P. Roy Vagelos

About the Author

P. Roy Vagelos is a distinguished physician-scientist and former CEO of Merck & Co., whose career bridges groundbreaking medical research with transformative pharmaceutical leadership. After earning his medical degree from Columbia University and completing advanced training at the National Institutes of Health, he rose to prominence for pioneering work in lipid metabolism and cardiovascular therapeutics. As Merck's research director and later its chief executive, Vagelos championed the development of life-saving drugs while advancing global health initiatives, notably the company's landmark donation of Mectizan to combat river blindness. His memoir, Medicine, Science and Merck, offers an insider's perspective on the intersection of scientific discovery, corporate responsibility, and public health impact.