CHALLENGES FOR MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY: ACS-sponsored forum explores ways to serve pharmaceutical companies' needs

THE DIRECTORS OF MEDICINAL chemistry and drug discovery from more than a dozen drug firms met with chemistry faculty from six universities at the newly opened Wyeth Research facility in Collegeville, Pa., earlier this month, as the American Chemical Society convened its first summit on the future of chemistry in pharmaceutical research. While all agreed that the future is secure, attendees at the ACS pharmaceuticals meeting, which was chaired by ACS President Eisa Reichmanis, raised concerns about medicinal chemistry being eclipsed by biological techniques in drug discovery. A drop in the number of bachelor's- and master's-degree level scientists entering the field was also a top concern, with discussion centering on improved cooperation between industry and academia in preparing students for careers as pharmaceutical chemists. Robert R. Ruffolo Jr., president of R&D at Wyeth, set the tone for an afternoon of open discussion in his welcoming address. "Chemistry has always been the bread and butter of ...