Astra

Chain's first contacts with Astra appear to date from the end of 1945, although his formal collaboration began in 1946 (see F.12). The documentation for the very early period is unfortunately rather sparse, but from mid-1948 until the end of 1957 there is a very full range of correspondence relating mainly to the development of penicillin production processes. The material includes exchanges of information, laboratory specimens and results, drawings of equipment, arrangements for meetings and visits and a little personal correspondence.

After 1958 the surviving papers are very sparse (Chain's carbons only, 1958-1959 and less than half a dozen letters for the whole of the 1960s), but there is a further sequence from 1976-1979 when Chain was asked to advise on Astra's proposed links with Iran.

The brochure 'Astra and Antibiotics', a draft of which is now at F.38, includes photographs of Chain and a summary account of his collaboration with the Astra Group. See also K.5.