Serving the chemical, life sciences, and laboratory worlds
VOLUME 91, NUMBER 19 MAY 13, 2013
SPECIAL REPORT
HELP FOR PATIENTS WITH ORPHAN DISEASES New pharma business model, genetic advances, and savvy parent-advocates end years of neglect. PAGE 10 29
QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Science opens doors for foreign policy objectives that aren’t necessarily shut, but you would have to use a crowbar to get them open.” JONATHAN MARGOLIS, ACTING DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT BUREAU OF OCEANS & INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL & SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS PAGE 34
NEWS OF THE WEEK 5
Specialty chemical firms make new ingredients to meet the demands of a growing market.
BUILDING A BIONIC EAR
Tissue engineering and electronics combine to surpass normal human sound perception. 6
FINDING BREAKTHROUGH THERAPIES
New FDA process might speed drug testing and approval, but details are scarce. 6
7
U.S. State Department uses more science in outreach, policy-making. 38
ACCOUNTING FOR POLLUTION
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 40 42
LANGER RECEIVES WOLF PRIZE
45
X-ray structure allows scientists to propose mechanism for growth-signaling enzyme mTOR.
EDUCATION 46
ASTRAZENECA FACILITY REPURPOSED
Former R&D center in England will become multicompany biotech campus.
CHEMISTRY FOR RELUCTANT STUDENTS
Innovative lab lessons inspire nonmajors and their instructors.
BIG VINYL VENTURE IN EUROPE
Solvay and Ineos join forces in polyvinyl chloride venture despite a troubled European marketplace. 9
ELUSIVE DRUG TARGET CRYSTALLIZED
AWARD FOR INNOVATIVE TOOLS
Advances in mass spectrometry net Purdue University’s R. Graham Cooks the 2013 Dreyfus Prize. 9
CONCENTRATES TAILOR-MADE NANOSTRUCTURES
Techniques for creating molecule-sized structures can lead to better catalysts, batteries.
Celebrated MIT chemical engineer Robert S. Langer adds to his list of accolades. 8
U.S., ACS TAKE JOB SKILLS OVERSEAS
BOOST initiative brings ACS career development trainers to Malaysia and Indonesia.
Activists are suing EPA over claims that the agency underestimates toxic air emissions. 8
CONCENTRATES SCIENTIFIC DIPLOMACY
DRUG DELIVERY IN A SNAP
Breakable polymeric chains can incorporate medicines for on-demand controlled dosing. 7
GOVERNMENT & POLICY 33 34
FLAME RETARDANT PHASEOUT
Nations that are party to the Stockholm Convention agree to ban hexabromocyclododecane.
ADVANCING HAIR CARE
THE DEPARTMENTS 2 3 48
LETTERS EDITOR’S PAGE PEOPLE
50 52 56
MEETINGS CLASSIFIEDS NEWSCRIPTS
BUSINESS 24 26
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CONCENTRATES TOP 50 U.S. CHEMICAL COMPANIES
Financial results for 2012 reflect economic challenges, but rising stock prices are promising.
COVER: Melissa Hogan’s son Case, who has Hunter syndrome, is in an enzyme replacement clinical study. His missing enzyme is delivered directly into his cerebrospinal fluid. Lisa Jarvis/C&EN
CENEAR 91 (19) 1–56 • ISSN 0009-2347
