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PHILADELPHIA, PA—7 August 2009—The Society of Chemical Industry (SCI), America Section, will award the SCI Gordon E. Moore Medal to Emma Parmee, director of medicinal chemistry at Merck. She will be presented with the medal at the Gordon E. Moore Ceremony and Luncheon on 15 September, during Innovation Day 2009 at the Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF) in Philadelphia. Innovation Day gathers more than 200 leaders from the molecular-sciences industries to discuss cutting edge research.
Parmee is being awarded the SCI Moore Medal for playing a 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 mellitus. Parmee and her colleagues’ discovery represents a major advance in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. 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. In addition, DPP-4 inhibition is associated with improvements in β-cell function, which may lead to increased long-term effectiveness.
“Emma Parmee's groundbreaking work has created an enduring legacy of better lives for millions of diabetics,” said Andrew Liveris, SCI chairman and CEO of The Dow Chemical Company. “Her vision helped create Januvia, a revolutionary drug that lowers glucose and has reduced suffering for diabetics around the world.”
About Emma Parmee
Parmee joined Merck following a stellar graduate career at Oxford and a NATO postdoctoral fellowship at MIT. She is co-inventor on the issued US patent covering Januvia and she received a Key Contributor Award from Merck for her many contributions to the DPP-4 program. She has lectured both nationally and internationally on her work in this field and has authored six DPP-4 manuscripts, including four as first or senior author.
In addition to her contributions to the discovery of Januvia, Parmee and her team identified a subnanomolar, exquisitely selective DPP-4 inhibitor which was key in evaluating the benefits of selective inhibition. For example, using this inhibitor, her biological colleagues showed that inhibition of related proline peptidases, but not DPP-4, leads to T-cell activation. She also designed and prepared ligands for affinity columns which were used to purify DPP-4 and the related enzymes QPP and DPP-4β, subsequently identified as DPP-8. The latter enzyme was shown to be responsible for the toxicity observed in preclinical species with nonselective DPP-4 inhibitors.
Following the discovery of Januvia, Parmee assumed leadership responsibility for an important new diabetes program at Merck, glucagon receptor antagonists. Dr. Parmee’s keen attention to detail, clear analytical thinking, and close working relationship with her biological colleagues have played a critical role in her success on that project as well.
In the course of her scientific career, Parmee has been an author or coauthor of 30 papers in refereed journals and is a coinventor on 24 issued and pending patent applications. In addition to Januvia, Parmee has contributed to the discovery of seven development candidates, including one currently in Phase I clinical studies, one in Phase II, and one compound that is expected to enter pivotal Phase III studies later this year. First-rate medicinal chemistry skills and leadership ability have made Parmee a well respected and sought out collaborator in the Merck research community, and her talents are also known in the worldwide research community.
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.
About the Society of Chemical Industry
The Society of Chemical Industry is an international forum where science meets business on independent and impartial ground. SCI offers information-sharing from food and agriculture, pharmaceuticals, bio-technology, energy, to environmental science and safety.
About the Chemical Heritage Foundation
The Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF) fosters an understanding of chemistry’s impact on society. An independent nonprofit organization, we strive to inspire a passion for chemistry, highlight chemistry’s role in meeting current social challenges, and preserve the story of chemistry across centuries.
CHF maintains major collections of instruments, fine art, photographs, papers, and books. We host conferences and lectures, support research, offer fellowships, and produce educational materials. Our museum and public programs explore subjects ranging from alchemy to nanotechnology. |
