Armstrong named ‘hero’ for Januvia

Homepage

Related Photos

Dr. Joe Armstrong with his certificate.

August 31, 2010

Chemist from Tarboro in scientific ‘hall of fame’

Anonymous From Staff Reports The Daily Southerner Tue Aug 31, 2010, 11:01 AM EDT

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

Homepage

Princeville employee charged with 2 counts of embezzlement
PRINCEVILLE — A Princeville Town Hall employee has been charged with embezzlement, but is reportedly still employed by the town.
According to a copy of a warrant obtained from the Edgecombe County Courthouse, Diana Lee Draughn, 46, of Scotland Neck, was charged with two counts of embezzlement from April 26, 2010 through Dec. 16, 2010.

February 3, 2012 1 Photo
Political Perspectives from our local Chairman
Al Hull: Past challenge becomes hobby

Local News

Pizza Inn employee Chris Kaiser takes a pizza off the oven Thursday. Pizza Inn is expecting to increase business Sunday. Photo/Calvin Adkins

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

Sports

First 2012 hickory shad caught
Henry C. Knight, III, caught the winner in the 2nd Annual Tar River First Shad Contest, in Tarboro this past Sunday morning about 9 a.m. Henry Knight? Are you kidding me?
Henry winning this season’s Tar River First Shad Contest is about like Albert Einstein being a contestant on Jeopardy, and asking Alex Trebeck, in his best old-world German accent, “Alex, I vood like you should give me da physics category for $2000.” It’s a done deal, my friend. Take the money to the bank.

February 3, 2012
Cougar boys, girls both lose to Panthers in Eastern Plains Conference action

Opinion

'From the heart of Stone"
With Black History Month beginning, I reflected on my favorite black writers. "Back in the day," when I was a student at Virginia Commonwealth University, I took the first Black History class ever offered at the school.
It was there that I discovered the works of Richard Wright, Eldridge Cleaver, Malcolm X, James Baldwin, and Julian Bond. Over the years, the writings of James Baldwin took on a special meaning when I started working at an alternative school. I re-visited some of Baldwin's work, and exposed students to it.

February 3, 2012

Lifestyles

Marriage Licenses 2/1/2012
Kevin James Curzon of Rocky Mount

Samuel Draughn, Jr. of Southern Pines

Herminio Antonio Baez III of Rocky Mount

Michael Davpmme Dew of Rocky Mount

Issac Barne Edmonds, Jr. of Tarboro

February 1, 2012

Obituaries Archives

PAUL E. WARREN
February 3, 2012 1 Photo
Anderson "Lee" Moss
ANNIE NEWTON
HENRY L. WILKINS
LAUARA L. WILLOUGHBY

Food

Great Pies
Most everyone loves a good pie. But, everyone also has their own favorite. I love easy pies, both sweet and savory. What is your favorite pie?
Our first recipe is an old family favorite. My aunt Daisy used to make the best sliced sweet potato pie. Our family really looked forward to her pies at family events and Thanksgiving.

January 25, 2012 2 Photos
Make Ahead Dinners
Sweet treats for the New Year
Christmas Eve is almost here

Events

Edgecombe Events for Jan. 30-Feb.4, 2012
January 31, 2012

Our Community

Local brothers shoot swans while on the fly
January 16, 2012 1 Photo
Fisherman Knight

Garden Tips

Garden Club gets lesson on growing roses
The Edgecombe Garden Club October luncheon was at the Fountains of the Albemarle. After President Marilyn Douglass greeted everyone, Sandra Joyner read the devotion titled “The Right Words.”
Hostesses were Sandra Joyner, Chairman, Sallie Carlisle, Willie Gupton and Shirley Wainwright. Their table centerpieces contained many different colors of roses in small glass bowls.

November 15, 2011
Local Roots – A New Farmers Market Model

Homepage

Search Results

Related Photos

Armstrong named ‘hero’ for Januvia

Chemist from Tarboro in scientific ‘hall of fame’

With the unexpected decision of Gov. Bev Perdue not to seek re-election, does President Obama have a good chance of winning our battleground state?

Site Map