1998 Fredericton Convocation
Bellini, Francesco
Doctor of Science (D.Sc.)
Orator: Patterson, Stephen E.
Citation:
CONVOCATION, OCTOBER, 1998
FRANCESCO BELLINI
to be Doctor of Science
When Francesco Bellini received his PhD from UNB in 1977, he had already firmly made his mark as a brilliant student of organic chemistry. He clearly had a promising career ahead of him as a researcher. What was not known was that, combined with his scientific skills, he had the potential to be equally successful in business. Today, he is the chief executive officer of BioChem Pharma, Inc., one of Canada's leading pharmaceutical companies, which he co-founded in the 1980s. Based in Laval, Quebec, BioChem Pharma is a leader both in North America and in Europe as a producer of diagnostic kits, vaccines, and therapeutic products.
Dr. Bellini was born in Italy and came to Canada in 1967 where he received his Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola College (now part of Concordia University) before coming to Fredericton. Here, he was among that brilliant cadre of students attracted by Professor Karel Wiesner, a group of scholars who gave UNB's chemistry department an international reputation in the rapidly developing field of organic chemistry. Bellini's research focused on A Synthetic Approach to Delphinine-type Alkaloids. His degree in hand, Dr. Bellini ventured into the world of pharmaceutical research for Ayerst Labs of Montreal, a subsidiary of the multinational giant American Home Products Corporation, where he established his reputation both as an innovator and publishing scholar. In 1984, when Ayerst left Canada, Dr. Bellini refused to follow it to the United States. Instead, he established and chaired the Biochemicals Division of the Institut Armand-Frappier, a small research organization affiliated with the University of Quebec. Working alone at first, and then with a gradually increased research staff, he hoped to develop chemicals for use in large research labs. In due course, he and his team began producing veterinary products such as embryo transfer kits, before moving on to the problem of treating diseases of the human immune system. Bit by bit, he turned his research operation into a full-scale commercial venture which by 1986 was reorganized as a public company, innovatively financed by the institute from which it sprang, a public share offering, and the company's own employees.
What gave BioChem its leg up in the competitive world of pharmaceuticals was a new product developed in-house: the first do-it-yourself test kit for AIDS. Since then, his company has gone on to work on vaccines for fighting meningitis and arthritis, and has won several awards for its breakthrough product 3TC, an antiviral drug designed to treat HIV and AIDS. By 1995, BioChem Pharma was recognized as one of Canada's fastest growing companies with subsidiaries or partner companies in several countries, and an international reputation for excellence and innovation. In 1998, the Quebec magazine Commerce recognized Francesco Bellini as one of the fifty most powerful and influential business leaders in Quebec.
With fame and success has come community responsibility, and this Dr. Bellini has generously embraced. Besides the typical professional affiliations, he sat on the task force to revitalize Montreal, chaired fundraisers for the Canadian Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Youth and Music Canada Foundation. He sits on the Board of Governors of Concordia University and the Douglas Hospital, and he maintains numerous ties with his homeland, Italy, including active support of the Canadian-Italian Community Foundation and a directorship in the Italian Chamber of Commerce.
This boy from Ascoli Piceno, on the sunny Adriatic, has become a giant in Canadian science and business. And he has retained the jovial good-heartedness that has always characterized his nature. UNB is proud to have shared in his preparation for life. Today we welcome him back to the place where his dreams and creative abilities were nurtured, and we extend our warmest greetings to his wife and two sons who have accompanied him for the occasion. For his contribution to Canadian medical science, for his business achievements, and for his determination to do it all in Canada, we offer Dr. Francesco Bellini our highest honour.
From: Honoris Causa - UA Case 70, Box 3
FRANCESCO BELLINI
to be Doctor of Science
When Francesco Bellini received his PhD from UNB in 1977, he had already firmly made his mark as a brilliant student of organic chemistry. He clearly had a promising career ahead of him as a researcher. What was not known was that, combined with his scientific skills, he had the potential to be equally successful in business. Today, he is the chief executive officer of BioChem Pharma, Inc., one of Canada's leading pharmaceutical companies, which he co-founded in the 1980s. Based in Laval, Quebec, BioChem Pharma is a leader both in North America and in Europe as a producer of diagnostic kits, vaccines, and therapeutic products.
Dr. Bellini was born in Italy and came to Canada in 1967 where he received his Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola College (now part of Concordia University) before coming to Fredericton. Here, he was among that brilliant cadre of students attracted by Professor Karel Wiesner, a group of scholars who gave UNB's chemistry department an international reputation in the rapidly developing field of organic chemistry. Bellini's research focused on A Synthetic Approach to Delphinine-type Alkaloids. His degree in hand, Dr. Bellini ventured into the world of pharmaceutical research for Ayerst Labs of Montreal, a subsidiary of the multinational giant American Home Products Corporation, where he established his reputation both as an innovator and publishing scholar. In 1984, when Ayerst left Canada, Dr. Bellini refused to follow it to the United States. Instead, he established and chaired the Biochemicals Division of the Institut Armand-Frappier, a small research organization affiliated with the University of Quebec. Working alone at first, and then with a gradually increased research staff, he hoped to develop chemicals for use in large research labs. In due course, he and his team began producing veterinary products such as embryo transfer kits, before moving on to the problem of treating diseases of the human immune system. Bit by bit, he turned his research operation into a full-scale commercial venture which by 1986 was reorganized as a public company, innovatively financed by the institute from which it sprang, a public share offering, and the company's own employees.
What gave BioChem its leg up in the competitive world of pharmaceuticals was a new product developed in-house: the first do-it-yourself test kit for AIDS. Since then, his company has gone on to work on vaccines for fighting meningitis and arthritis, and has won several awards for its breakthrough product 3TC, an antiviral drug designed to treat HIV and AIDS. By 1995, BioChem Pharma was recognized as one of Canada's fastest growing companies with subsidiaries or partner companies in several countries, and an international reputation for excellence and innovation. In 1998, the Quebec magazine Commerce recognized Francesco Bellini as one of the fifty most powerful and influential business leaders in Quebec.
With fame and success has come community responsibility, and this Dr. Bellini has generously embraced. Besides the typical professional affiliations, he sat on the task force to revitalize Montreal, chaired fundraisers for the Canadian Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Youth and Music Canada Foundation. He sits on the Board of Governors of Concordia University and the Douglas Hospital, and he maintains numerous ties with his homeland, Italy, including active support of the Canadian-Italian Community Foundation and a directorship in the Italian Chamber of Commerce.
This boy from Ascoli Piceno, on the sunny Adriatic, has become a giant in Canadian science and business. And he has retained the jovial good-heartedness that has always characterized his nature. UNB is proud to have shared in his preparation for life. Today we welcome him back to the place where his dreams and creative abilities were nurtured, and we extend our warmest greetings to his wife and two sons who have accompanied him for the occasion. For his contribution to Canadian medical science, for his business achievements, and for his determination to do it all in Canada, we offer Dr. Francesco Bellini our highest honour.
From: Honoris Causa - UA Case 70, Box 3
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