Bernard Belleau
Encyclopedia
Bernard Belleau, OC
, FRSC
(March 15, 1925 – September 4, 1989) was a Canadian
molecular pharmacologist best known for his role in the discovery of Lamivudine
, a drug used in the treatment of HIV and Hepatitis B infection.
Born in Montreal
, Quebec
, he gained his B.Sc. (1947) and M.Sc. (1948) from the Université de Montréal
and his PhD in 1950 at McGill University
. During his time at the Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research he discovered Fujimoto-Belleau reaction
, which is named after him and George I. Fujimoto
. After various academic research postings in the U.S. and Canada he became Professor of Chemistry at the University of Ottawa
in 1961. He moved to McGill University in 1971. Belleau worked in the 1960s and 1970s on research programs with Bristol Laboratories, one of which led to the non-narcotic analgesic Butorphanol. Butorphanol was found to have over five times the potency of morphine with far fewer side effects. Butorphanol is often used to relieve post-surgical pain and in the management of migraine headaches.
In the mid-1980s he helped found what became the biotech company BioChem Pharma with colleagues Francesco Bellini and Gervais Dionne. The trio began work on the anti-AIDS drug, 2,3 dideoxy – 3-thiacytidine (3TC). Just prior to his death in 1989 he laid the foundations for Lamivudine's development, which was a significant advance in the fight against AIDS, and is credited with saving over 2 million lives.
In 1981, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
. In 1978, he was awarded the Quebec government's Prix Marie-Victorin
. In 1979, he was awarded the Royal Society of Canada
's McLaughlin Medal. In 2000, he was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
In 1977/78 he was awarded a Killam fellowship from The Canada Council for the Arts.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, FRSC
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
(March 15, 1925 – September 4, 1989) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
molecular pharmacologist best known for his role in the discovery of Lamivudine
Lamivudine
Lamivudine is a potent nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor .It is marketed by GlaxoSmithKline with the brand names Zeffix, Heptovir, Epivir, and Epivir-HBV.Lamivudine has been used for treatment of chronic hepatitis B at a lower dose than for treatment of HIV...
, a drug used in the treatment of HIV and Hepatitis B infection.
Born in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, he gained his B.Sc. (1947) and M.Sc. (1948) from the Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
and his PhD in 1950 at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
. During his time at the Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research he discovered Fujimoto-Belleau reaction
Fujimoto-Belleau reaction
The Fujimoto-Belleau reaction is a chemical reaction that forms cyclic α-substituted α,β-unsaturated ketones from enol lactones. The reaction is named after the two chemists George I. Fujimoto and Bernard Belleau....
, which is named after him and George I. Fujimoto
George I. Fujimoto
George I. Fujimoto is an American chemist of Japanese descent. During his studies in Harvard his family was imprisoned in an American internment camp Minidoka in Idaho. He discovered the Fujimoto-Belleau reaction, which is named after him and Bernard Belleau....
. After various academic research postings in the U.S. and Canada he became Professor of Chemistry at the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
in 1961. He moved to McGill University in 1971. Belleau worked in the 1960s and 1970s on research programs with Bristol Laboratories, one of which led to the non-narcotic analgesic Butorphanol. Butorphanol was found to have over five times the potency of morphine with far fewer side effects. Butorphanol is often used to relieve post-surgical pain and in the management of migraine headaches.
In the mid-1980s he helped found what became the biotech company BioChem Pharma with colleagues Francesco Bellini and Gervais Dionne. The trio began work on the anti-AIDS drug, 2,3 dideoxy – 3-thiacytidine (3TC). Just prior to his death in 1989 he laid the foundations for Lamivudine's development, which was a significant advance in the fight against AIDS, and is credited with saving over 2 million lives.
In 1981, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. In 1978, he was awarded the Quebec government's Prix Marie-Victorin
Prix Marie-Victorin
The Prix Marie-Victorin is an award by the Government of Quebec that is part of the Prix du Québec, which "goes to researchers in the pure and applied sciences whose work lies in fields outside biomedicine. These fields include the natural and physical sciences, engineering, and technology, and the...
. In 1979, he was awarded the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
's McLaughlin Medal. In 2000, he was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame is a Canadian charitable organization, founded in 1994, that honours Canadians who have contributed to the understanding of disease and improving the health of people. It has a museum in London, Ontario, and has an annual induction ceremony.-2012:*Terry Fox*John...
In 1977/78 he was awarded a Killam fellowship from The Canada Council for the Arts.