Twenty-five years later, the drug, with a proposed trade name of Vimpat, is about to go on the market in Europe.
Watson did the research on Vimpat at the University of Houston, under the guidance of senior researcher Dr. Harold Kohn.
Kohn had an idea what he was looking for but needed someone to do the lab work, Watson said.
At that time, the drugs used to treat epilepsy had some bad side effects, he said.
Watson said that while he was working on the project, a cousin of his with epilepsy was having a difficult time with his medications.
“The only drugs that controlled his seizures were destroying his liver,” he said. “My desire was that we could have a drug for someone like him that wasn’t so hard on the liver or kidneys.”
During that summer leave, Watson made the first compound that would eventually become Vimpat. A couple of other chemists, who are named on the patent, followed Watson and tweaked the lab work.
The patent for the drug came through in January 1995, Watson said.
What followed was years of testing and at any point during that time the drug could have failed, he said.
“I had no idea the amount of testing that had to take place before human trials could begin,” Watson said.
Also, during the many stages of the drug testing, it became clear to Watson why drugs are so expensive.
For every 10 drugs in the development phase, only one usually makes it to market, he said. Schwarz Pharma, a German pharmaceutical company, held the initial patent on Vimpat and had more than 160 people working the project.
Schwarz is in the process of being purchased by UCB, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world.
Like many drugs, Vimpat can be used for multiple purposes, he said. During drug trials it was discovered that it had other pharmaceutical benefits, including treating diabetic neuropathies - nerve damage experienced by 60 to 70 percent of diabetics.
“It’s a good feeling to know you’ve been a part of something that could help people,” Watson said.
If all goes according to plan, Vimpat could be available this year. Getting approval from this point takes a year in Europe; in the United States it takes about 18 months.
Vimpat’s approval for use in Europe marks a major achievement for patients with epilepsy, whose seizures are not well controlled by current antiepileptic drugs, and for UCB, strengthening its leadership in treatments for the disease, according to Roch Doliveaux, CEO of UCB.
Watson continues to do research on drug compounds at UMHB with his students.
Research is a method of teaching, Watson said, and is a way to share with students the techniques and skills.
“In the classroom, when I talk about chemistry, I think I can talk with some authority because it’s something I’ve done in the research lab,” he said.
About 60 to 70 percent of the students Watson teaches are pre-med and see organic chemistry as a barrier to getting into medical school. However, seeing their dean doing research and working on drug patents puts a real-world perspective on his work.
During his tenure at UMHB, Watson said the university has grown from fewer than 1,200 students to 2,700 students.
Because of UMHB’s location in an area that has a medical-driven economy, Watson said he’s seen a growth in the number of students who are drawn toward scientific fields.
Even as the economy slows, the need for trained chemists continues, he said.
In an effort to reach out to students who haven’t considered pursuing science as an avocation, Watson visits public schools once a week during the school year to do chemical demonstrations.
“I talk to them about science careers and it really warms my heart when many come up to me afterward and say they are going to be a chemist when they grow up,” he said.
While those same youngsters may change their minds a hundred times before selecting a career path, Watson said he likes to think he may have put the possibility of working in science on their radar.
The UMHB College of Sciences also holds chem camps and Demos in the Dark during the summer.
“Our whole goal is to excite these young people so we’ll see an increase in kids who are interested in science,” he said.
