Bristol-Myers Squib, Merck Research Laboratories and Immunomedics Honored by R&D Council of NJ
New Brunswick, NJ, November 9, 2012 — Researchers from three HealthCare Institute of New Jersey (HINJ) member companies last evening were recognized for their breakthrough research and awarded the prestigious Edison Patent Award from the Research & Development Council of New Jersey.
More than 30 researchers from 13 New Jersey companies and universities were honored for their work in 13 research and development categories at the 33rd Annual Edison Patent Awards ceremony, which was held at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City. The black-tie event was the kick-off of the Council’s 50th anniversary.
Researchers from HINJ member companies receiving an Edison Patent Award were:
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and inventors Divyakant Desai and Bing Li were honored in the pharmaceutical category for “Coated Tablet Formulation and Method” (U.S. Patent 7,951,400), an invention that relates to the formulation development of saxagliptin and its fixed dose combinations with metformin, which together offer an advance in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.
- Immunomedics, Inc. and inventors Chien-Hsing Chang, Ph.D., David M. Goldenberg, Sc.D., M.D., William J. McBride, Ph.D., Edmund A. Rossi, Ph.D. were recognized in the biotechnology category for “Stably Tethered Structures of Defined Compositions with Multiple Functions of Binding Sites” (U.S. Patent 7,521,056). Termed the Dock-and-Lock method (DNL)™, this is a protein engineering platform technology for the rapid and facile creation of a wide variety of active biological agents designed for biotechnological and biomedical applications.
- Merck Research Laboratories and inventors Karel M. Jos Brands, Joseph Payack, and Phillip Pye were honored in the pharmaceutical process category for “Process for the Synthesis of (2R, 2-alpha-R)-4-Benzyl-2-[-1-(3,5-bis(triflouromethyl)phenyl)ethoxy]-1,4-oxazine-3-one” (U.S. Patent 6,469,164). This invention is a novel synthetic organic chemistry methodology for the synthesis of the title compound which is a key intermediate in an economically beneficial and environmentally benign process for the manufacture of aprepitant, the active ingredient in Emend.
In addition, Sol J. Barer, Ph.D., received the 2012 Chairman’s Award. Dr. Barer was selected for his leadership at Celgene Corporation — another HINJ member company — coupled with his public service as the Chairman of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey’s Advisory Committee and as a Commissioner of the New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology.
In his remarks at the Edison Patent Awards ceremony, HINJ President and Chief Executive Officer Dean J. Paranicas said, “It is very appropriate that we recognize the researchers and clinicians who toil for years in pursuit of success that will improve the lives of patients around the world. … Their achievements epitomize what the life sciences industry is all about — dedication to discovering new medicines, therapies and technologies to cure disease and improve global human health.”
In saluting the Research & Development Council of New Jersey on its 50th anniversary, Paranicas said, “R&D has been a hallmark of New Jersey’s economy for nearly its entire history, and the Research & Development Council does a great job of perpetuating that rich legacy to keep New Jersey at the forefront of the R&D community.”
To learn more about the Research & Development Council of New Jersey, including a list of all of its 2012 honorees, please click here.
Founded in 1997, the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey (HINJ) serves as the voice for the state’s life sciences industry. HINJ seeks to expand patient access to the most innovative biopharmaceuticals and medical devices and promote awareness of the industry’s impact on New Jersey’s quality of life and economic well-being. In 2010, HINJ member companies’ economic impact in the state exceeded $24 billion, according to HINJ’s 2011 Economic Impact Report. For more information, visit www.hinj.org.