P. Roy Vagelos

P. Roy Vagelos (born November 29, 1929), also known as Pindaros Roy Vagelos or Roy Vagelos, is an American physician and business executive, who served as CEO of Merck & Co. from 1985 to 1994. He is recognized for his contributions to the field of medicine and pharmacology, and his leadership in the pharmaceutical industry.

Early life and education

Vagelos was born in Westfield, New Jersey, to Greek immigrant parents. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Biology in 1950. He then went on to receive his M.D. from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1954.

Career

After completing his medical training, Vagelos joined the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a research scientist. He made significant contributions to the understanding of lipid metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis during his time at the NIH.

In 1975, Vagelos joined Merck & Co., one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. He served as the head of research before becoming CEO in 1985. Under his leadership, Merck developed several groundbreaking drugs, including ivermectin, a treatment for river blindness, and lovastatin, the first statin drug for lowering cholesterol.

Philanthropy

Vagelos and his wife, Diana, have been generous philanthropists, particularly in the field of education. They have made significant donations to the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University, including a $250 million gift to Columbia's medical school, which was renamed in his honor as the Columbia University Roy and Diana Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Awards and recognition

Vagelos has received numerous awards for his contributions to medicine and the pharmaceutical industry, including the Prince Mahidol Award for Medicine in 1996 and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 1999.

See also

• Merck & Co.
• Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
• University of Pennsylvania
• National Institutes of Health

External links

• Merck & Co.
• Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

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