Dr David Barry, Former Director Global R&D

Dr Barry qualified as a doctor and worked on viral vaccines in the public sector before moving to BW in 1977. In 1994 he became the first Global Research and Development Director, the aim being to unite the research operation which was then divided between UK and USA. At the time of the interview he was Chairman and CEO of Triangle Pharmaceuticals.

Topics discussed include:

* biography

* working atmosphere and changes within the company in the 1980s

* George Hitchings, Pedro Cuatrecasas and Gertude Elion

* relationship between US and UK research functions, and the restructure into single unit in 1994 under Barry

* Mckinsey report and the effects on the research department

* Bill Sullivan

* Beckenham site - structure and focus, refers to some staff - John Vane, Trevor Jones and Jimmy Black

* acyclovir

* description of a mid 1990s special shareholder meeting

* Glaxo takeover

* comments on how being a non-public body affected the way BW was run

* AZT [marketed as Retrovir, for use against HIV/Aids] : development, submission to FDA, pricing

* Wellbutrin

No tape is available for this interview

30 Apr 2001

Transcript Tape 12: this was not transferred to the Wellocme Library