David Godfrey, Main Board Director Commercial Affairs

Date:
27 Aug 2001
Reference:
WF/M/AV/O/02/36
Part of:
Wellcome Foundation Ltd
  • Archives and manuscripts

About this work

Description

A qualified pharmacist, the interviewee joined the company in 1956 as a sales representative. He then became Product Executive (Biological/Tropical). 1963-66 he worked for Sterling Winthrop before returning to BW.

Topics discussed include:

* biography

* impressions of BW

*post war development of business

* relationship between research and selling/marketing function

* insulin

* Polio vaccines: Salk, Sabin, Trivalent

* tropical medicine in BW; anti-malarials

* pricing drugs inc description of clinical drug trials

* Interferon

* Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme

* regulation of drugs in UK

* expansion of business in Europe

* ABPI [The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry]

* UK Government relationship with pharmaceutical companies

* comparison with Sterling Winthrop

* relationship of company with Trust

* acquisition and integration of Calmic

* Cooper McDougall & Robertson

* Cottrel Press and Clunbury Press (Calmic and Coopers in-house printing services)

* expansion and diversification of business by Fred Wrigley; acquisition of engineering companies - paint finishing business in Australia, operating theatre company in Italy

* Michael Perrin, changes in business

* Joint Venture with Roche re Septrin/Septra

* AJ Shepperd, relationship with Oliver Franks and Roger Gibbs (successive chairmen of WT)

* AA Gray

* flotation

* merger with Glaxo

* relationship between US and UK companies

* BW Fund, USA

* overview of the pharmaceutical industry inc need for mergers, changes in the business as a whole inc clinical trials.

Publication/Creation

27 Aug 2001

Physical description

4 audio tapes and transcript Tape 36, 37

Terms of use

This item needs to be accessed onsite using specialist equipment. Email collections@wellcomecollection.org to request an appointment.

Where to find it

  • LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores
    WF/M/AV/O/02/36:Box 3

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