Green Chemistry in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Berkeley “Buzz” W. Cue, a long-time veteran of the pharmaceutical industry, currently consults with technology companies who serve the pharmaceutical industry to create innovative solutions for pharmaceutical science and manufacturing challenges through BWC Pharm Consulting, LLC. 

Prior to his consulting career, Buzz spent nearly 29 years leading pharmaceutical research at Pfizer, Inc. Buzz joined Pfizer in 1975 in the Animal Health Organic Chemistry Department and most recently served as Head of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Pfizer Global Research and Development in Groton, CT, with leadership responsibility for Analytical R&D, Bio Process R&D, Chemical R&D, Pharmaceutical R&D, Regulatory CMC & Quality Assurance and Pharmaceutical Sciences Business Operations.  He was a member of the Worldwide Pharmaceutical Sciences Executive Team, sponsored the global Chemical R&D line council, and was a member of the Groton Laboratories site Leadership Team. He chaired the Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases Early Development Management Team (1998-1999) and co-chaired the division’s Performance Management Task Force (1992-1993). He was Groton Labs executive sponsor for the Women Leaders Network (2002-2004).

Buzz created and led Pfizer’s Green Chemistry initiative and has spoken extensively on this topic since 2000. In 2003 he received the Pfizer Groton Labs Green Chemistry Award.  Dr. Cue retired from Pfizer in April 2004 but he continues his mission of advancing green chemistry in the pharmaceutical industry, lecturing widely on the topic throughout the industry and academia.  In recognition of his efforts, in 2005 he was presented the Seldon Award by U. Mass-Lowell for his contributions to green chemistry. That year he also received an award from the Green Chemistry Institute for his leadership of Pfizer’s green chemistry efforts that have become a model for other pharmaceutical companies.  In 2006 he was recognized by the US EPA for his “tireless efforts to encourage pharmaceutical companies to implement green chemistry.” Recently he was nominated to be a candidate for election to President of the American Chemical Society (2011 term).

Dr. Cue received a BA with distinction in chemistry from the University of Massachusetts-Boston (1969), his Ph.D. (Organic Chemistry) from the University of Alabama (1973), and completed Postdoctoral Research at the Ohio State University (1974), and was a National Cancer Institute Research Fellow, University of Minnesota (1975).  He is a member of the Gamma Sigma Epsilon chemistry honors fraternity at the University of Alabama.