The Story of ZYVOX | What Makes Them Winners
Distinguishing this year’s winners is their remarkable dedication – to science, to their research mission and to humankind. When scientists at Dupont were foiled by the toxicity of this new antibiotic, these three scientists sprung into action. Motivating them was the compound series’ promising anti-bacterial activity, as well as their acute awareness of emerging antibiotic resistance.
Undaunted by the odds, they set out to identify the series with the best safety profile. Always the innovators, they employed the then-uncommon strategy of running multiple, early preclinical toxicological evaluations to drive compound selection. Their initial strokes of genius and luck were followed by several years of more hard work in refining the medicinal chemistry insights required to find a potent and well-tolerated antibiotic. Along the way they pioneered what was later to become known as collaborative research.
PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin presents the 2007 Clinical Trial Exceptional Service Award to (from left to right) Maryam Imam; Sharon Nachman, M.D.; and Donald H. Batts, M.D.
PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin presents the 2007 Discoverers Award to (from left to right) Douglas K. Hutchinson, Ph.D.; Michael R. Barbachyn, Ph.D.; and Steven J. Brickner, Ph.D.
“ZYVOX is truly a unique and important addition to the antibiotic armamentarium,” PhRMA Chairman Kevin Sharer said in March 2007. “Considering the dire and desperate situations in which it’s used, there’s no doubt thousands of lives have been saved, and the suffering of many more relieved.
"A significant percentage of the 2 million treated with ZYVOX have been cured of life-threatening infections. That makes one feel very good at the end of the day."
- Dr. Douglas Hutchinson
“For these reasons alone, this year’s winners deserve our esteem.
“But it’s because of ‘their dedication to improving the quality of life’ – the vision, ingenuity and determination they brought to bear on their research work – that we honor them with the 2007 Discoverers Awards.”
Perhaps Plato was only partly right about the genesis of invention. Surely necessity focuses human endeavors, but desire and brilliance distinguishes inventors from others. Accordingly, the 2007 Discoverers Award honors these indispensable attributes in the inventors of ZYVOX.
Undaunted by the odds, they set out to identify the series with the best safety profile. Always the innovators, they employed the then-uncommon strategy of running multiple, early preclinical toxicological evaluations to drive compound selection. Their initial strokes of genius and luck were followed by several years of more hard work in refining the medicinal chemistry insights required to find a potent and well-tolerated antibiotic. Along the way they pioneered what was later to become known as collaborative research.
PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin presents the 2007 Clinical Trial Exceptional Service Award to (from left to right) Maryam Imam; Sharon Nachman, M.D.; and Donald H. Batts, M.D.
PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin presents the 2007 Discoverers Award to (from left to right) Douglas K. Hutchinson, Ph.D.; Michael R. Barbachyn, Ph.D.; and Steven J. Brickner, Ph.D.
“ZYVOX is truly a unique and important addition to the antibiotic armamentarium,” PhRMA Chairman Kevin Sharer said in March 2007. “Considering the dire and desperate situations in which it’s used, there’s no doubt thousands of lives have been saved, and the suffering of many more relieved.
"A significant percentage of the 2 million treated with ZYVOX have been cured of life-threatening infections. That makes one feel very good at the end of the day."
- Dr. Douglas Hutchinson
“For these reasons alone, this year’s winners deserve our esteem.
“But it’s because of ‘their dedication to improving the quality of life’ – the vision, ingenuity and determination they brought to bear on their research work – that we honor them with the 2007 Discoverers Awards.”
Perhaps Plato was only partly right about the genesis of invention. Surely necessity focuses human endeavors, but desire and brilliance distinguishes inventors from others. Accordingly, the 2007 Discoverers Award honors these indispensable attributes in the inventors of ZYVOX.