The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Local News

Related Photos

  • Dr. Joe Armstrong with his certificate.

    Armstrong
August 31, 2010

Armstrong named ‘hero’ for Januvia

Chemist from Tarboro in scientific ‘hall of fame’

From Staff Reports

Westfield, N.J., — A trio of Merck scientists who led the discovery and development of a first-in-class treatment for type 2 diabetes have been honored as "Heroes of Chemistry" by the American Chemical Society.

Nancy Thornberry, Ann Weber and Joe Armstrong were one of two teams inducted this year into this scientific "hall of fame" for their central roles in the creation of Januvia, a medication that has helped millions of type 2 diabetics control their blood sugar. The researchers accepted the award on Sunday at a ceremony during the ACS National Meeting in Boston.

Armstrong, 49, is the son of Norma Armstrong of Tarboro and a 1978 graduate of Tarboro High School.

“Through close collaboration with our external partner Solvias, our team discovered a completely new transformation: the asymmetric catalytic hydrogenation of unprotected enamines,” Armstrong said.

“This methodology is now being applied to numerous synthetic efforts of other chiral molecules containing this important biologically active scaffold and highlights Merck's commitment to chemistry innovation and scientific excellence.

  “Not only did we improve our yield by 50 percent, and reduce waste by 80 percent, which will likely eliminate up to 330 million pounds of waste during the lifetime of the drug, we also completely eliminated aqueous waste from the process.

Thornberry, senior vice president and franchise head for Diabetes and Obesity, initiated the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor program in 1999 and, along with Ann and Joe, co-led the discovery efforts. Ann, vice president of Chemistry, led the medicinal chemistry team that discovered sitagliptin phosphate, the active ingredient in Januvia. Joe, senior director, Process Chemistry, led the team that discovered and developed an unprecedented, sustainable "green" process for synthesizing the active ingredient.

Each year, the ACS, the world's largest scientific society, bestows its "Heroes of Chemistry" award to chemists and their companies whose inventions have advanced chemical research, and improved human life.

The society also considers commercial success of the products, because, as they assert, good business results follow good science.

Januvia is all of the above. The compound helps control blood sugar levels by blocking dipeptidyl peptidase IV, or DPP-4, an enzyme that breaks down the incretin peptides that activate insulin production after a meal. By inhibiting DPP-4, Januvia enables those peptides to stimulate the release of insulin for a longer period of time, thereby lowering the glucose level in the blood.

 When Januvia came to market in 2006, it was the first new oral therapy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in more than a decade. The unmet medical need was significant. Januvia provides a new treatment option to help patients reach their glycemic goals and feel healthier.

The Januvia program was among the fastest from initiation to registration in Merck history. The company started substantially behind the competition, yet was able to deliver a first-in-class molecule to market in about 3.8 years, half the industry average.

Januvia and the more recently approved Janumet (sitagliptin combined with metformin) continue to deliver substantial value to the company, achieving $1.9 billion and $658 million, respectively, in sales last year. Nancy aims to keep the program flourishing with an extensive, clear strategy for lifecycle management, including multiple fixed dose combinations, and through the initiation of a cardiovascular outcomes study.

"A major part of our strategy now is to focus on mechanisms that will be complementary to that of Januvia and that may offer a cardiovascular benefit since that's such a major goal in the treatment of diabetes," said Thornberry said.

 "We all came to Merck to improve human health," she adds. "We are very privileged to be a part of this program and we are extremely proud of the product."

 Armstrong came to Merck in 1990, and in 2001 he began working on the sitagliptin team. Currently senior director, Discovery and Preclinical Sciences Integration Office, he co-chaired a team with Thornberry that formulated the early clinical development strategy for Januvia. They initiated a first-in-man study just six months after the compound had been approved as a preclinical candidate.

Armstrong also led a team of chemists who developed an innovative synthesis that reduced waste and created a shorter and more efficient manufacturing process. As a result, the overall yield was increased by nearly 50 percent, and the amount of waste was reduced by over 80 percent

 Armstrong was accompanied to the black tie event by his wife Helen, mother and Aunt Cornelia Thompson.

Joe and Helen live in Westfield, N.J., with daughters Madeleine,11, and Kathryn, 9.



 

Text Only
Local News
  • The first lap (with Relay story).jpg Edgecombe Relay for Life seeking business partners

    Fresh from raising $196,312 and ranking No. 4 nationally in per capita fundraising, Relay for Life Edgecombe County is seeking business and corporate sponsors to help in the fight against cancer.
    Corporate and business sponsorship packets, which detail the levels and benefits of sponsorship, are ready to be delivered, according to Jane Gurley Harper, corporate sponsor chair. Businesses can also help by forming a team to participate in Relay and raise money in that manner.

    February 9, 2012 1 Photo

  • Maggie Boyd.jpg Princeville commissioner, interim town manager involved in physical conflict


    PRINCEVILLE — The disconnect of water service at a commissioner's home led to a physical confrontation between the elected official and a town employee Wednesday at the town hall.
    According to Commissioner Gwen Knight, interim Town Manager Maggie Boyd gave instructions to a public works employee and a police officer to cut off Knight's water because the account was delinquent in the amount of $662.77.
    Knight said she went to the town hall to pay the bill as soon as she was told about her service being cut off.

    February 9, 2012 2 Photos

  • Victor Marrow new hedeshot.jpg Princeville terminates town manager Appoints museum curator to fill same position

    PRINCEVILLE — A contract dispute between the Princeville town manager and the town commissioners led to his termination at the close of business Monday.
    Victor Marrow was notified by Princevile Attorney Charles Watts that he had been fired.
    Marrow's contract expired Feb. 1, but the town extended it six days in hope of his signing a proposed new contract. Marrow was hired in February 2010 on a two-year contract. Nine months later, he resigned, only to rescind his resignation the following morning.
    Stipulations of the proposed new contract were untenable to Marrow and included the stipulation that it was to end on June 12, included a $5,000 pay cut, work in excess of 40 hours per week and write at least three grants per month, he said. 

    February 8, 2012 1 Photo

  • CRIME ROUNDUP

    The Tarboro Police Department responded to a call Friday and was told a victim had been stabbed. While conducting an investigation, officers were told by the victim that Perry Lee Bunn, 58, 304 Granville St., had stabbed him several times. The name of the victim was not released by police.
    Officers called EMS to respond to the scene to transport the victim to the hospital so he could treated for his injuries.

    February 8, 2012

  • Significant deficiencies in county audit

    Auditors told Edgecombe County Commissioners on Monday night that they found significant deficiencies while compiling the 2010-2011 annual audit of county finances. Still, the audit received an unqualified opinion.

    February 8, 2012

  • Teresa Bryant headshot.jpg Bryant declines to seek re-election

    Teresa DeLoatch Bryant announced she will not seek re-election to the District 2 seat she now holds on the Edgecombe County Public Schools Board. The announcement came 91 days before the May 8 Primary Election and nearly a year after the first-term plus one year board member announced her resignation for personal and career reasons. She later rescinded her decision.

    February 6, 2012 1 Photo

  • MimiHerman.jpg W.A. Patillo receives $5,000 poetry grant

    W.A. Pattillo School has been awarded $5,000 from the North Carolina Arts Council for Poetry in the Classroom with Mimi Herman.
    The funds will be used to provide a week of poetry writing experiences for seven fourth grade classes through the expertise and creativity of Herman. Students will gain self-confidence, and will view themselves as writers rather than merely consumers of literature. They will learn to use language effectively and creatively to communicate thoughts, feeling, and impressions.

    February 6, 2012 1 Photo

  • IMG_5889.JPG Pizza Bowl

    The biggest football game of the year brings the largest sale of the year for two area pizza restaurants.
    Tarboro branches of Pizza Inn and Dominos Pizza are gearing up for Super Bowl XLVI Sunday by increasing their regular employee lineup by as many as seven.
    Pizza Inn is running a special that they believe will keep them busy throughout the day. Last year they sold over 200 large pizzas on Super Bowl Sunday compared to 50 on an average Sunday.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Edgecombe unemployment up in December

    TARBORO — Unemployment rates increased in 93 of North Carolina’s 100 counties in December. Rates decreased in four counties and remained the same in three.
    Edgecombe, which saw a slight improvement in November, fell back to its October 2011 level (15.7%). Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Edgecombe and Dare are tied at third highest in unemployment. 

    February 3, 2012

  • Three ECPS campuses ahead of First Lady's nutritional guidelines

    When First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new guidelines for the nutritional overhaul of school meals last week, they could have chosen three of Edgecombe County's public schools as their models.

    February 2, 2012