Department of Genetics
Stanford University
Palo Alto, Galifornia

April 23, 1960

or, Boris Rotman
Yeterans Administration Hospital
Albany, ‘iew York

Dear Boris:

I am sure that you will keep the following in careful confidence as
I ask you to do, 1 would have called you, as I have what I hope will be
an exciting prospect for you to consider, but it aay be better for you
to be able to think about it more carefully.

To give you the story historically, Carl Djerassi is joining Stanford
as Professor of Chemistry this fall, and I had oacasion to ueet hin during
his preliminary visits. He was once at Wisconsin; subsequently has earned
an outstanding reputation as a synthetic orczanic chemist in the field of
steroids, has also done mich interesting work in ancillary fields, ees.
optical rotatory dispersion (UV) for group analysis, At the oresent tine,
he is also Vice-President for Research of Syntex Corporation in “exico city,
and he will be keepinz a very close connection with Syntex in future. we
have gotten to discuss a number of oroblems and in censequence I nave azreed
to accept a role as a selentific adviser in bioloical research, 4 souewhal
closer role than the usual consultantship. Syntex is a very rapidly crovwin,
company, and having made an outstandinz suecess with steroids is anxious to
broaden its interests, they are the most research-oriented csroun I have
ever seen in such a field; that Djerassi will remain as a Stanford professor
will also help illustrate its academic dipection, ‘lost of the stigmata that
apply to so many drug research houses do not, I think, apaly here; althoulh
of course there will remain as an ultimate objective to discover new products
that oan be used 4n medical and scientific work, and whose sale can repay
the investment.

“y own urzent recommendation has been to cganble heavily in the flel. of
cleotide setabolism, without our being able to point to any very definite

therapeutic apolication at the present time. fhis is absolutely bound to
come up, and it would be very inportant te Syntex to have built up prior
experience when the breaks do mxx cone. Meanwhile, I felt that a sixed
puree and developmentale research procra: a” a company like Syntex could be
of great help to hiolocists for the production of scarce internedlates and
for the identification of new proverties and reactions, The details have
certainly to be worked out, but I felt that an attractive prozran could be
built ap on this thene that would concentrate, in the beginning, on funda.ental
work, @e%e on the biclorcical &ignifiecance and properties of synthetic ak polj-
mucleotides and their analosues, and cradually bullid up experience and a workin:
tean for enzymology and eventually production. Gxeept for the general these,
the project should not be thousht of as well crystallized; it would maxe
little sense to brin: in creative talent and then to try to foree this into
a predoteriined mold, I would serve as a -eneral consultant to this and
perhaps other biolocical prograns; the detailed cirection would be vorked out
on the spot with the other people at Syntex,
We have in mind the possibility of an initial eroup with a mature scientist
as its leader, and provision for two or three younger associates (Ph.o.) and
whatever further technical assistance might ve necessary. The plans for this
are far from definite; there is a possibility of establishing this in “exico
at the main research center, for the time being. In view of Dierassi's novin:
to Stanford, however, thebe is also some thought of establishing another labo-
ratory in this vicinity, which would have many obvious advantaves too, but which
would also be quite closely, (‘y private opinion is that this will certainly
happen, the main question is whether it will be rivht away or in two or three
years or 80.) I should say that Syntex has the most enlichtened volicy (and
tie means) for supporting research work, 6.7. with provision for travel, aes
publication, ete.

what you should have guessed by now is that I au soundin: you out as to

your possible interest in accepting a position as the orzanizer of this research
tean, Your breadth of experience in the past aaked an outstanding qualification,
your particular interests now are not far removed from the axis of the vrozran,

and the opvortunity does present, I think, an exciting challence., The future vros-
pects for the company are even more exeitin; than its past accomplishments, and
with the kind of leadership it has, and its recent finaneial success (see what

the Syntex stock has been doin: in the past few months on the American Stock
sxehange) should give it the commandinz position for pharmaceutical.-biochenical
research and development in the next few years, Syntex has been playing a very

aportant role in supporting chemical research at the University of ‘lexico, and
habitually a manber of graduate students do their thesis work in the Syntex labs.,
and other affiliations have ensued. “spevially if the lab itself is orvanized
in siexieo your familiarity with Spanish and LatinQAmriean life will be an additional
benefit; I am sure some arrangement can be made to protect your American citizenship
if this becomes an issue on account of foreign residence. ‘ieedlwss to say the
financial arrangements should be matched to your responsibilities ami, I an sure
will be atlractive to you, shen to start is open to mtual discussion,

I am not able to make a definite offer, as some factors are still uncertain;
however, I would appreciate hearing from you, hopefully within two weeks Lf pose
sible as to your tentative reaction, so that if it is favorable I can push the
matter further. I will be seeing Djerassi acain the end of “ay and its would help
to have soue tine Before that for some further discussion. If there is-sone like.
linood of imtual agreement I assume he will invite you to visit the: in uextes
as the next step.

Please call me collect at DAvenport 1-2764 if you would like to discuss
y of this further by phone,

With best recards,
ag ever
i 1 a

i

Joshua Laderberz