Donald R. Bennett, M.D., Ph.D.    Pages 383-386
Vol.2, July 19, 1994

 

In regards:  Silicone Breast Implants

MDL926

 

Page 383

 

1          Q:        “The main purpose of the

2                    survey is to help in establishing the

3                    basic relationship between organosilicon

4                    structure and biological activity, the

5                    further pursuit of which rests with our

6                    secondary stage research activity into the

7                    physiology (metabolism, mechanism of

8                    action, site of action, et cetera) of the

9                    compounds in a good screening procedure

10                for identification of developmental

11                potential.  The microorganisms used in the

12                survey were specifically chosen (in

13                addition to their representativeness) for

14                their further usefulness in the secondary

15                stage of research.  A great deal of

16                background information on the biochemistry

17                of these organisms is available”

18                What this suggests is that Dr.

19                Isquith’s work was really part of a larger

20                project; that although he was looking at

21                antimicrobials, his work was useful in

22                the—total mission of Bioscience,

23                and I was wondering if that corresponds

24                with your—Did that correspond with your

25                view back in 1969?

 

Page 384

 

1                          Mr. Donley

2        Excuse me. Objection

3        The witness

4        That corresponds with my view.

5        EXAMINATION BY MR. ELLIS

6        Q.  And what was it about the

7        ability of certain organosilicon compounds

8        to have antimicrobial effect that had some

9        implications in the—in the larger

10    scheme of things concerning biological

11    activity

12    A.  That has to be a technical

13    answer.

14    Q.  Okay. Not what I like, but if

15    that’s the only way we can do it

16    A.  Well, then maybe I didn’t

17    understand what you want.

18    Q.  What was it about—He was

19    Doing very of specific work;  correct”

20    A.  Yes.

21    Q.  He was looking at the ability

22    of certain organosilicon compounds to kill

23    viruses or to kill bacteria.

24    A.  (Witness nods head

25    affirmatively.)

 

Page 385

 

1          Q.        What implications did that

2          work have in the broader mission of

3                    Bioscience in terms of biological

4                    activity?

5                    A.        If you knew that they killed

6                    microbes, then you have—you will always

7                    have a suspicion that they kill other

8                    cells potentially, not necessarily true

9                    but potentially.

10                Q.        Okay

11                A.        And that includes any kind of

12                cell, because that’s what bacteria

13                and viruses are.

14                Q.        Including—

15                Mr. DONLEY:

16                Any kind of what?

17                Mr. ELLIS

18                Cell.

19                THE WITNESS

20                Cell.

21                EXAMINATION BY MR. ELLIS:

22                Q.        Including potentially cells in

23                the human body?

24                A.        Any cell.

25                Q.        And one type of antiviral drug

 

Page 386

 

1                    that was being looked is was what I think

2                    Dr. Lake or Dr. Isquith called chemo

3                    chemotherapeutic, which is the ability of

4                    an antiviral drug to actually kill the

5                    virus.

6                    A.        Chemotherapy, description of

7                    It is—Yes—is to either inhibit the

8                    growth of or to kill microbes.

9                    Q.        And were you thinking in 1969

10                that this work potentially, not, obviously

11                immediately, but potentially, you know

12                five, six, seven, eight years down the

13                line could eventually lead to the

14                development of a drug that possibly could

15                be used for an antiviral—

16                A.        Definitely.

17                Q         --for an anticancer drug—

18                A.        Definitely.

19                Q.        --or a drug that possibly

20                Could be used to treat autoimmune disease?

21                MR. DONLEY

22                Objection.  Leading.

23                THE WITNESS

24                No

25                EXAMINATION BY MR. ELLIS