The story started in the late 1970s. At that time, Professor Stevens was working at Aston university with an enthusiastic rsearch group, funded by the Cancer Research Campaing (CRC). The group had been interested for some time in N-hydroxymethyl compounds which were thought to be the active metabolites of dacarbazine (DTIC). Robert Stone, a pharmacist (and Aston graduate), joined the team in 1978, on a May & Baker studentship, to synthesise potential anti-allergic bicyclic compounds. The allergy project was dropped but Stone continued his work and synthesised a compound which they called "azolastone," a name which contained references to Aston and to the inventor's name. It later became known as mitozolomide. "A single dose cured every form of mouse cancer, and the mice lived and grew old," explains Professor Stevens.
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