Talk:Upjohn/Archives/2013

COPYVIOs by disruptive IP-hopping anonymous editor

I reverted the reintroduction of these tangential WP:COPYVIO paragraphs to the "Chemistry" section by persistently disruptive IP-hopping anonymous editor 132.236.120.83 / 71.240.253.202
(aka 71.182.111.225 / 71.123.25.175 141.149.208.54 / 71.123.29.191 / 71.182.123.65 / 71.123.17.215 / 71.182.107.102 / 70.16.52.193 / 70.16.61.75 / 71.182.100.111 / 71.240.244.35 / 71.123.31.25 / 71.240.247.110 / 70.16.49.248 / 71.182.108.43 / 71.182.98.194):

WP:COPYVIO re-added 14:19, 26 July 2012:

The breakthrough, which gave Upjohn an early competitive edge, followed with startling swiftness.

A common mold of the genus Rhizopus was found to introduce enzymatically an 11 alpha-hydroxyl group directly into the female hormone progesterone, which had just been synthesized from the soybean sterol stigmasterol--a one-step solution to the known multistep alternatives for 11-oxygenation.
Retrospective analysis of this event in perspective with other key developments before and after at Upjohn and in the steroid community reveals a striking profile of ongoing innovation.
A parallel scenario in kind was repeated at Upjohn a quarter century later.
The sister soybean sterol sitosterol was radically degraded microbiologically and concurrently oxygenated in ring C to produce 9 alpha-hydroxyandrostenedione, an alternative key intermediate for corticoid synthesis.
New chemical processes, highly integrated with existing processes, assured the continuation of Upjohn's leading role in steroid hormone production.

There are two common sources of sterols: the production of soybean oil leaves a waste rich in stigmasterol and sitosterol; the root tubers of Mexican barbasco contain diosgenin.

In 1940, Percy Julian sent a one-pound package of progesterone to the Upjohn pharmaceutical company.
Shipped under armed guard and valued at nearly $70,000, it was the first commercial shipment of an artificial sex hormone produced anywhere in America.

During the 1950s Upjohn expanded internationally, allowing it to compete with other large drug manufacturers in foreign markets and fostering further advances in research.
In 1949 and 1950, Upjohn joined S. B. Penick & Co. on an expedition to Africa in search of a plant that could provide a less expensive source of cortisone than that used by Merck, who had introduced the drug.
While this venture was unsuccessful, ---the company discovered by accident--- a type of mold that was capable of fermenting progesterone, the basic building block for cortisone, out of diosgenin.
Upjohn was able to capitalize on its discovery by forming a partnership with a Mexican firm, Syntex, who isolated diosgenin from yams, Mexican barbasco trade.
A number of new hormones now available, including the injectable contraceptive Depo-Provera, were made possible by Upjohn's international initiatives.

On October 15, 1951, Luis E. Miramontes, completed the synthesis of norethindrone.

This milestone took place three months, July 1951, after Syntex contracted to sell Upjohn ten tons of progesterone at forty-eight cents per gram.

from Hogg, James A. (December 1992). "Steroids, the steroid community, and Upjohn in perspective: a profile of innovation". Steroids. 57(12):593-616. PMID 1481225:

The breakthrough, which gave Upjohn an early competitive edge, followed with startling swiftness.

A common mold of the genus Rhizopus was found to introduce enzymatically an 11 alpha-hydroxyl group directly into the female hormone progesterone, which had just been synthesized from the soybean sterol stigmasterol--a one-step solution to the known multistep alternatives for 11-oxygenation.
Retrospective analysis of this event in perspective with other key developments before and after at Upjohn and in the steroid community reveals a striking profile of ongoing innovation.
A parallel scenario in kind was repeated at Upjohn a quarter century later.
The sister soybean sterol sitosterol was radically degraded microbiologically and concurrently oxygenated in ring C to produce 9 alpha-hydroxyandrostenedione, an alternative key intermediate for corticoid synthesis.

New chemical processes, highly integrated with existing processes, assured the continuation of Upjohn's leading role in steroid hormone production.

and from Trehan, Keshav (1990). Biotechnology. New Dehli: New Age International, ISBN 8122401295, p. 24:

There are two common sources of sterols: the production of soybean oil leaves, a waste product rich in stigmasterol and sitosterol; the roots of the Mexican barbasco plant contain diosgenin.

and from Lyons, Stephen; Smith, Llewellyn M. (February 6, 2007). "Forgotten Genius transcript". NOVA. Boston, Mass.: WGBH:

In 1940, Julian sent a one-pound package of progesterone to the Upjohn pharmaceutical company.
Shipped under armed guard and valued at nearly $70,000, it was the first commercial shipment of an artificial sex hormone produced anywhere in America.

from (anonymous) (1994). "The Upjohn Company History." in Kepos, Paula (ed.) International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. 8 Detroit: St. James Press, ISSN 1557-0126, reprinted by fundinguniverse.com

During the 1950s Upjohn expanded internationally, allowing it to compete with other large drug manufacturers in foreign markets and fostering further advances in research.

In 1949 and 1950, Upjohn joined S. B. Penick & Co. on an expedition to Africa in search of a plant that could provide a less expensive source of cortisone than that used by Merck, who had introduced the drug.
While this venture was unsuccessful, the company discovered by accident a type of mold that was capable of fermenting progesterone, the basic building block for cortisone, out of diosgenin.
Upjohn was able to capitalize on its discovery by forming a partnership with a Mexican firm, Syntex, who isolated diosgenin from yams.

A number of new hormones now available, including the injectable contraceptive Depo-Provera, were made possible by Upjohn's international initiatives.

and from Soto Laveaga, Gabriela (2009). Jungle laboratories: Mexican peasants, national projects, and the making of the Pill. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press. ISBN 978-8223-4605-0.
p. 67:

On October 15, 1951, after months of working seven days a week he concluded the synthesis of norethindrone.

p. 66:

In July 1951, Upjohn asked Syntex for the unheard of amount of 10 tons of progesterone at forty-eight cents per gram.

Less than 7% of the cited Upjohn article from International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. 8 is about Upjohn's steroid research and production (including its development of a process for the large scale production of cortisone).
In contrast, after edits by longtime disruptive IP-hopping anonymous editor 132.236.120.83 / 71.240.253.202,
over 70% of this Wikipedia article about Upjohn was about Upjohn's steroid research and production (including its development of a process for the large scale production of cortisone).
This is grossly undue weight and inappropriate. Lynn4 (talk) 17:56, 27 July 2012 (UTC)