Albert Bowers and Gwynn Akin Bowers Papers

Albert Bowers Albert Bowers (1930-1990) was a British organic chemist and pharmaceutical company executive. He was also the husband of fellow Syntex Corporation executive Gwynn Akin Bowers. Born in Manchester, England on July 16, 1930, Bowers earned his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of London (1951) and his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Manchester (1954). After earning his Ph.D., he moved to the United States and pursued postdoctoral studies as a Fulbright Fellow at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan (1954-1955). At Wayne State, he studied under Bulgarian-American pharmaceutical chemist (and future Syntex Corporation colleague) Carl Djerassi. Bowers was summoned back to the United Kingdom for National Service in 1955, where he served as a researcher with the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (1955-1956). In this capacity, he conducted research on radioactive steroids.

In 1956, Bowers went to work at Syntex S.A. (later renamed Syntex Corporation), an international pharmaceutical manufacturer then based in Mexico City, Mexico, where he enjoyed a long and distinguished career. While working in Mexico, Bowers rose through Syntex’s research ranks, serving as Group Leader, Research Division (1956-1960), Associate Director of Chemical Research (1960-1961), and Director of Research (1961-1964). During this time, he conducted extensive research on steroids. His accomplishments in this area included developing methods for the selective fluorination of steroids, which led to the synthesis of new topical corticoids for the treatment of skin diseases. He also discovered a new method of synthesizing norethindrone, which made possible the large-scale manufacture of this agent for use in oral contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapy, and for treating gynecological disorders.

Bowers relocated to Syntex Corporation’s Palo Alto, California campus in 1964. At Palo Alto, he entered Syntex’s executive ranks, initially serving as Head of the Institute of Steroid Chemistry (1964) and Vice President of the Promotion and Marketing Services Division (1964). Bowers rose through Syntex’s executive hierarchy and held several positions between the mid-1960s and mid-1970s, which included serving as Vice President of Syntex International (1964-1967), President of Syntex Laboratories, Incorporated (1967-1973) and Group Vice President of Syntex Corporation (1971-1976). In 1968, he joined Syntex Corporation’s Board of Directors, where he rose to the position of Vice Chairman of the Board (1973-1981).

Bowers’ rise through Syntex’s executive ranks continued between the mid-1970s and 1980s. In 1976, he was elected President of Syntex Corporation (1976-1982, 1986). In 1980, he was named Syntex’s Chief Executive Officer (1980-1989). One year later, he became Syntex’s Chairman of the Board (1981-1990). During his tenure as head of Syntex, the firm’s sales more than doubled and its profits more than tripled. Bowers also oversaw Syntex’s development and introduction of several new prescription drugs, including the anti-inflammatory drug Naprosyn (1976), Femstat vaginal yeast infection cream (1986), and the hypertension and angina drug Cardene (1989). He also guided the company through a volatile stock market during late 1980s. Bowers retired as Syntex’s Chief Executive Officer in 1989 and remained on the firm’s Board of Directors until his death.

Bowers authored and co-authored over 90 scientific articles and papers on steroid research and was awarded more than 120 United States patents. He was also the recipient of several awards, including the Mexican Academy of Science’s Science Award (1964) and Wall Street Transcript’s Drug Industry CEO Award (1983, 1987, 1988). He was also an active member of several professional and business organizations, including the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (Chairman 1982-1983) and the California Business Roundtable. He was also involved with a number of other organizations, which included serving on the Advisory Board of the Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry (now known as the Science History Institute) and on the University of California, San Francisco Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

Albert Bowers passed away on July 26, 1990.

Gwynn Akin Bowers Gwynn Akin Bowers (1939-) is an American pharmaceutical company executive. Known professionally as Gwynn C. Akin, she was also the wife of fellow Syntex Corporation executive Albert Bowers. Born in Century, Florida on March 24, 1939, Akin earned her B.S. in Biological Sciences from Florida State University (1961) and her Ph.D. in Human Anatomy from Tulane University (1965). After receiving her Ph.D., she held faculty positions at Loyola University School of Dentistry (1965-1966), Louisiana State University School of Medicine (1968-1971), and the University of West Florida (1969-1970).

Akin relocated to the West Coast in 1970. During the early and mid-1970s, she held administrative positions at several universities, serving with the University of California, San Francisco’s Office of the Chancellor (1970-1972), the University of California, Berkeley’s Office of the President (1971-1975), and the University of California, Los Angeles’ Neuropsychiatric Institute (1975-1976). Akin turned her attention to health and science policy planning during the mid-1970s. Pursuing her interests in those areas, she served as Policy and Planning Consultant at the University of Washington’s Office of the President (1976-1979). From 1979 to 1981, Akin served as Senior Professional Associate at the Association for Academic Health Centers in Washington, D.C.

Akin returned to the West Coast in 1981 when she accepted a position at Syntex Corporation in Palo Alto, California. She went on to enjoy a distinguished career with Syntex, serving as Executive Assistant to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (1981-1988), Director of Health Policy (1988-1990), and Vice President of Health Policy (1990-1995). During her tenure with the company, she led Syntex’s efforts to become more active in shaping public policy in health and science, representing the firm in state and federal legislative matters on a number of issues, including but not limited to, health care financing and delivery, health care reform, animal welfare, and AIDS. She also acted as Syntex’s liaison on pharmaceutical industry matters, serving as the firm’s representative at the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association. She was also active in the area of academic/pharmaceutical industry relations. Within the company, Akin directed the Syntex Scholars Program and played a key role in developing Syntex’s policies on AIDs in the workplace and animal welfare.

Gwynn Akin Bowers authored several articles and co-authored the book Trends in Financing Higher Education, Health Sciences Education, and Nursing Education (1977). She was an active member of several professional and business organizations, including the California Business Roundtable and the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association. Akin was also an active member of several civic organizations, which included serving on the University of California, San Francisco’s Board of Overseers and on the National Leadership Coalition on AIDS’ Board of Directors.

Sources

Albert Bowers and Gwynn Akin Bowers Papers, Science History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.