News Release

Three Abbott chemists honored as Heroes for development of HIV therapy for children

Grant and Award Announcement

American Chemical Society

Three research chemists from Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill., have been named Heroes of Chemistry by the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society, for developing Kaletra® (lopinavir/ritonavir), an antiretroviral agent used to treat HIV in adults and children.

The Abbott team, Dale J. Kempf, Ph.D., Daniel W. Norbeck, Ph.D., and Hing L. Sham, Ph.D., will be honored Sept. 7 at the American Chemical Society's 226th national meeting in New York City, along with chemists from Merck Research Laboratories, Pfizer Inc, and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

"The broad range of invaluable products that our 2003 Heroes of Chemistry have developed and commercialized has dramatically advanced the health, well-being and lifestyles of children around the world," said ACS President Elsa Reichmanis, Ph.D. "The chemical advances made by the honorees serve as testimonials to the valuable role chemists and chemical engineers play in improving lives. It is with pride that the ACS recognizes them as Heroes of Chemistry."

Kaletra, which received simultaneous adult and pediatric approvals, is the first HIV protease inhibitor to receive Food and Drug Administration approval for use in children as young as six months old. Protease is an enzyme that HIV uses in the final stages of its reproduction process. The drug has stopped progression of the virus and strengthened the immune systems of HIV-infected children, many of whom have not responded to other antiretroviral therapy.

The Heroes of Chemistry program will be held in conjunction with a celebration for the 80th anniversary of Chemical & Engineering News, the society's newsmagazine. Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., M.D., director of the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University, will be the keynote speaker at the joint event. Carson has gained worldwide recognition as the principal surgeon in the separation of the conjoined Binder twins in Germany and, most recently, for his role in the separation of the Bijani twins from Iran.

The Heroes program, started in 1996, honors industrial chemists and chemical engineers who create commercially successful products that improve the quality of life. Each year Heroes of Chemistry are nominated by their own companies to recognize their talent, creativity and innovation within specific segments of the chemistry industry.

This year's Heroes' ceremony will focus on industrial chemists and chemical engineers who are improving children's health and wellness by creating commercial products based on chemistry.

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The Abbott Laboratories award winners:

Dale J. Kempf, Ph.D., is senior research fellow, Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development. He received a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Illinois in 1982.

Daniel W. Norbeck, Ph.D., is corporate vice president, Global Pharmaceutical Discovery, Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development. He received a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the California Institute of Technology in 1984.

Hing L. Sham, Ph.D., is director, Metabolic Disease Research, Pharmaceutical Products Division. He received a Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry from the University of Hawaii in 1980.


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