"All our landlords are committed to achieving a consensual solvent outcome to this process where a restructured Southern Cross emerges, " Christopher Fisher told John Humphrys.

BBC: Southern Cross boss: 'I am very sorry'

However, when he was playing with solvents that might be added to the system to speed the transfer of the dicyclopentadiene to the cracks it is intended to heal, he found a solvent that encouraged the process to work without the ruthenium catalyst.

ECONOMIST: Monitor

The process started with 30 tonnes of raw materials and 500 tonnes of solvent and usually requires a dozen separate chemical steps and takes more than two years.

FORBES: Reviving Novartis