| Citation | Richard Sykes is distinguished both as an experimental scientist and as a major force in the British pharmaceutical industry. He has, in his own right, made important experimental contributions to microbiology, of which the best known are his work on B-lactamases, and the discovery of the first monocyclic B-lactam antibiotic, aztreonam. The latter was not an accidental finding or simply the outcome of routine screening. Sykes was personally responsible for the development of imaginative new micro-screens of much greater sensitivity than those in use in the antibiotic industry at the time, and these ultra-sensitive screens enabled him to detect compounds present in trace amounts that were not detectable by standard methods. Aztreonam proved to be a major advance in the treatment of gram-negative infections. In 1986 Sykes rejoined Glaxo where he is now Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive of Glaxo Holdings plc. His influence within Glaxo and the pharmaceutical industry generally has been marked by a firm conviction of the overriding importance of good fundamental science, and this has found expression not only in the massive development of Glaxo R and D, but also in the vigorous interaction of the company with the university sector in the United Kingdom. He also makes a significant positive contribution to national science policy. The case for the election of Richard Sykes as a general candidate is very strong. |