Graham Melrose obituary: Chemist who strove to innovate in home and hospital

Dr Graham John Hamilton Melrose was one of Australia’s most accomplished chemists and innovators, whose career spanned consumer products to the frontlines of global antibiotic resistance. His enduring legacy bridges consumer science and biotechnology — achievements that have touched lives from households to hospital wards around the world. Born in February 1934, Melrose showed an early fascination with chemistry. After earning a bachelor of science with honours in 1955 and a PhD in chemistry in 1960, both from the University of Western Australia, he went on to complete an MBA at Macquarie University in 1978, marrying scientific discipline with business insight. He became a fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, the Australian Institute of Management and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a chartered chemist. Melrose began his academic career in 1963 at the University of New South Wales, where he taught applied organic chemistry and inspired a generation of young researchers. During this time he held visiting research positions at Oxford University and in Munich, experiences that deepened his expertise in polymer chemistry and international collaboration. In the 1970s, Melrose joined Johnson & Johnson Asia Pacific and Australia as executive director and head of research. It was during this period that he perfected the No More Tears formula for baby shampoo. He also oversaw the reformulation of the company’s baby powder to address emerging health concerns, a testament to his commitment to both innovation and consumer wellbeing. After leaving the company, Melrose turned to biotechnology entrepreneurship. In 1989 he founded Chemeq Ltd, a Perth-based firm developing antimicrobial polymers for animal health. The company’s 1999 listing on the Australian Securities Exchange marked a breakthrough for local biotech, reaching a market value of more than $550 million at its peak. Chemeq grew quickly and faced production and financial difficulties before the firm collapsed in 2007, two years after Melrose had retired as CEO. The experience was bruising, but friends say it only strengthened his resolve to continue pursuing science that could improve human health. At the age of 73, Melrose founded Recce Pharmaceuticals. Working from a small garage lab in Perth, he set out to design synthetic anti-infective compounds capable of defeating antibiotic-resistant bacteria — one of modern medicine’s most formidable challenges. His grandson, James Graham, then 22, and daughter Michele, then 50, joined him in what would become a powerful family partnership. Together they developed Recce 327, a molecule that attacks bacteria through multiple pathways, preventing resistance from forming. The synthetic compound showed striking potency against infections such as MRSA, E. coli and P. aeruginosa, without harming human cells. In 2016, Recce listed on the ASX following an oversubscribed $5 million raising. Under Melrose’s leadership as executive chairman and chief research officer, the company grew from a family venture into a clinical-stage biotech recognised internationally. It has since secured more than 40 global patents and earned fast-track designation from the US Food and Drug Administration for its lead synthetic antibiotic formula, Recce 327, granting 10 years of market exclusivity upon approval. In 2024 the US Department of Defence granted Recce $3 million to advance its work in burn wound infections, while clinical trials expanded across Australia, Indonesia and the United States. The World Health Organisation identified Recce’s technology platform as part of its review of emerging antibiotic classes designed to address antimicrobial resistance. Melrose stepped down from Recce’s board in 2021 but remained its largest shareholder and most loyal supporter. He continued to follow the company’s progress from his Perth aged-care residence, offering encouragement until his final months. Following his death, Recce CEO and grandson James Graham said his grandfather embodied “a lifelong belief that great science can come from anywhere — even a suburban garage — when driven by imagination and persistence”. To friends and colleagues, Melrose was a scientist of intellect and conviction, whose work reflected Australia’s growing contribution to global biotechnology. He is survived by his wife Olga (nee Wilson), his daughters Michele Dilizia (who is Recce’s chief scientific officer and executive director) and Fiona Melrose-Gill, and five grandchildren. Graham Melrose Entrepreneur and scientist Born: Perth, 1934 Died: Perth, aged 91