A SCIENTIST from Sandwich has been recognised for "outstanding leadership in technology" by an American magazine.

Dr Chris Hitchcock, a biologist at Pfizer's Sandwich laboratories, was selected as one of the Scientific American 50 for his discovery and exploratory development work of a drug for HIV/AIDS.

The compound UK-427,857 represents a new class of HIV drugs known as CCR5 antagonists.

It works through a novel mechanism of action, blocking viral entry to cells where the virus typically replicates.

Dr Hitchcock has worked on the CCR5 compound for six years, taking it from chemical lead to Phase II clinical trials.

In 1997 he was made Head of Discovery Anti-Infectives at the Sandwich laboratories, with responsibility for all pre-clinical aspects of antiviral drug discovery, including identifying target compounds and screening, to the nomination of drug candidates in the company's pipeline for development in patients.

Dr Hitchcock said: "I am delighted to be named a research leader by as prestigious a publication as Scientific American."

"The honour is a testimony to the work of many talented scientists here at the Sandwich laboratories."