Pfizer Scientist Enters Inventors Hall of Fame
A Pfizer scientist from Kent, whose work has helped to save millions of lives, has been recognised by the US National Inventors Hall of Fame.
Ken Richardson, a retired Pfizer Scientist, is being recognised for discovering one of the most important breakthroughs in the history of anti fungal research. Ken led a team at the Pfizer Laboratories in Sandwich, who discovered and developed fluconazole, also known as Diflucan®. This life- saving medicine has had a significant impact on world health by treating millions of patients including transplant recipients, burn victims, cancer patients, AIDS patients and others with weakened immune systems.
Ken, who is still local to Kent, was the only English living inventor recognised in this year's honours. Each year a new class of inventors is invited to join the Hall of Fame in recognition of their inventions which make human, social and economic progress possible. Ken received the award at a special ceremony at the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio, US on Saturday 3 May.
Dr Annette Doherty, Research Site Head and Site Leader at Pfizer Sandwich Laboratories, said: "Ken and his team have helped save the lives of millions of people around the world and Pfizer is incredibly proud of his induction into the Hall of Fame in acknowledgement of this achievement. The honour is an inspiration for all our researchers at Sandwich working on the discovery and advancement of new medicines for the benefit of patients".
The Inventors Hall of Fame exists to honour and foster creativity and innovation. Each year, the Selection Committee of the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation selects individuals for induction. These are selected from a field of people nominated by peers and the public and include representatives from leading national scientific and technical organisations.
In 2008, the selection committee also recognised the inventors of the silicon solar cell, hip replacement surgery, the light emitting diode and tempered glass.
Pfizer's research into medicines to treat severe systemic fungal diseases began in Sandwich in the early 1970s. In 1978 a new team of researchers, consisting of eight chemists and five biologists, led by Ken Richardson, took up the challenge of discovering a new anti-fungal medicine superior to anything available at the time. In 1981 their work culminated in the discovery of fluconazole.
Born in the Midlands near Nottingham, Ken Richardson left school at the age of sixteen to become a laboratory assistant during the day. By attending evening classes, he earned his first degree in chemistry from Trent Polytechnic in 1965 and then earned his Ph.D. from the University of Nottingham in 1968. He later worked with Nobel laureate chemist R.B. Woodward at Harvard, and joined Pfizer in 1969.
In recognition of his groundbreaking research work Ken has received a number of prestigious awards, including the UK Society for Drug Research Award for Drug Discovery and the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers of America Discoverers Award. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by HM Queen Elizabeth II.
