Purdue News
Purdue News
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May 27, 2004 Pfizer gives Purdue $1.75 million in pharmacy equipmentWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University has received equipment valued at approximately $1.75 million from Pfizer Inc. that will be used to train students in contemporary drug manufacturing techniques and for research in chemistry and pharmaceuticals. Purdue President Martin C. Jischke announced the gift-in-kind Thursday (May 27), saying the donation would help maintain Purdue's eminence in pharmaceutical education. "This gift symbolizes the mutual investment that Purdue and Pfizer have in one another," he said. "Pfizer recognizes that Purdue graduates enter the job market with very high levels of skill and professional knowledge, and this contribution to the university's pharmacy program will enhance their preparation for leadership in their profession. In tandem with facilities such as Purdue's Chao Center for Pharmaceutical Processing in the Purdue Research Park, this equipment will also enhance economic opportunities for the state of Indiana." In recognition of the gift, Pfizer will receive the Distinguished Pinnacle Award, the university's highest honor. John M. Pezzuto, dean of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmacal Sciences, said the equipment would help improve at least four courses in pharmacy education. "This generous gift from Pfizer replaces some analytical and drug manufacturing equipment that is outdated," he said. "The donated equipment will add new dimensions to our pharmaceutical analysis laboratories and augment our drug production capability. As a result, we are now in a position to provide better instruction for our graduate and undergraduate students in regard to state-of-the-art methodology." The economy could benefit as well, he said, as the gift will enhance the university's ability to work with pharmaceutical firms. "Our research capability will be strengthened as a result of this equipment, and this further solidifies our interactions with various partners throughout the nation," he said. "Many companies based in the Purdue Research Park are able to create better products by working with equipment at the Chao Center. We hope local work in pharmaceutical development will be further enhanced by this gift from Pfizer and, in the longer term, will help to attract even more new businesses to the Lafayette-West Lafayette area." The donation comes primarily from a Pfizer plant in Skokie, Ill., that was closed recently. The company distributed the plant's equipment among more than 80 institutions, out of which Purdue received one of the largest shares. John M. McCall, Pfizer's vice president in global research and development, said the company hopes to continue its long relationship with the university. "We've had good relations with Purdue, and we hope to continue to recruit from campus," McCall said. "Pfizer has hired many people from Purdue's pharmacy and chemistry programs who have turned out to be good scientists and employees. Their record is a testament to the education they received while at Purdue." While the donated equipment is varied, he said, it includes sophisticated analytical and drug formulation instruments. "The donated equipment has many applications, including the development of new solid and parenteral formulations for delivery of drugs to patients," he said. "The formulation equipment is state of the art and should be very helpful in supporting Purdue's strong programs in these areas. "This equipment will also support synthetic and analytical chemistry, and we are pleased that Pfizer can help support these research areas as well." Pfizer Inc. discovers, develops, manufactures and markets prescription and over-the-counter medicines for humans and animals. Its products are available in more than 150 countries. Purdue's School of Pharmacy ranks second in the United States among pharmacy schools with a research emphasis, according to the Annals of Pharmacotherapy. Since it was established in 1884, the school has educated more than 7,000 pharmacists and more than 1,000 pharmaceutical scientists and educators. The school's alumni and former Purdue faculty members make up 25 percent of the nation's deans at schools of pharmacy. Purdue pharmacy alumni also are well represented throughout many departments and divisions of companies in the pharmaceutical industry. More than 700 students were enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs during the past school year. The Department of Chemistry serves the community and nation by advancing and disseminating knowledge, educating students, catalyzing economic development and providing scientific leadership in the chemical sciences. The department's analytical chemistry program is routinely ranked among the top graduate programs in the country. Writer: Chad Boutin, (765) 494-2081, cboutin@purdue.edu Sources: Martin C. Jischke, (765) 494-9708 John M. Pezzuto, (765) 494-1368, jpezzuto@purdue.edu John M. McCall, (908) 672-6821, john.m.mccall@pharmacia.com Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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