Emma Parmee

The SCI Gordon E. Moore Medal
Emma Parmee

Emma Parmee will receive the 2009 SCI Gordon E. Moore Medal for her key role in the discovery of the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor Januvia (sitagliptin), the first and only DPP-4 inhibitor approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. 

Diabetes is a global epidemic affecting more than 240 million people worldwide. The incidence of this disease is growing at an alarming rate, with 380 million cases predicted by 2025. Each year over 3.8 million people die from complications of diabetes, including heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. The vast majority of cases—90 to 95%—are type 2 diabetes, largely resulting from the increasing prevalence of obesity and sedentary lifestyles. 

Despite the availability of a range of agents to treat type 2 diabetes, glucose control remains suboptimal, with less than 50% of patients achieving stated glycemic goals. In addition, current therapies have limited durability, and some are associated with significant side effects such gastrointestinal intolerance, hypoglycemia, weight gain, lactic acidosis, and edema. Significant unmet medical needs remain; in particular, safer, better tolerated medications that provide increased efficacy and long-term durability are being sought. 

Parmee and her colleagues’ discovery of the selective DPP-4 inhibitor Januvia represents a major advance in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Januvia provides glucose-lowering efficacy as monotherapy and in combination with metformin and PPARγ agonists such as pioglitazone. Because of its unique glucose-dependent mechanism of action, there is very low risk of hypoglycemia. Overall side-effects are comparable to placebo, and unlike many other anti-hyperglycemic agents, Januvia does not cause weight gain. DPP-4 inhibition is also associated with improvements in β cell function, which may lead to increased long-term effectiveness. In October 2006 Januvia was approved in the United States as the first and only DPP-4 inhibitor for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Parmee joined Merck following a stellar graduate career at Oxford University and a NATO postdoctoral fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She has authored or coauthored 30 papers in refereed journals and is a coinventor on 24 issued and pending patent applications. First-rate medicinal chemistry skills and leadership abilities have made Parmee a well-respected and sought-out collaborator in the Merck research community, and her talents are also known worldwide.

Past SCI Gordon E. Moore Medalists:
Edmund M. Carnahan (2008)
Paul A. Sagel (2007)
Jonathan M. McConnachie (2006)
Jeffrey John Hale (2005)
George Barclay (2004)

About the SCI Gordon E. Moore Medal
The Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) has established the SCI Gordon E. Moore Medal to recognize early-career success in innovation, as reflected both in market impact and improvement to quality of life. By highlighting extraordinary individuals and their work, SCI aims to promote public understanding of research and development in modern chemical industries, enhance the interest of students in applied chemistry by providing role models, and emphasize the role of creative research in the global economy. For more information, see SCI Gordon E. Moore Medal on the SCI Web site.

The Society of Chemical Industry, America Section, is a CHF Affiliate.