come up with new experiments,” Katz told C&EN. ACS MEETING NEWS: Courses aim to engage students who don’t Stockton’s “Experiential Chemistry” know the difference between a beaker and a Bunsen burner class also takes place entirely in the labora- BETHANY HALFORD , C&EN BOSTON tory. The course was originally developed by now-retired professor Jonathan Griffiths, and Richard took over teaching it six years AT THEIR WORST, chemistry courses for ago. “The laboratory experiences are de- nonscience majors are a drag for every- signed to give students initial instructions one. The students are there only to get a on how to get started, suggesting measure- university-mandated laboratory credit, ments or procedures they should follow, but and the professor is there because some- CONNOR DONNA then are open-ended so the students can one has to teach the class. But at their best, explore,” Richard explained. these so-called nonmajor courses show nonscientists why chemistry is important AT FIRST, students are simply encouraged and let teachers see how outsiders per- to wonder about things. They’re taught to ceive their science. Then the courses give make observations and ask questions, even instructors the opportunity to change that if they don’t get any answers. That’s be- perception. cause in science the answers aren’t always At the American Chemical Society na- there. tional meeting in New Orleans last month, For example, in one laboratory experi- several educators spoke about their work on ence students are given a sealed cardboard such classes. Central to a number of them box containing an object. Their goal is to were innovative laboratory experiments figure out what the object is. “All the boxes that let students get a taste of the scientific are numbered, but the key that says what’s process and how chemists do what they do. in each box was lost 20 years ago,” Richard “This approach can really excite stu- said. “I have no idea what’s in the boxes, and dents,” said Marc L. Richard, a chemistry I don’t want to know.” It’s a way of driving professor at Richard Stockton College of home to students that scientists often have New Jersey, in Galloway. “You demonstrate to extrapolate information from something how science is done by actually doing it, they can’t probe directly. “I really want rather than talking about it or just giving them to understand how we practice chem- students a demonstration.” istry and the research process—the idea During their college careers and beyond, of making a model, asking questions, and these students will probably take only one figuring out how to answer them if you’re or two science classes, Richard noted, so doing an experiment,” he explained. it’s important that their experience with Richard noted that the labs where stu- science be a positive one that gives them dents get to take home something they’ve the skills to think about science as they en- as consumers. “I don’t REACHING made, such as photochromic plastic or bis- counter it in the world. load them down with NEW HEIGHTS muth crystals, are among the most popular. Students at “These students are the people who are the basics and take the Richard They also serve as a recruiting tool, he going to end up as our lawyers, our busi- them forward,” he said. Stockton College added. Other students see what their peers nesspeople, and our legislators,” said David “Rather, I introduce of New Jersey have brought home and get curious about A. Katz, a chemistry professor at Pima the chemistry more in study a Mentos the class. Community College, in Tucson, who or- context.” and Diet Coke The course ends with a capstone project, geyser as part ganized the symposium. “They don’t need For example, in of a capstone which students design and carry out. “A a watered-down chemistry course. They one laboratory ex- project. group of students always wants to work on need a course that’s going to look at how periment, the students the Mentos and Diet Coke geyser,” Richard science affects their daily lives.” learn about fats and said. They explore the explosive combina- To that end, Katz has been teaching oils by experimenting with potato chips. tion by trying different sodas, different “Consumer Chemistry” at Pima since They crush the chips and then rinse them candies, and various modifications to the 2004. The class meets only in the labora- with an organic solvent to pull off any oil. Mentos. “Based on feedback, it’s pretty tory, where Katz gives students a brief lec- They then dry the leftover food and weigh clear that after the course students feel ture before launching into an experiment it, ultimately seeing that the weight lost they have a better perception of chemis- that explores the chemistry they encounter matches up with how much fat the nutri- try,” Richard said.

CEN.ACS.ORG 46 MAY 13, 2013 “Chemistry departments don’t always “I study nanoscience, and these were all analytical have opportunities for nonmajors,” noted students who want to go into policy and SCENE Jennifer E. Mihalick, a chemistry professor law,” he said. “I decided I would design a at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. class where we talked not only about what “I remember in college hearing about nanoscience is from a physical science per- ‘Physics for Poets’ and ‘Rocks for Jocks,’ spective but also about the challenges with- but the chemistry department has such a in nanoscience in terms of policy, as well as big service load, that I think it’s less com- environmental and sustainability issues.” mon for us to offer a liberal-arts-focused For the laboratory portion of the class, course.” Metz designed a large open-ended experi- In 2003, Mihalick began teaching “Intro- ment in which the students would syn- duction to the Chemistry of Materials ,” a thesize silver nanoparticles and then feed course for nonmajors that she teaches with them to Brassica rapa, also known as the An up-to-the-minute collection the costume designer from the university’s Wisconsin Fast Plant for its short lifecycle. of news about analytical research theater department. The class explores the It was up to the students to design the ex- and business, including coverage posure experiments, of cutting-edge measurement determining how methodology, new chemical large a concentration sensors, the latest spectroscopic of nanoparticles they techniques, and recent moves by KEVIN METZ KEVIN would use. instrumentation companies. About half of the plants died because cen.acs.org/analytical of the way the experi- ments were designed, Metz said. The half that lived, however, indicated there was no significant difference in height between the plants that were exposed to silver nanoparticles and the chemistry behind materials that society GROWING control plants. Chemi- depends on, such as fabrics, metals, poly- KNOWLEDGE cal analysis of the A student at mers, ceramics, and semiconductors. Michigan’s Albion plants’ tops revealed Mihalick said the labs where students College measures silver content, sug- make things are the most popular. In one plants as part of gesting the plants were lab they prepare concrete, and in another a semester-long pulling the nanopar- they make colored glass using a room- nanoscience ticles out of the soil. experiment. temperature process. Metz said that Mihalick enjoys the freedom the class before embarking on gives her as an educator. “I don’t have to the experiment, his cover anything in particular,” she said. “I nonmajor students had this view that sci- can choose interesting topics right out of ence was simply “a system of buttons you the newspaper.” For example, when she push to get a result. They were shocked to first taught the course in 2003, classes realize it was a long process and the results started just two days after the space shuttle were heavily dependent on how the scien- Columbia disintegrated on its reentry into tists worked and how they designed their Earth’s atmosphere. So Mihalick and her experiments.” students followed the ensuing investiga- But Metz says his students weren’t the tion, learning about the carbon fiber com- only ones who took something away from posites in the shuttle’s wings. this course. “I gained perspective on how nonmajor students view science,” he said. Sign up for the ANALYTICAL WHEN ASKED TO CREATE a laboratory “Just teaching this one class for nonmajors SCENE NEWSLETTER— course for nonmajor honors students, has influenced how I teach my classes for C&EN will keep you up to Kevin Metz, a chemistry professor at majors. I find myself talking not only about date with a roundup of latest news delivered to your email Michigan’s Albion College, also wanted the nuts and bolts of chemistry but about inbox each week. to address a topic in the news, and so he the broader impacts of science as a pro- came up with “Great Issues in Science: cess, how we do it, and what the ramifica- Nanoscience.” tions are.” ◾

CEN.ACS.ORG 47 MAY 13, 2013 PEOPLE

ACADEMIA es on bioanalytical chemistry, biocatalysis, glass, polymers, ceramic materials, and electrochemistry, surface chemistry, biofuel natural fibers. Suzanne Fortier has been selected as Mc- cells, enzyme biosensors, drug screening, Gill University’s 17th principal and vice and protein detection. Yolanda Vasquez Kurt Dinkelacker has been named execu- chancellor. Her five- has also joined OSU’s chemistry depart- tive vice president and chief financial of- year term will begin in ment as an assistant professor. Vasquez was ficer of Aptuit , a Greenwich, Conn.-based September 2013. Most a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard contract research organization serving bio- recently, she was pres- University. She specializes in nanoscience, technology and pharmaceutical companies. ident of the Natural materials science, tissue engineering, and Previously, he was an executive vice presi- Sciences & Engineer- biomaterials. In addition, Jimmie Weaver dent and CFO at Retrievex. Kevin Duffield ing Research Council has been named an assistant professor in has been promoted to vice president of of Canada (NSERC), OSU’s chemistry department. Weaver, who sales and business development for Aptuit. in Ottawa. Prior to conducted postdoctoral research at Yale He had been senior director for active phar- joining NSERC, she University, is focused on organic chemistry, maceutical ingredients at the company. served as a vice principal and an associate catalysis, material remediation, and devel- dean of graduate studies at Queen’s Uni- opment of synthetic methodology. Russell Garlick has become chief scientific versity in Kingston, Ontario, where she was officer of SeraCare , which partners with also a professor of chemistry. Wolfgang Voelter has retired from the diagnostics researchers, in vitro diagnostics University of Tübingen, in Germany. He (IVD) manufacturers, and clinical labo- Jennifer A. Lewis, an internationally recog- joined the university in 1970, focusing his ratories to provide processed biological nized leader in the fields of 3-D printing and research on carbohydrate and peptide materials, specialty human blood products, biomimetic materials, has been appointed chemistry. He is credited with more than and other materials and services. Garlick as the first Hansjörg Wyss Professor of 800 publications, books, and patents. had been cofounder of Life Sciences Group Biologically Inspired Inc. Cheri Walker has joined SeraCare as its Engineering at the chief commercial officer. Prior to joining the Harvard School of BUSINESS company, she consulted with private equity Engineering & Applied firms and diagnostic and life sciences tools Sciences. In addition, Ben C. Askew has joined SciFluor Life Sci- companies. Ann McCormick is SeraCare’s she has been named ences as vice president of research. Most new chief operating officer. Most recently, a faculty member of recently, Askew served as entrepreneur- she cofounded and managed SeraMetrix Harvard University’s in-residence for Third Rock Ventures, a Corp. Joe Kozma has joined SeraCare as Wyss Institute for Bio- venture capital firm focused on building vice president of its IVD Process Solutions logically Inspired En- life sciences companies. Founded in 2011, unit. Previously, Kozma had been vice presi- gineering. Prior to joining Harvard, Lewis Cambridge, Mass.-based SciFluor is a drug dent of sales at Serologicals. In addition, was the Hans Thurnauer Professor of Ma- discovery and development company that Lisa Alexander has become SeraCare’s vice terials Science & Engineering and director uses fluorine to accelerate the develop- president of quality and regulatory affairs. of the Frederick Seitz Materials Research ment of innovative therapeutics. Most recently, she was vice president of Laboratory at the University of Illinois, quality and regulatory affairs at Xcellerex. Urbana-Champaign. Magdalena A. Biernat and Rik Houben have joined AkzoNobel ’s surface chemistry Christopher Geiger has been promoted to Victor R. McCrary has been named vice group for Europe, the Middle East, India, the position of senior president for research and economic de- and Africa as technical project leaders for manager within Lock- velopment at Morgan State University in personal care applications; they are both heed Martin’s Mission Baltimore. In this newly created position, based in Sempach Station, Switzerland. Systems & Training he will oversee the creation of an enter- Biernat recently finished a Ph.D. in biotech- unit. He will be re- prise-wide research strategy to increase nology based on research that began at the sponsible for hardware external research funding and expand the Laboratory of Virology at Wageningen Uni- product engineering university’s intellectual property portfolio versity in collaboration with Erasmus Medi- for ground and flight in an effort to spark strategic partnerships cal Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. training systems. Gei- with industry, government, and other Houben was previously a senior formulation ger had been the elec- academic institutions. Previously, he had chemist at Celblos Dermal Research Centre trical engineering manager for Lockheed been the business executive for science and in Singapore. Martin’s Global Training & Logistics unit. technology at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory. Cheryl F. Corallo has joined Textum Weav- Marc van Gerwen has been named global ing as its director of sales. Most recently, business director for Dow Pharma & Food Krishnan Sadagopan has been named an she served as sales manager for Kuraray Solutions (formerly Dow Wolff Cellulos- assistant professor in the chemistry depart- Europe in Frankfurt and Kuraray America ics). He is based in Horgen, Switzerland. ment at Oklahoma State University. Previ- in Fort Mill, S.C. Textum manufactures Van Gerwen had been marketing and com- ously he was a postdoctoral research associ- engineered specialty and technical fabrics mercial director for Dow Pharma & Food ate at Oxford University. His research focus- and composites constructed from metal, Solutions, which uses plant-based cellulos-

CEN.ACS.ORG 48 MAY 13, 2013 ic technology and companion chemistries John Monks has joined Rivertop Renew- O’Connor was president of Chemtura’s to supply products to health care, medical, ables as its vice president of business devel- petroleum additives business unit. and industrial markets. opment. Previously, he led business devel- opment and sales and marketing teams for Fernando Tavara has been named presi- Greg Hertenberger has joined Gelest as ICI, DSM, and Genencor. Based in Missoula, dent of Sun Chemical Latin America. Most product manager for silanes and metal-or- Mont., Rivertop is developing glucaric acid recently, he was vice ganic compounds. Most recently, he was an products as effective and cost-competitive president of sales. Ta- industry manager for coatings, construction replacements for phosphates in the deter- vara replaces Gregory materials, and plastics at Ashland Specialty gent industry and other markets. Lawson , who will re- Ingredients. Matthew Suits has moved to tire at the end of 2013. Gelest to serve as its facilities manager. Pre- Fried Münstermann, president of regional Sun Chemical Latin viously, he was an engineering and process functions and chief financial officer for America is an arm of manager at PB Leiner Gelatins in Daven- BASF , will become president of the firm’s Parsippany, N.J.-based port, Iowa. Sean Nichols has joined Gelest Global Procurement Competence Cen- Sun Chemical, which as its purchasing manager. He had been op- ter in Ludwigshafen, Germany, effective produces printing erations manager in the manufacturing divi- Aug. 1. He will succeed Hartwig Michels, Tavara inks and pigments for sion of Haas Group International in West who will become president of the compa- packaging, publica- Chester, Pa. In addition, Adrien Salomon ny’s European regional division as of Oct. 1. tions, coatings, plastics, cosmetics, and has been promoted from development engi- Michels succeeds Jacques Delmoitiez, other industrial applications. neering manager to production manager at who is retiring. André Becker, who is Gelest. Greg Vuk has been promoted from currently senior vice president for global Mike Turner has joined Vertellus Special- shipping and receiving packaging supervi- executive human resources, will take over ties as director of its agriculture business sor to logistics manager. With headquarters Münstermann’s current roles. segment. Previously, he was vice president in Morrisville, Pa., Gelest manufactures and general manager for Universal Fibers organosilicon compounds, metal-organic Bill Musiak has joined Koch Membrane Asia in Taicang, China. With headquarters compounds, and silicones. Systems as its commercial director of in Indianapolis, Vertellus is a specialty water and wastewater for North America. chemical company that produces pyridine David Hogsett has been appointed vice Based in Wilmington, Mass., he will pro- and pyridine derivatives for use in many president of research and development vide leadership to the company’s water and industries. and chief technol- wastewater sales force in the U.S., Canada, ogy officer at OPX Mexico, and the Caribbean region. Most Biotechnologies. recently, Musiak was the commercial direc- OTHER ORGANIZATIONS Most recently, he tor for Pentair X-Flow. Koch Membrane was a vice president Systems develops membrane technologies Margaret E. Kosal has been selected as a of R&D at Mascoma. for applications in industrial and municipal fellow for the chief of staff of the Army’s Based in Boulder, water and wastewater, food and life sci- inaugural Strategic Studies Group. Kosal, Colo., OPX Biotech- ences, and industrial processes. an assistant professor nologies is working at Georgia Institute of to make renewable, Anthony Nigro has been promoted to Technology, will join biobased chemicals and fuels that are more manager of product development at Halo- the group as a civil- economical and sustainable than existing carbon Products. He had been responsible ian fellow and will be petroleum-based products. for the company’s inert lubricants business researching strategic segment and for developing its specialty issues for U.S. ground Eric J. Kaiser has been named Americas coatings and electronics fluorochemicals forces and national se- business director for Arkema Coating businesses. Based in River Edge, N.J., curity. Kosal’s research Resins, a global producer of resin products Halocarbon is a producer of specialty focuses on reducing and additives for the coatings industry. fluorochemicals. the threat of weapons of mass destruction Previously, he held sales and marketing and understanding the role of emerging positions with Union Carbide and Dow Paul A. (Tony) Novelly has been named technologies for security. She codirects the Chemical. chief executive officer of FutureFuel , a Program on Emerging Technology & Secu- manufacturer of custom and performance rity and directs the Program on Biological & David Maloney has been appointed presi- chemicals and biofuels. Lee E. Mikles, who Chemical Nonproliferation & Counterter- dent and chief operating officer of Equity has been both president and CEO since rorism, both of which are part of Georgia Solar. Previously, he had been global tech- 2005, will retain his position as president. Tech’s Nunn School’s Center for Interna- nology director at DuPont EKC Technol- tional Strategy, Technology & Policy. ogy. Based in San Anselmo, Calif., Equity Sean P. O’Connor has been appointed Solar was formed in 2009 to commercialize president and chief executive officer of a patented solar photovoltaic technology Nucelis , a specialty chemical company that SUSAN J. AINSWORTH compiles this section. licensed from Special Materials Research & uses patented technology for modifying Announcements of new hires and retirements Technology. cell structure and function. Most recently, may be sent to [email protected].

CEN.ACS.ORG 49 MAY 13, 2013 MEETINGS

On Friday morning, a career panel fea- turing Patrick Gorski, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene; Kirk Moon, Hydrite Chemical; Special Agent Leah Nemetz, Federal Bureau of Investigation Milwaukee

CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU VISITORS & CONVENTION Field Office; and Laura Roessler, Elmaro DAVID CLEMENTS/LA CROSSE AREA AREA CROSSE CLEMENTS/LA DAVID Vineyard, will focus on alternative careers in chemistry. Registered undergraduates are invited to come to Friday’s lunch with an eminent scientist, UW Madison chemistry profes- sor Tehshik P. Yoon.

La Crosse, Wis. WORKSHOPS & COURSES. On Thurs- day morning, the ACS Office of Career Management & Development will present “Finding Your Pathway.” The workshop will describe higher education, industry, 2013 GREAT LAKES government, and entrepreneurial careers and hiring trends. It will allow time for REGIONAL MEETING participants to inventory their own values, interests, backgrounds, strengths, and weaknesses so that they can select which THE LA CROSSE-WINONA Section of undergraduate research, as well as multiple career pathway they would like to explore the American Chemical Society will host poster sessions in these and other chemical in detail. the 2013 Great Lakes Regional Meeting disciplines. Also on Thursday morning, the chemical (GLRM) from Wednesday, June 5, through education program will include a workshop Saturday, June 8. The meeting, which has a UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM. Registered on “Resources for Excellence: A Collabora- theme of “Discovering Chemistry between undergraduates are invited to a “Making the tive Project of the 2YC3 [Two-Year College the Bluffs,” will be held at the La Crosse Most of Your Regional Meeting Breakfast Chemistry Consortium] & the ACS.” Convention Center and the Radisson Hotel Social” on Thursday, followed by the under- An ACS career consultant will hold La Crosse in La Crosse, Wis. graduate poster session. That afternoon, one-on-one résumé review sessions on The general chairs of the meeting are Jes- Keith Boyer of UW La Crosse; Frank N. Thursday afternoon. Attendees can sign up sica Brozek of Hydrite Chemical and Ressa- Keutsch, UW Madison; and Dylan Millet, for appointments at the registration desk no Machado of the University of Wisconsin, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, will pres- on Wednesday evening or during the work- La Crosse. Stacy Glidden of Mathy Technol- ent a symposium on atmospheric chemistry. shop on Thursday. ogy & Engineering is program chair. Students are urged to attend Thursday An all-day Friday workshop will give Please visit the GLRM 2013 website, evening’s GLRM 2013 Awards Banquet, at “Essential Information & Training for the glrm-lax.sites.acs.org , for evolving program which the undergraduate poster awards Chemical Hygiene Officer.” This workshop details, registration, and hotel information. will be presented. will present details about the position, regulatory requirements, best manage- TECHNICAL PROGRAM. The technical ment practices, risk and exposure assess- program will cover a wide array of chem- ment, emergency response, and resource istry topics. Planned symposia include GLRM 2013 materials. “Bio-Energy”; “Bioinorganic Chemistry: At A Glance The workshop on “Next-Generation Sci- Career Highlights of Michael J. Collins,” ence Standards” will be held as part of the which will feature the Viterbo University Dates: June 5–8 chemical education program on Saturday professor emeritus of chemistry; “Chemi- Location: La Crosse Convention morning. cal Education,” including high school Center and Radisson Hotel La In addition, two ACS Leadership Devel- teacher topics; “Chemistry of Eating Crosse in La Crosse, Wis. opment System courses will be held during Disorders”; “Ethics in Applied Science”; Information contacts: Jessica GLRM 2013. “Fostering Innovation” will and “Oil Refining: Current Chemicals.” Brozek, general chair, jessica. be offered on Friday afternoon. The course In addition, the ACS Division of Small [email protected]; Stacy Glid- will offer attendees the understanding and Chemical Businesses will sponsor two den, program chair, stacy.glidden@ tools to tap into their own innovation style sessions: “Resources for Start-Up & Small mteservices.com; or John Michael and stimulate innovative thinking among Businesses” and “True Stories of Success Sophos, ACS Department of Meet- their committee members. from Entrepreneurs.” ings & Expositions, (800) 227- “Extraordinary Leaders” will take place GLRM 2013 will also include general 5558, ext. 4608, [email protected] all day Saturday. The course will provide a sessions in analytical, inorganic, organic, Website: glrm-lax.sites.acs.org model for effective leadership. Attendees and physical chemistry; biochemistry; and will participate in a 360° review process

CEN.ACS.ORG 50 MAY 13, 2013 that will give them personal feedback on intermixed with the poster boards for the their leadership competencies. They will poster sessions on Thursday and Friday. then use this feedback to create a personal The exhibition area will also serve as Cof- plan for developing leadership strengths. fee Break Central. Interested potential For additional information and to reg- exhibitors and sponsors are encouraged to ister for either of these courses, contact visit the meeting webpage to view the floor Kareem Redmond at (202) 872-6015 or plan, review the list of existing exhibitors SHARE CHEMISTRY. [email protected]. and sponsors, and access the exhibitor and START A REACTION... sponsorship registration forms. For addi- EVENTS. A variety of social events have tional information, contact Elyse Sorenson been planned for the meeting. Tickets can at [email protected]. be purchased through registration or on- site as available. Meeting attendees who LODGING. A block of rooms has been have already registered and want to add reserved for GLRM 2013 attendees at the Tell a friend a ticket can do so by calling John Michael Radisson. Reservations can be made via Sophos at (800) 227-5558, ext. 4608. www.radisson.com/lacrosse/amchem . why you love GLRM 2013 will kick off on Wednesday Alternatively, reservations can be made by evening with a plenary lecture by 2012 ACS calling the hotel at (800) 333-3333 or (608) chemistry. President Bassam Z. Shakhashiri of UW 784-6680; guests should identify them- Madison. He will discuss “The Leader- selves as GLRM 2013 attendees and use the ship Role of the ACS in Addressing Grand reservation code AMCHEM. Reservations Global Challenges.” The plenary will be must be made by May 22 in order to guar- followed by a reception during which antee the GLRM 2013 rate. The rate will be GLRM 2013 attendees can mingle with honored for stays from June 1 to 10. Speak Shakhashiri, other members of the ACS Board of Directors in attendance, GLRM REGISTRATION. Meeting registration is 2013 organizing committee members, and available through the GLRM 2013 website. at your others. The plenary session and the recep- Early-bird registration ends on May 22. tion will be held in the Wisconsin Ballroom Online registration will remain open at the child’s at the Radisson. on-site registration rates until June 4. Tours of the Upper Midwest Environ- After June 4, participants must register mental Sciences Center will be offered on on-site. On-site registration will take place school Thursday. There is no charge for the tours, from 5 to 7 PM on Wednesday, June 5; from and transportation will be provided courte- 7:30 AM to 5 PM on Thursday and Friday, career sy of the department of chemistry, UW La June 6 and 7; and from 8 to 10 AM on Satur- Crosse. Each tour is limited to 20 people. day, June 8. Participants can sign up for a tour at the day. time of registration. A limited number of tickets might also be available on-site. For BILATERAL MEETING ON more information about the center, go to MOLECULAR MATERIALS Deliver fun www.umesc.usgs.gov/umesc_home.html . Everyone is invited to attend the Thurs- THE INDO-U.S. Symposium on Molecular facts on your day evening GLRM 2013 Awards Reception Materials will take place on July 15–17 at Facebook page honoring the recipients of the Division the Indian Institute of Science, in Banga- of Chemical Education Great Lakes Re- lore. The event is being organized by the gion Award for Excellence in High School Chemical Research Society of India and Teaching, the E. Ann Nalley Great Lakes the American Chemical Society, with fund- Region Award for Volunteer Service to the ing support from the Indo-U.S. Science & ACS, and the undergraduate poster awards. Technology Forum and the Science & Engi- The Awards Banquet will follow neering Research Board of India. the reception. Tickets are $32 ($25 for The symposium aims to engage scien- undergraduates). tists from both countries in a global ex- Chemistry On Friday evening, attendees are invited change of ideas about materials chemistry Ambassadors to join ACS governance members for a and to help the scientists build lasting cocktail reception cruise on the La Crosse networks and explore research collabora- Queen riverboat on the Mississippi. Tickets tions. One of the desired outcomes of the www.acs.org/chemistryambassadors are $10 (free for undergraduates). symposium is the development of a joint Find everything you need white paper. For more information, visit to get started! EXHIBITION & SPONSORSHIPS. In- crsi.org.in/index.php/events/indo-us- dustrial and academic booths will be symposium. — LW

CEN.ACS.ORG 51 MAY 13, 2013 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Postdoctoral Fellowship Intramural Research Program National Institute of Mental Health Bethesda, Maryland, USA The PET Radiopharmaceutical Sciences Section of the Molecular Imaging Branch at the National Serving the Chemical, Life Sciences, and Laboratory Worlds Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Mary- land, seeks applications for a postdoctoral posi- tion in the PET Radiopharmaceutical Sciences Section. NIMH is a major research component of the National Institutes of Health and the De- Advertising Rate Information partment of Health and Human Services. Applicants should ideally be within fi ve years CLASSIFICATIONS e-mail to [email protected]. The advertise- of having obtained their Ph.D. degree in organic Positions open and academic positions. Di- ments will be classified by the chemical field chemistry or closely related subject, possess rectory section—chemical exchange, equip- designated by the member or determined by a combination of skills in radiochemistry with positron-emitters (11C, 18F), organic/medicinal ment mart, technical services. Situations the first word of text submitted. chemistry and analytical methods (e.g. HPLC, wanted—members, nonmembers, student NMR, LC-MS), and be able to demonstrate strong and national affiliates, and retired members. TO SUBMIT A CLASSIFIED AD initiative, experience, and productivity in the de- E-mail ads in a word document to velopment of new radioactive probes for brain im- aging with positron emission tomography (PET). ISSUANCE classifieds@ acs.org. Do not include any ab- Appointments are up to two years in the fi rst in- Published weekly every Monday. Calendar breviations. C&EN will typeset ads accord- stance and potentially renewable. available at cen-online.org/advertise. ing to C&EN guidelines. All ads must be ac- Send letters of interest outlining experience, CV, companied by either a purchase order (PO) and the names of three potential referees to: CLOSING DATE FOR CLASSIFIED ADS number or a credit card (CC) form (avail- Dr. Victor W. Pike, Chief 13 days prior to publication date (excluding able at http://pubs.acs.org/cen/advertise/ PET Radiopharmaceutical Sciences Section Molecular Imaging Branch legal holidays). Late ads will incur a 15% fast CCauth_CENC.pdf) with billing address. G National Institute of Mental Health close premium on the standard insertion POs and CC forms must allow for some 10 Center Drive, Bldg. 10, Rm. B3-C346A, cost and be accepted pending space avail- degree of flexibility and/or adjustment. IN Bethesda, MD 20892-1003 ability. Fast close space is available on a first

IS This position is subject to a background check. in and completed basis. Cancellations must CONDITIONS

T For further information, contact Dr. Pike at be received 14 days (excluding legal holi- In printing these advertisements ACS as- 301-594-5986 or email: [email protected] R days) in advance of publication date. sumes no obligations as to qualifications of

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T POSITIONS OPEN representative: East Coast—Tim Bauer, ments should carry copies of supporting

N [email protected], (202) 872-4593; Mid- documents, not original documents. Every PROCTER & GAMBLE

E CHEMIST POSITIONS AVAILABLE west—Tom Scanlan, [email protected], reasonable effort will be made to prevent for- PROCTER & GAMBLE’s, Iowa City, IA, production fa- (847) 749-3030; West Coast—Bob LaPointe, warding of advertising circulars. Employers M cility is seeking to hire Plant Technicians-Chemists. [email protected], (925) 964-9721. Inter- who require applications on company forms This position will work in a fast-paced production IT environment as a member of a lab work team. Appli- national sales rep listing available at http:// should send duplicate copies. ACS considers

U cants must possess a BA/BS in Chemistry or have cen-online.org/sales all users of this section obligated to acknowl- successfully completed the following college courses: edge all replies to their advertisements. General Chemistry, Qualitative chemistry, Quantita- CR tive Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Course in Analyti- RECRUITMENT NONDISPLAY LINE ADS cal Instrumentation, and two years of Algebra and/or $65 net per line; $650 minimum. A body IMPORTANT NOTICES Calculus or have the following experience/skills: A RE line equals approximately 50 characters ■ Employment in countries other than your minimum of five years’ experience working in an Ana- lytical Lab, with experience in titrations, extractions, with spaces; centered, bold, and capped, own may be restricted by government visa pH, viscometers/rheology, HPLC, IC, GC, IR, UV/VIS, headlines equal approximately 32 charac- and other policies. Moreover, you should and Compendial testing, or have a combination of the paths listed above to be considered. ters with spaces. For an additional $150, investigate thoroughly the generally ac- P&G offers competitive compensation and an out- your print line ad will appear on the ACS cepted employment practices, the cultural standing benefits package. For a more detailed job de- Careers job site, www.acs.org/ careers, for conditions, and the exact provisions of the scription and to apply online, go to www.pg.com and follow the steps to MFG00003874. Applications are four weeks. For more information go to specific position being considered. Mem- accepted via the Internet ONLY at www.pg.com. www.cen-online.org/classifieds, e-mail bers may wish to contact the ACS Office of Procter & Gamble is an Equal Opportunity Employ- [email protected], or call Tim Bauer at International Activities for information it er. No immigration sponsorship is available for this po- sition. P&G does not sponsor candidates for permanent (202) 872-4593. might have about employment conditions residency. P&G participates in e-verify as required by and cultural practices in other countries. law. DIRECTORY SECTION ■ Various state and national laws against Space rate is $680 per inch. Lower rates discrimination, including the Federal Civil available on contract basis. Contact your Rights Act of 1964, prohibit discrimination in sales representative to place an insertion employment because of race, color, religion, When responding to a position, order. national origin, age, sex, physical handicap, please mention you saw the ad in sexual orientation, or any reason not based SITUATIONS WANTED on a bona fide occupational qualification. “Situations Wanted” advertisements placed ■ These advertisements are for readers’ by ACS members and affiliates are accepted convenience and are not to be construed at $6.60 a line per insertion, no minimum as instruments leading to unlawful charge. State ACS membership status and d iscrimination.

QUALITY JOBS, QUALITY CHEMISTS

CEN.ACS.ORG 52 MAY 13, 2013 Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) is a research-intensive university offering graduate-level training. One of Canada’s leading research universities in terms of grants per professor, INRS brings together some 150 professors and close to 700 students and post-doctoral fellows in its centers in Montreal, Quebec City, Laval, and Varennes. Conducting fundamental research essential to the advancement of science in Quebec as well as internationally, INRS research teams also play a critical role in developing concrete solutions to problems facing our society.

The Centre Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications of INRS is currently seeking a PROFESSOR-RESEARCHER ULTRAFAST MATERIALS CHARACTERIZATION (Tenure-track position – Research Chair – Tier II) The areas of expertise aimed at, but not limited to, are: time-resolved electron microscopy, electron microscopy, ultrafast electron diffraction, ultrafast characterization of materials, ultra-fast lasers and photonics and their applications in materials science for various areas such as, for example, biomedical and energy. The candidate should be able to establish collaborations with research teams already in place, while developing or maintaining partnerships with groups outside the Centre. The ability to develop partnerships with companies is particularly valuable. This position is incorporated within an environment where about forty professors-researchers undertake leading-edge research and training in diverse fields of sustainable energy, advanced materials, ultrafast photonics, telecommunication systems and nanobiotechnology. The Centre hosts unique major research infrastructure including the Advanced Laser Light Source and the Laboratory of Micro and Nanofabrication, comprising the Infrastructure of Nanostructures and Femtoscience (http://lmn.emt.inrs.ca/EN/inf.htm). This new position is intended to lead a recent major $15M addition, the Infrastructure for Advanced Imaging (IAI), which consists of a time-resolved electron microscope awarded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) in the 2012 competition. This microscope will be unique worldwide. REQUIREMENTS: • Doctorate in a relevant discipline (physics, materials science, engineering, chemistry). • An outstanding record of research accomplishments that will enable her/him to successfully develop a strong independent research program. • The aptitude for teaching and supervising graduate students and other trainees. • The ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and within research networks. • The ability to collaborate with industrial partners. We actively seek an outstanding candidate who is eligible to be nominated for a Tier II Canada Research Chair. Potential sources of funding include the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FQRNT). The Centre is located in Varennes, on the South Shore of Montreal. The working language of INRS is French. Candidates whose native language is not French are encouraged to apply. The Centre will provide them with all the resources necessary to facilitate their learning of the French language. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the current collective agreement at INRS. Interested candidates should submit a full curriculum vitae by e-mail and registered mail, a statement of research interests (max. 3 pages), a statement of teaching philosophy, a copy of their three most representative publications, and the name and coordinates of three references, before July 15th, 2013, indicating competition number DS 13-05 to: Dr. Federico Rosei, Director, Centre Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications 1650, boul. Lionel-Boulet, Varennes (Québec) J3X 1S2 [email protected]

INRS is committed to equity in employment and diversity. Currently, we plan to hold interviews at the end INRS welcomes applications from indigenous people, visible minorities, ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, of August and/or beginning of September 2013. women, persons of minority sexual orientations. Priority is given to Canadian citizens and residents.

WWW.INRS.CA POSITIONS OPEN

POSITION: MATERIALS SCIENTIST (POLYMERS) Bridgestone Americas Center for Research and Technology is currently seeking to fill a position at our CLASSIFIEDS Research Center in Akron, OH. Researchers at this lo- C&EN cation are primarily dedicated to the development of new materials for tires and other applications and are working cooperatively with scientists and engineers at our three major Technical Centers in Akron, Tokyo, RECRUIT and Rome. For the Materials Scientist position, quali- fied candidates are preferred to have a Ph.D. in Chemi- cal Engineering, Polymer Science, Physics, Materials Science and Engineering, or a related field with desired TOP TALENT experience in the polymer/soft matter area. Solid aca- demic training, creativity, and problem-solving abili- WITH ties are essential for the position. Very good verbal/ C&EN written communication and interpersonal skills are also needed to facilitate positive interaction with other research groups, departments, and laboratories with- in the Corporation. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Additional information may be obtained at www.ba-thecenter.com. Interested candidates should submit cover letter and resume to Human Resources, Bridgestone Americas, Inc. by e- mail to [email protected] or by fax to 330-572-6568. AA/EOE.

ACADEMIC POSITIONS UPCOMING SPRING ISSUES

RESEARCH SCIENTIST/SCHOLAR I (ELECTRON MICROSCOPIST AND IMAGING Fine Chemicals & Intermediates SPECIALIST), DEPARTMENT OF CHEM IS TRY Bonus Distributions: Chemspec Europe, CPhI China ...... May 27 COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY Fort Collins, Colorado The position of Electron Microscopist and Imaging Environmental Analysis (HPLC Preview) Specialist is a full-time, special, 12-month Research Bonus Distributions: ASMS, HPLC ...... June 3 Scientist/Scholar I administrative professional po- sition in the CSU Chemistry Department’s Central Careers in the Global Chemical Industry, Focus On Asia Instrument Facility (CIF) Imaging and X-ray Spectros- copy laboratories. Responsibilities will include provid- Bonus Distribution: CPhI China ...... June 10 ing advanced research services and training for, and routine maintenance of, electron microscopy methods Lab Automation/Informatics, (EM), including ultra-high resolution transmission EM. All instruments in the CIF are available for use by the ACS Fall National Meeting Preliminary Program ...... June 24 successful candidate, who will be expected to collabo- rate with colleagues, staff scientists, faculty, and other principal investigators to advance CSU’s primary re- The 2013 Recruitment Calendar is available at search, education and service mission. Additional in- formation about the CIF can be found at h t t p: //c i f. cen-online.org/advertise c o l o s t a t e . e d u /. The successful candidate must have a Ph.D. in a chemistry-related discipline. Familiarity with UHV, EM and X-ray techniques is required and development of collaborations with senior investiga- Don’t miss your opportunity to advertise in these anticipated upcoming summer issues. Send tors is expected. Familiarity with the chemistry of hard materials, electron energy loss spectroscopy, lithog- your recruitment message around the world with the proven leader in classified advertising raphy, and focused ion-beam milling will be considered for the chemical and allied industries. advantageous. Salary is negotiable and will be com- mensurate with experience. For more information or to apply, see h t t p: //c n s . Our new “Stronger Bonds” campaign is a reflection of the role we perform—creating bonds natsci.colostate.edu/employment/Chem-EM/. A between and among our 163,000 loyal ACS readers. For you, C&EN provides an opportunity full application will include a cover letter, curriculum RECRUITMENT ADVERTISING RECRUITMENT vitae, and contact information for three professional to also form stronger bonds with the people you value most—your target audience. Reach references. For full consideration, applications must them by placing an ad in these highly anticipated issues today—then, let the bonding begin. be received by May 27, 2013; however, the search will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified. Anticipated employment start date is July 14, 2013. Contact your local advertising representative to place your recruitment ads (cen-online.org/ Files of semifinalists will be available to all Chemistry sales). Ad Close is noon EST 13 days prior to print mail date. Department faculty. CSU is an EO/EA/AA employer. Colorado State University conducts background checks on all final For additional classified advertising information go to: candidates.

ARMSTRONG ATLANTIC STATE UNIVERSITY Savannah, Georgia Tenure-Track Assistant Professor —Organic The Department of Chemistry and Physics at Arm- cen-online.org/classifieds strong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Geor- gia (http://chemphys.armstrong.edu) invites ap- plications for a full-time, tenure-track position at the e-mail [email protected] or rank of Assistant Professor beginning in August 2013. This position, in our ACS-approved program, requires the candidate to have a Ph.D. in chemistry or a closely contact Renee Zerby at (202) 872-8069 related field at the time of appointment. Applicants should possess a strong commitment to excellence in undergraduate teaching and will be expected to de- velop a scholarly agenda and pursue external funding. Applicants with specialization in organic chemistry are preferred for the tenure track position, however, exceptional candidates in all fields may be considered. For application requirements and a complete descrip- tion of the position and the department, visit h t t p: // jobs.armstrong.edu. Application review will begin on May 28, 2013. AA/EOE, open records law state.

CEN.ACS.ORG 54 MAY 13, 2013 ACADEMIC POSITIONS INDEX TO ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE REWARDING OVERSEAS ELASTOMER TEACHING ASSIGNMENT – EX-PAT INSTRUCTIONAL POSI- TIONS University Innovation Ventures (UIV) in co- Clariant International, Ltd. 4 operation with The University of Akron Research www.clariant.com Foundation is seeking highly qualified candidates with ACS PUBLICATIONS demonstrated leadership and elastomer teaching capabilities to instruct at a new world-class English- Impact Analytical 43 based vocational training institute in The Kingdom of www.impactanalytical.com ADVERTISING SALES GROUP Saudi Arabia (KSA). The High Institute for Elastomer 480 East Swedesford Rd., Suite 220 Industries (HIEI) opened in September 2012 train- Julabo 35 Wayne, PA 19087 ing technologists to work in the nascent elastomer industry in Saudi Arabia : http://www.hiei.edu.sa/ www.julabo.com Telephone: (610) 964-8061 DefaultE.aspx. Please send your résumé and inquiry Fax: (610) 964-8071 to John Mild – phone: (330) 836-9191 or e-mail John. Myriant Technologies LLC 37 cen.acs.org/advertise [email protected]. www.myriant.com DIRECTOR, ADVERTISING SALES Pixelligent Technologies 45 Kenneth M. Carroll, VP DIRECTORY SECTION www.pixelligent.com/ce2 [email protected] CONSULTANTS Solvay IFC PRODUCTION & CLASSIFIEDS MANAGER www.solvay.com SCIENTISTS TRANSLATE FOR SCIENTISTS Renee Zerby Patents, publ., reports, BPR, MSDS, SPC, legal docs... A. Krotz, Ph.D. at [email protected]. Spectrum Chemical Mfg. 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CEN.ACS.ORG 55 MAY 13, 2013 newscripts COMPUTERS PLAY SUPER MARIO, STATES ADOPT MICROBES

he Newscripts gang remembers eve- nings in the late 1980s spent playing T games on the NINTENDO Entertain- ment System, guiding a plumber named Mario through mushroom kingdoms. So SHUTTERSTOCK/C&EN we were excited to hear about a computer scientist who recently taught his computer how to play Super Mario Bros. and other Symbols: Hawaii BE Nintendo games. Now Oregon and and Oregon would like to be Tom W. Murphy VII works on machine Hawaii want to honor the first states learning, a fi eld of computer science that STATE MICROBES. to adopt an MORE involves teaching computers how to perform In February, State official microbe. specifi c tasks. He came up with the idea for Rep. Mark Johnson the Nintendo project when he refl ected on introduced a resolution in the Oregon House how much more memory his current com- of Representatives to make brewer’s yeast, UNFOCUSED puter has than the old game system does. “I Saccharomyces cerevisiae , the of cial mi- basically could fi t 32 million crobe of the state. He thinks the organism Nintendos on my com- serves as a great symbol for puter,” he says. the state’s thriving craft beer Murphy industry. “I’m not aware of thought that he another microbe that brings could leverage $2.5 billion into Oregon’s this computing economy on an annual basis,” advantage Johnson says. to write The microbe resolution a simple passed the House, 58-0, in computer April and could get a vote in the Gamer: The old gray program that Nintendo was the video state’s Senate later this year. w o u l d fi r s t fi g - game system of the late In Hawaii, Stuart P. Donachie , a marine ure out the goal 1980s and early ’90s. microbiologist at the University of Hawaii, of a Nintendo Honolulu, pushed for a resolution to game and then play through it millions of designate Flavobacterium akiainvivens the times to fi nd the right combinations of but- state microbe because it was fi rst found on ton pushes to win. The computer doesn’t the islands. Iris Kuo, a high school student actually play with a physical controller. It EVAN-AMOS working in his lab, discovered the bacterium simulates the signals produced by pressing on decaying akia shrubs, which are native the buttons. to Hawaii. The program has played about 15 Nin- State Rep. James K. Tokioka introduced tendo games to date, with varying success, the resolution in the Hawaiian House in Jan- Murphy says. For Super Mario Bros., it plays uary, but the resolution will have to wait until into the third stage of the fi rst level, signifi - next year to be voted on, Donachie says. Discover what innovations cantly further than the one minute of game Joan W. Bennett , a microbiologist at can come from having a play Murphy used to train the program. But Rutgers University, New Brunswick, thinks broader scientifc perspective with Tetris, the program doesn’t learn the naming state microbes is a great idea and point of the game and just stacks up blocks enjoys thinking up organism-state matches. at pubs.acs.org/unfocus. into ragged pillars. It eventually realizes this “It makes for good cocktail party talk at Tetris strategy isn’t sustainable and pauses meetings of the American Society for Micro- the game right before it loses. biology,” she says. Murphy has received interest from other Bennett hopes adopting state microbes Nintendo fans and computer scientists. A will educate people about the organisms’ YouTube video he made to explain the pro- importance and demonstrate that not all gram has received about 500,000 views: “It microbes are bad. Donachie agrees: “We got picked up by a bunch of famous nerds, should expose everybody to microbes,” he which was gratifying,” he says. says, “in an intellectual context, of course.”

tate legislatures show of their pride for their homes by adopting all types MICHAEL TORRICE wrote this week’s column. S of symbols, such as trees, fl owers, Please send comments and suggestions to and, in Massachusetts, even doughnuts. [email protected].

CEN.ACS.ORG 56 MAY 13, 2013 WEBINARS

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