Release of Betamethasone Derivatives from Ointments - In Vivo and In Vitro Studies, M.J. Busse, P Hunt, K.A. Lees, P.N.D. Maggs and T.M. McCarthy, Br.J. Derm. (1969) 81, Supplement 4, 103
In 1966, the band having broken up, I was in need of a job. Pharmacy Unit, a division of Glaxo Laboratories in Greenford, decided to take a risk - just three 'O' levels, long hair (much shorter than in the band, but still long), previous employment: playing rock 'n' roll in a nightclub in Rome - and took me on. My boss was Michael Busse, and to say that I fell on my feet was an understatement. Glaxo seemed almost philanthropic in the way it treated its staff then. I was granted day release - one day per week during term time - to enable me to attend Harrow Technical College to further my education. This consisted of studying physics and mathematics to 'A' level.
I could hardly have had a better manager. Michael was a senior scientist, and, no-doubt, ought to have had a graduate pharmacist working for him. In the event, he got me, a laboratory assistant. But the stimulating and largely self-supervised work he gave me to do, was to conduct a series of in-vivo tests of the release of an artificial corticosteroid, betamethasone 17-valerate, from a variety of ointments. The ointment was smeared on to the forearms of volunteers (who received the princely sum of ten shillings) and covered with plastic caps and bandage. The next day the cups were removed and the size of the white mark caused by the constriction of surface bloodvessels in the skin was measured. Statistical analysis was applied to the results which were then used to gauge the effectiveness of different preparations to deliver the steroid to the skin. These preparations, variations on Betnovate, were a 'magic bullet' for people suffering from various forms of dermatitis.
The paper, published in 1969, the year after I left permanent employment at Glaxo, reported the outcome of these tests. My name was included since I had carried out all practical aspects of the skin tests, from mixing the preparations, administering the ointments on six sites on each forearm, ensuring the proper randomization of different preparations using a Latin square, and measuring and number-crunching the results using a mechanical calculator to perform an analysis of variants.
Michael, of course, was the prime-mover in the work. He designed the experiments and wrote up the results. Others involved in the paper were Ken Lees, the head of Pharmacy Unit, Michael's boss. Mr Lees was an imposing character who commanded hushed respect from his subordinates with, one suspects, a slight twinkle in his eye. At a Christmas party once, he had my then girlfriend in stitches, with a gloriously idiosyncratic performance of Jabberwocky. Peter Hunt was a graduate in the department. Theresa McCarthy was a post-doc on secondment to Glaxo. It was Theresa who insisted that I try for university entrance in the autumn of 1968. I had got good grades in physics and maths 'A' level, but had failed to be offered a university place during the previous year, largely on account of only having three 'O' levels. Theresa encouraged me to ring round and see if any of the universities would take me. To my astonishment, a few telephone calls got me a place at Southampton University to study physics, and Michael was a little nonplussed to have to accept my resignation and subsequent departure two weeks later.
Having become a physics student, Glaxo was still always ready to offer me employment during the vacations, and I continued to see Michael socially. He used to invite me to regular parties at his house, including Seders at Passover time, and he worked hard to supervise my cultural re-education. He played viola to a professional standard in a string quartet. The first time I ever heard Tchaikovsky's sixth symphony—The Pathetique—was at Michael's house, care of a large number of 78 records. We met up in London a few years ago and chewed over old times. At 80, he was as lively and incisive of mind as ever.
Note added November 2021
It is sad to report that Michael died in late 2019. I attended his memorial service, and his wife Susan was kind enough to ask me to speak. It was a pleasure to acknowledge the great debt I owed to Michael. He was one of just three or four people who have had a really profound influence on my life. עליו השלום
In 1966, the band having broken up, I was in need of a job. Pharmacy Unit, a division of Glaxo Laboratories in Greenford, decided to take a risk - just three 'O' levels, long hair (much shorter than in the band, but still long), previous employment: playing rock 'n' roll in a nightclub in Rome - and took me on. My boss was Michael Busse, and to say that I fell on my feet was an understatement. Glaxo seemed almost philanthropic in the way it treated its staff then. I was granted day release - one day per week during term time - to enable me to attend Harrow Technical College to further my education. This consisted of studying physics and mathematics to 'A' level.
I could hardly have had a better manager. Michael was a senior scientist, and, no-doubt, ought to have had a graduate pharmacist working for him. In the event, he got me, a laboratory assistant. But the stimulating and largely self-supervised work he gave me to do, was to conduct a series of in-vivo tests of the release of an artificial corticosteroid, betamethasone 17-valerate, from a variety of ointments. The ointment was smeared on to the forearms of volunteers (who received the princely sum of ten shillings) and covered with plastic caps and bandage. The next day the cups were removed and the size of the white mark caused by the constriction of surface bloodvessels in the skin was measured. Statistical analysis was applied to the results which were then used to gauge the effectiveness of different preparations to deliver the steroid to the skin. These preparations, variations on Betnovate, were a 'magic bullet' for people suffering from various forms of dermatitis.
The paper, published in 1969, the year after I left permanent employment at Glaxo, reported the outcome of these tests. My name was included since I had carried out all practical aspects of the skin tests, from mixing the preparations, administering the ointments on six sites on each forearm, ensuring the proper randomization of different preparations using a Latin square, and measuring and number-crunching the results using a mechanical calculator to perform an analysis of variants.
Michael, of course, was the prime-mover in the work. He designed the experiments and wrote up the results. Others involved in the paper were Ken Lees, the head of Pharmacy Unit, Michael's boss. Mr Lees was an imposing character who commanded hushed respect from his subordinates with, one suspects, a slight twinkle in his eye. At a Christmas party once, he had my then girlfriend in stitches, with a gloriously idiosyncratic performance of Jabberwocky. Peter Hunt was a graduate in the department. Theresa McCarthy was a post-doc on secondment to Glaxo. It was Theresa who insisted that I try for university entrance in the autumn of 1968. I had got good grades in physics and maths 'A' level, but had failed to be offered a university place during the previous year, largely on account of only having three 'O' levels. Theresa encouraged me to ring round and see if any of the universities would take me. To my astonishment, a few telephone calls got me a place at Southampton University to study physics, and Michael was a little nonplussed to have to accept my resignation and subsequent departure two weeks later.
Having become a physics student, Glaxo was still always ready to offer me employment during the vacations, and I continued to see Michael socially. He used to invite me to regular parties at his house, including Seders at Passover time, and he worked hard to supervise my cultural re-education. He played viola to a professional standard in a string quartet. The first time I ever heard Tchaikovsky's sixth symphony—The Pathetique—was at Michael's house, care of a large number of 78 records. We met up in London a few years ago and chewed over old times. At 80, he was as lively and incisive of mind as ever.
Note added November 2021
It is sad to report that Michael died in late 2019. I attended his memorial service, and his wife Susan was kind enough to ask me to speak. It was a pleasure to acknowledge the great debt I owed to Michael. He was one of just three or four people who have had a really profound influence on my life. עליו השלום