Peter David Johnson

Discovery of 2-arylbenzoxazoles as upregulators of utrophin production for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

A series of novel 2-arylbenzoxazoles that upregulate the production of utrophin in murine H2K cells, as assessed using a luciferase reporter linked assay, have been identified. This compound class appears to hold considerable promise as a potential treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Following the delineation of structure-activity relationships in the series, a number of potent upregulators were identified, and preliminary ADME evaluation is described. These studies have resulted in the identification of 1, a compound that has been progressed to clinical trials.

Discovery and SAR of 2-arylbenzotriazoles and 2-arylindazoles as potential treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Families of 2-arylbenzotriazoles and 2-arylindazoles that show positive effects in screens predictive of endogenous utrophin upregulation have been identified. Synthesis and structure-activity relationships are described leading to compounds with attractive in vitro profiles.

The discovery of a novel antibiotic for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infections: a story of an effective academic–industrial partnership

The story of the discovery of the bis-benzimidazole derivative SMT19969, which is currently in clinical trials against the pathogen Clostridium difficile.

Steviamine, a new class of indolizidine alkaloid [(1R,2S,3R,5R,8aR)-3-hydroxy-meth-yl-5-methyl-octa-hydro-indolizine-1,2-diol hydro-bromide].

X-ray crystallographic analysis of the title hydrobromide salt, C10H20N+·Br−, of (1R,2S,3R,5R,8aR)-3-hydroxymethyl-5-methyloctahydroindolizine-1,2-diol defines the absolute and relative stereochemistry at the five chiral centres in steviamine, a new class of polyhydroxylated indolizidine alkaloid isolated from Stevia rebaudiana (Asteraceae) leaves. In the crystal structure, molecules are linked by intermolecular O—H⋯Br and N—H⋯Br hydrogen bonds, forming double chains around the twofold screw axes along the b-axis direction. Intramolecular O—H⋯O interactions occur.

The regioselective aminohydroxylation of allylic carbamates

The synthesis and aminohydroxylation of a series of acyclic allylic carbamates is described: the formation of a putative O=Os=NR linkage between the transition metal and substrate is proposed to account for the high levels of regioselectivity that were observed; proof of the structure of one of the aminohydroxylation products was obtained through X-ray crystallography.

Resource margin accounting: an elucidation and preliminary empirical testing

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to describe “resource margin accounting” (RMA) as a valuation framework in strategic analysis.Design/methodology/approach – The paper defines RMA as an improved framework for valuation in competitive strategy, relative to existing value‐added and cash flow methods. The framework was tested on a sample of 300 US manufacturing companies between 1983 and 1998.Findings – The paper finds that the resource margin approach has greater explanatory power than traditional market‐to‐book valuation measures.Practical implications – The resource margin approach is methodologically and empirically superior to economic value‐added (EVA) and cash flow models of valuation.Originality/value – The paper presents and tests a new valuation method: RMA.