The scientific community mourns the loss of John Lewis, a pioneering British chemist whose work led to the development of buprenorphine, a treatment that has saved millions from opioid addiction worldwide. Dr Lewis has died at the age of 92.
From Laboratory to Lifeline: The Discovery of Buprenorphine
John Lewis's most significant contribution came during his tenure as research and development director at Reckitt & Colman pharmaceuticals between 1965 and 1989. With remarkable foresight, he recognised that buprenorphine, initially developed as a powerful post-operative painkiller, possessed unique characteristics that made it ideal for treating opioid dependence.
Alongside pharmacologist Alan Cowan, Lewis selected buprenorphine from numerous candidate drugs. His vision extended beyond pain management to addressing the growing crisis of heroin addiction. This insight would eventually provide an alternative to methadone for countless individuals struggling with substance abuse.
Academic Pursuits and Global Impact
After leaving Reckitt & Colman in 1989, Lewis continued his vital work in academia. He established the Reckitt & Colman psychopharmacology unit at Bristol University, led by Professor David Nutt. The unit later moved to Bath University in 2000 under the leadership of Steve Husbands, with Lewis maintaining active involvement until his retirement in 2018.
Professors Nutt and Husbands later reflected: "The development of buprenorphine is John Lewis's greatest scientific legacy. He supported work to demonstrate how to transfer methadone patients on to buprenorphine."
With support from the US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), buprenorphine products Subutex and Suboxone have become leading medications for opioid substitution therapy throughout the Western world.
A Life of Achievement Beyond Science
Born in Gloucester to a railway station manager and a professional housekeeper, Lewis's intellectual promise emerged early. He won an exhibition to study chemistry at Merton College, Oxford, where he achieved a first-class honours degree and completed his doctorate between 1950 and 1956.
Before his groundbreaking pharmaceutical work, Lewis lectured at Loughborough University while simultaneously captaining the Loughborough rugby club and playing for Leicestershire. Later, while working in Hull for Reckitt & Colman, he represented the city in the Yorkshire squash league, demonstrating his commitment to both physical and intellectual pursuits.
His international reputation in opioid chemistry earned him the prestigious Nathan B Eddy award in 1998, for which he received congratulatory letters from both Queen Elizabeth II and President Bill Clinton.
Charles O'Keefe of Friends of NIDA summarised Lewis's impact: "His contributions to science were only exceeded by the results of them: discoveries that have provided treatment and hope to millions of patients and their families who will never be aware of his contributions."
John Lewis is survived by his wife Joy, whom he married in 1955, their three children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. His legacy continues through the millions whose lives have been improved by his visionary work in pharmaceutical science.
