I wonder of the trxformer is wrongly phased, and the bias outputs into vcc when your fet is on, and the turns are higher than should be also, hence the high voltage on your vcc?
...i think remove the bias diode, supply vcc with isolaterd bench supply, and try and get it working like that first.
Also, The UC3843 is world famous....i'll bet if any ic has been copied, it'd be the uc3843...maybe some bad copies got made with poor esd protection....but thats just another theory