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The banker and the biologist	The banker and the biologist
2009-02-07 08:40:40 UTC	2009-02-09 19:41:30 UTC (2 days later)
E.coli bacterium found in an egg sandwich A POINT OF VIEW E.coli can have a bad reputation. But a hippy scientist and an unemployed banker harnessed the benefits of this bacterium - and launched the biotechnology revolution, says Harold Evans.	E.coli bacterium found in an egg sandwich A POINT OF VIEW E.coli can have a bad reputation. But a hippy scientist and an unemployed banker harnessed the benefits of this bacterium - and launched the biotechnology revolution, says Harold Evans.
We have to change the adage - man's best friend may not have four legs and bark. In fact, the creature I have in mind is only a ten-thousandth of an inch long and answers to the name E.coli.	We have to change the adage - man's best friend may not have four legs and bark. In fact, the creature I have in mind is only a ten-thousandth of an inch long and answers to the name E.coli.
If you're one of the zillions of hypochondriacs on our planet, you will know that this is not Mr Edward Coli of Twickenham, but the bacterium Escherichia coli - E.coli for short - a version of a single cell microscopic bug. E.coli can do us good - or ill	If you're one of the zillions of hypochondriacs on our planet, you will know that this is not Mr Edward Coli of Twickenham, but the bacterium Escherichia coli - E.coli for short - a version of a single cell microscopic bug. E.coli can do us good - or ill
You may not be on speaking terms with E.coli if you've encountered it on your travels. Like all families, it has uncouth members. If certain strains of E.coli get together in big numbers in your gut, you will know about it. The sickness they produce as a gang can be nasty, so ordinary mortals prudently avoid contact, walk the other side of the street as it were; when we get caught by the gang we call it food poisoning.	You may not be on speaking terms with E.coli if you've encountered it on your travels. Like all families, it has uncouth members. If certain strains of E.coli get together in big numbers in your gut, you will know about it. The sickness they produce as a gang can be nasty, so ordinary mortals prudently avoid contact, walk the other side of the street as it were; when we get caught by the gang we call it food poisoning.
Ugh. But stay with me. The good thing about E.coli - the very good thing - is that it has qualities a brilliant scientist exploited to bless mankind with a variety of life-saving medicines - medicines so valuable in combating cancer and age-related blindness, for instance, they are now at the heart of a raging takeover battle for control of the wonderfully successful company founded on his original work with E.coli.	Ugh. But stay with me. The good thing about E.coli - the very good thing - is that it has qualities a brilliant scientist exploited to bless mankind with a variety of life-saving medicines - medicines so valuable in combating cancer and age-related blindness, for instance, they are now at the heart of a raging takeover battle for control of the wonderfully successful company founded on his original work with E.coli.
His name is Herbert Boyer. I'll come to him and his young friend Robert Swanson shortly.	His name is Herbert Boyer. I'll come to him and his young friend Robert Swanson shortly.
Hostile takeover	Hostile takeover
The company they founded on the campus of the University of California, San Francisco, with $500 dollars apiece is Genentech, and its scientists are furious that the Swiss-based pharmaceutical giant Hoffman La Roche is making a hostile bid for the 44% of Genentech shares it doesn't have. Robert Swanson, an unemployed banker, had an idea that molecular biology had progressed to the point where it could become a business Hear Radio 4's A Point of View	The company they founded on the campus of the University of California, San Francisco, with $500 dollars apiece is Genentech, and its scientists are furious that the Swiss-based pharmaceutical giant Hoffman La Roche is making a hostile bid for the 44% of Genentech shares it doesn't have. Robert Swanson, an unemployed banker, had an idea that molecular biology had progressed to the point where it could become a business Hear Radio 4's A Point of View
Billions of dollars are at stake, but at heart it's not really about money. It's as much a confrontation of cultures, the free-spirited microbiologists of south San Francisco v what they see as the uptight bureaucrats from Basel.	Billions of dollars are at stake, but at heart it's not really about money. It's as much a confrontation of cultures, the free-spirited microbiologists of south San Francisco v what they see as the uptight bureaucrats from Basel.
Hoffman La Roche's medicines are chemical compounds, Genentech's are derived from genetic engineering - in the stock market tables they're listed as DNA, controversial for some - but in my view there's nothing scary about what they do. It is a very natural process.	Hoffman La Roche's medicines are chemical compounds, Genentech's are derived from genetic engineering - in the stock market tables they're listed as DNA, controversial for some - but in my view there's nothing scary about what they do. It is a very natural process.
Hoffman La Roche is one of the leading companies in what's known as Big Pharmaceuticals - Big Pharm. It ~~can~~ ~~claim~~ ~~its~~ ~~successes~~ - ~~anti~~ ~~depressants,~~ of ~~which~~ ~~Valium~~ is ~~the~~ ~~most~~ ~~famous.~~ ~~But~~ Big Pharm generally has been having a dry run for the past few years, while the genetic engineers have scored success after success. Genentech has had its 15 major medicines investigated without one coming up negative.	Hoffman La Roche is one of the leading companies in what's known as Big Pharmaceuticals - Big Pharm. Big Pharm generally has been having a dry run for the past few years, while the genetic engineers have scored success after success. Genentech has had its 15 major medicines investigated without one coming up negative.
The Wall Street Journal has been following the takeover struggle, but don't go near its website unless you're clad in flame-proof clothing. It's ablaze with many scores of comments from both sides of the fight. "Roche," says one, "you are an opportunistic sleazebag trying to take advantage of the US economy." To which a Roche defender says: "Genentech has a campus full of educated idiots."	The Wall Street Journal has been following the takeover struggle, but don't go near its website unless you're clad in flame-proof clothing. It's ablaze with many scores of comments from both sides of the fight. "Roche," says one, "you are an opportunistic sleazebag trying to take advantage of the US economy." To which a Roche defender says: "Genentech has a campus full of educated idiots."
Opposites attract	Opposites attract
It is a long way from the science meets business dialogue that took place on Friday, 17 January, 1976, on the campus of the University of California, San Francisco.	It is a long way from the science meets business dialogue that took place on Friday, 17 January, 1976, on the campus of the University of California, San Francisco.
Robert Swanson, described as a "short, chunky, chipmunk-cheeked" 28-year-old unemployed banker, dropped in on the university lab of Herbert Boyer, just 10 years his senior. Swanson had an idea that molecular biology had progressed to the point where it could become a business.	Robert Swanson, described as a "short, chunky, chipmunk-cheeked" 28-year-old unemployed banker, dropped in on the university lab of Herbert Boyer, just 10 years his senior. Swanson had an idea that molecular biology had progressed to the point where it could become a business.
One Genentech scientist remembers, "We were standing out in the hallway laughing at this guy in a three-piece suit. We didn't get people like that visiting us." But Swanson's 10-minute pitch was persuasive enough for biologist and banker to walk out for a beer at Churchill's, a local hangout for molecular biologists.	One Genentech scientist remembers, "We were standing out in the hallway laughing at this guy in a three-piece suit. We didn't get people like that visiting us." But Swanson's 10-minute pitch was persuasive enough for biologist and banker to walk out for a beer at Churchill's, a local hangout for molecular biologists.
By chance, Swanson had stuck his pin on the right name. Boyer was a working class boy from a small mining community in Pennsylvania. He was a star football player, but a perceptive coach, who also taught chemistry and biology, advised him to direct his energies into science. Watson and Crick's DNA discovery inspired many	By chance, Swanson had stuck his pin on the right name. Boyer was a working class boy from a small mining community in Pennsylvania. He was a star football player, but a perceptive coach, who also taught chemistry and biology, advised him to direct his energies into science. Watson and Crick's DNA discovery inspired many
Francis Crick and James Watson helped, too. As Boyer graduated to a small liberal arts college, the famous Anglo-American duo shook the world with their double-helix, the model of the genetic blueprint of life, DNA.	Francis Crick and James Watson helped, too. As Boyer graduated to a small liberal arts college, the famous Anglo-American duo shook the world with their double-helix, the model of the genetic blueprint of life, DNA.
Boyer was hooked. He named his Siamese cats Watson and Crick and when he arrived at the University of California as a 36-year-old assistant professor in 1966, he really considered himself a member of a new profession - molecular geneticist.	Boyer was hooked. He named his Siamese cats Watson and Crick and when he arrived at the University of California as a 36-year-old assistant professor in 1966, he really considered himself a member of a new profession - molecular geneticist.
He was a 60s rebel. Marching through the streets shouting anti-war and civil rights slogans, he did not look the sort who would be a caring father, given his tumbled mop of hair, his flamboyant moustache, his open-necked shirt, his faded jeans, his unbuttoned leather vest.	He was a 60s rebel. Marching through the streets shouting anti-war and civil rights slogans, he did not look the sort who would be a caring father, given his tumbled mop of hair, his flamboyant moustache, his open-necked shirt, his faded jeans, his unbuttoned leather vest.
But he was. He fretted that his son might be on the small side. A paediatrician told him it was possible he could be treated with a human growth hormone. Boyer had never heard of it. But he had the glimmerings of an idea that something might be done with E.coli, the bacterium first discovered by the German paediatrician and biologist Theodore Escherich in 1885.Divide and conquer	But he was. He fretted that his son might be on the small side. A paediatrician told him it was possible he could be treated with a human growth hormone. Boyer had never heard of it. But he had the glimmerings of an idea that something might be done with E.coli, the bacterium first discovered by the German paediatrician and biologist Theodore Escherich in 1885.Divide and conquer
One bacterium brushing against another may pick up a gene floating on the surface of the other in a tiny, closed loop called the plasmid. This is the way bugs learn how to resist a bug killer - one bug which has learnt how to beat the bug killer passing on the immunity to another bug through the plasmid.	One bacterium brushing against another may pick up a gene floating on the surface of the other in a tiny, closed loop called the plasmid. This is the way bugs learn how to resist a bug killer - one bug which has learnt how to beat the bug killer passing on the immunity to another bug through the plasmid.
Boyer reasoned that if E.coli plasmids were so ready to receive and transfer new genetic information from their peers, perhaps they could be induced to combine with a gene from a higher organism.	Boyer reasoned that if E.coli plasmids were so ready to receive and transfer new genetic information from their peers, perhaps they could be induced to combine with a gene from a higher organism.
Such a recombination of DNA would offer amazing prospects of exploiting the normally malevolent capacity of a bacterium to make millions of copies of itself in day. The hybrid plasmid, infiltrated with the appropriate gene, could in theory convert the bacterium into a pharmaceutical factory.	Such a recombination of DNA would offer amazing prospects of exploiting the normally malevolent capacity of a bacterium to make millions of copies of itself in day. The hybrid plasmid, infiltrated with the appropriate gene, could in theory convert the bacterium into a pharmaceutical factory.
Peanuts	Peanuts
This was a very distant prospect that kept Boyer and Swanson talking for two hours. Boyer didn't have the $500 Swanson suggested they put up to create a company. He had to borrow it. They were ambitious, but modest young men. At work in the Genentech lab	This was a very distant prospect that kept Boyer and Swanson talking for two hours. Boyer didn't have the $500 Swanson suggested they put up to create a company. He had to borrow it. They were ambitious, but modest young men. At work in the Genentech lab
Swanson suggested they call the company Boyer and Swanson, then rejected Swanson and Boyer, and they both recoiled from Her-bob. So they named their putative company Genentech, derived from Genetic Engineering Technology.	Swanson suggested they call the company Boyer and Swanson, then rejected Swanson and Boyer, and they both recoiled from Her-bob. So they named their putative company Genentech, derived from Genetic Engineering Technology.
While Boyer got on with his research, Swanson kept looking for a job. He wound up drawing unemployment money for six months, living on peanut butter sandwiches, then finally decided to devote himself fulltime to a heartbreaking search for money for Genentech.	While Boyer got on with his research, Swanson kept looking for a job. He wound up drawing unemployment money for six months, living on peanut butter sandwiches, then finally decided to devote himself fulltime to a heartbreaking search for money for Genentech.
Meanwhile, in the lab it was a mammoth task for Boyer, working with fluids no bigger than a teardrop, with disappointments all long the way, but with co-operation from other scientists.	Meanwhile, in the lab it was a mammoth task for Boyer, working with fluids no bigger than a teardrop, with disappointments all long the way, but with co-operation from other scientists.
He heard of a researcher called Stanley Cohen who'd found a way to remove plasmids from E.coli and package them in test tubes.	He heard of a researcher called Stanley Cohen who'd found a way to remove plasmids from E.coli and package them in test tubes.
Over corned beef sandwiches late one night at a delicatessen across from Waikiki Beach, Hawaii, the ebullient Boyer and the quiet Cohen made an agreement. Cohen would supply the plasmids. Boyer would chop up the appropriate DNA with an enzyme - think of that as scissors - and try to infiltrate an alien gene in the plasmid for the E.coli to manufacture. Boyer and Cohen published their work in November 1973: they'd cloned a gene. Diabetics have much to be thankful for	Over corned beef sandwiches late one night at a delicatessen across from Waikiki Beach, Hawaii, the ebullient Boyer and the quiet Cohen made an agreement. Cohen would supply the plasmids. Boyer would chop up the appropriate DNA with an enzyme - think of that as scissors - and try to infiltrate an alien gene in the plasmid for the E.coli to manufacture. Boyer and Cohen published their work in November 1973: they'd cloned a gene. Diabetics have much to be thankful for
In this way, Boyer went on to induce bacteria to make human growth hormone, and insulin. The triumph was very hard won and there were many more conundrums - but the way was open for the foundation of the whole biotech industry.	In this way, Boyer went on to induce bacteria to make human growth hormone, and insulin. The triumph was very hard won and there were many more conundrums - but the way was open for the foundation of the whole biotech industry.
Genentech stock went on sale in 1980, the first public offering for a biotech company and one of the most spectacular in the history of Wall Street. It made rich men of them both, though Boyer suffered much from the jealousies of other academics.	Genentech stock went on sale in 1980, the first public offering for a biotech company and one of the most spectacular in the history of Wall Street. It made rich men of them both, though Boyer suffered much from the jealousies of other academics.
There are now 1,500 biotech companies in the United States, and the Food and Drug Administration has approved 120 biotech medicines. More than 350 biotech drugs and vaccines are in human clinical trials, aimed, among other things, at treating various cancers, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Aids and obesity.	There are now 1,500 biotech companies in the United States, and the Food and Drug Administration has approved 120 biotech medicines. More than 350 biotech drugs and vaccines are in human clinical trials, aimed, among other things, at treating various cancers, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Aids and obesity.
In 2001, Genentech broke ground in California on the largest biotechnology research facility in the world. It is pleasing to see in the quadrangle a life-size metal sculpture of two men sitting at a table, each with a beer, one in a suit leaning forward in his enthusiasm, the other in a denim vest and bell-bottom pants, "sceptical but intrigued".	In 2001, Genentech broke ground in California on the largest biotechnology research facility in the world. It is pleasing to see in the quadrangle a life-size metal sculpture of two men sitting at a table, each with a beer, one in a suit leaning forward in his enthusiasm, the other in a denim vest and bell-bottom pants, "sceptical but intrigued".
A pity that harmony between business and biology has not been sustained.	A pity that harmony between business and biology has not been sustained.

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