Dr. Zaffaroni Receives Pincus Medal from Worcester Foundation

(I-Newswire) May 27, 2005 - Mountain View, CA (May 26, 2005) – Today, Dr. Alejandro Zaffaroni received the Gregory Pincus Award from the Worcester Foundation for his pioneering accomplishments. Dr. Zaffaroni is a Uruguayan-born scientist who, as founder of ALZA Corporation, reshaped the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries by developing controlled drug delivery technologies.

The award, established in 1969, is given annually by the Worcester Foundation for Biological Research at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center to recognize individuals who are pioneers in the fields of endocrine and reproductive biology.

"The Pincus Award pays tribute to an individual who has had a huge impact on human health and well-being," said Michael Jackson, ALZA Corporation president. "Humankind owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. Zaffaroni for his innovations that have improved patients' health and quality of life."

Award Honors a Legacy of Innovation

Dr. Zaffaroni was praised by the Foundation for his visionary leadership in developing technologies and products that brought a new dimension to individual health and to the changing needs of the pharmaceutical industry, as well as his success in commercializing novel techniques for drug discovery and drug delivery.

"We are pleased to honor Dr. Zaffaroni for his incalculable contributions to bioscience and human health," said Dr. Thoru Pederson, director of the Worcester Foundation and professor of biochemistry and molecular pharmacology at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. "His career is one of extraordinary prescience and unparalleled persistence, coupled with an exceptional talent for recognizing and attracting the most brilliant collaborators."

Named for Gregory Goodwin Pincus (1903-1967), founder of the Worcester Foundation and the legendary reproductive physiologist who developed the world's first oral contraceptive pill, the award has honored numerous distinguished bioscience researchers, including Dr. Thadeus Mann of Cambridge University, Dr. M. Judah Folkman of Harvard Medical School and Nobel Laureates Dr. Julius Axelrod of the National Institutes of Health and Dr. Stanley Cohen of Vanderbilt University.

Delivering Drugs in Controlled Doses

Dr. Zaffaroni joined Syntex Corporation, then a small chemical company in Mexico, as a biochemist in 1951. He played a key role in transforming Syntex into a major multinational pharmaceutical company based in Palo Alto, CA. In 1968, he founded ALZA Corporation (an acronym of his own name) to pursue his concept of improving medical treatment through controlled drug delivery.

"I saw the side effects that many pills and injections produced when they were sent to the bloodstream all in one massive dose and knew there had to be a better way," Dr. Zaffaroni said. "By studying endocrinology – where glands deliver very small amounts of hormones but have a tremendous impact – I became convinced that delivering drugs in small, steady doses would be more effective."

Dr. Zaffaroni's first controlled drug delivery product was used to treat glaucoma, a common eye disease that impairs vision and often causes blindness. Other successful products that incorporate Dr. Zaffaroni's drug delivery technologies include Glucotrol®, for non-insulin-dependent diabetes; DURAGESIC® (fentanyl transdermal system), for management of severe chronic pain; NicoDerm CQ®, for smoking cessation; and Transderm Scop®, to prevent nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness.

Founder of Health Tech Companies, Silicon Valley Pioneer

Over the course of his career, Dr. Zaffaroni founded a number of other innovative health technology companies. In 1980, he established DNAX Ltd., a developer of macromolecular products that combines the technologies of genetic engineering and immunobiology. Eight years later he co-founded Affymax, Inc., pioneer of combinatorial chemistry that dramatically reduces the cost and time identifying promising medicines. In 1991, Dr. Zaffaroni founded Affymetrix, Inc., a leader in human genetics for understanding, diagnosing and treating disease. He was also involved in the creation of Perlegen Sciences, Inc., an Affymetrix spin-off working on improving drugs and finding genetic causes of disease. In 1994, he founded Symyx Technologies, Inc., a company dedicated to utilizing combinatorial chemistry technologies to find new materials.

Other companies he founded include Maxygen, Inc., a developer of broad technologies that improve the evolution of proteins and genetic elements, and SurroMed, Inc., focusing on the development of novel technologies for surrogate disease markers. In 2000, he founded Alexza MDC, a company working on rapid onset of action drug delivery technologies.

In 1995, Dr. Zaffaroni received the National Medal of Technology from President Clinton for his contributions to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. He is also the 2005 recipient of the Bower Award for Business Leadership from the Franklin Institute for his creation, through a combination of scientific creativity and entrepreneurial insight, of new biochemical processes and drug delivery technologies.

"The success of the companies Dr. Zaffaroni has founded are a testament to his vision and the practicality of his ideas for improving drug therapy," Mr. Jackson said. "He has provided a new dimension for individual health and the treatment of illness in the world, and we join the Worcester Foundation in honoring his achievement."

About ALZA Corporation

ALZA Corporation, headquartered in Mountain View, CA, is leading the next generation of drug delivery and drug targeting with the world's broadest array of technology platforms, including oral, transdermal, implantable and liposomal technologies. ALZA Corporation applies its delivery technology to develop pharmaceutical products with enhanced therapeutic value. More than 30 products marketed in over 80 countries worldwide now incorporate ALZA Corporation's drug delivery technologies. ALZA Corporation is a member of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies. For further information, visit ALZA Corporation's Web site at www.alza.com.

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