A. K. Ganguly, Ph.D.

Prof. A.K Ganguly was born in India and educated both in India and in England. He received his Ph.D. degree from Imperial College, London under the supervision of Sir Derek Barton.
Prof. Ganguly immigrated to the United States in 1967 and worked with Sir Derek at the Research Institute of Medicine and Chemistry, Cambridge, Massachusetts before joining the Schering-Plough Research Institute, Kenilworth, NJ in 1968 as a Senior Scientist. At Schering-Plough Research Institute he progressed to the position of Senior Vice President of Chemical Research in which capacity he directed all aspects of Chemical Research at the institute. In September 1999 he joined the Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ as a Distinguished Research Professor of Chemistry where he teaches Medicinal Chemistry and directs research programs for graduate students.
Prof. Ganguly has made many significant contributions in drug discovery. He is associated with the discovery of ezetimibe (Zetia), a cholesterol absorption inhibitor; noxafil (Posaconazole), a potent antifungal; boceprevir (Victrelis), a potent antiviral agent that inhibits HCV protease, and lonafarnib (Sarasar), a highly selective farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor for the treatment of cancer.
Prof. Ganguly is also recognised for his contributions towards synthesis of many other biologically active molecules and determining structures of complex oligosaccharide antibiotics such as Ziracin; a macrolide antibiotic, rosaramicin, and a cyclic-peptide thiostrepton analog. His work on beta-lactam antibiotics, particularly in the area of penems, is well recognized.
Prof. Ganguly has published two hundred fifteen papers and is a co-inventor of
ninety patents. He has been a plenary lecturer at many international meetings and received several awards. Some of his recent awards include:
2003, American Chemical Society: E. B. Hershberg Award for Important Discoveries in Medicinally Active Substances
2004, Stevens Institute of Technology, Doctor of Engineering, Honoris Causa
2004, Indian Chemical Society, Lifetime achievement award
2006, Thomas Alva Edison Award
2007, A.C.S., "Hall of Fame," Medicinal Chemistry
2011, Topliss Lecture on the advances in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Michigan.
Prof. Ganguly remained as a consultant at Schering-Plough Research Institute and continued when it was taken over by Merck. In the past he has been on the scientific advisory boards of Neogenesis and Dr. Reddy’s pharmaceutical company. Professor Ganguly has also consulted over a period of years with several biotechnology companies in the US, Canada and the UK.
Prof. Ganguly immigrated to the United States in 1967 and worked with Sir Derek at the Research Institute of Medicine and Chemistry, Cambridge, Massachusetts before joining the Schering-Plough Research Institute, Kenilworth, NJ in 1968 as a Senior Scientist. At Schering-Plough Research Institute he progressed to the position of Senior Vice President of Chemical Research in which capacity he directed all aspects of Chemical Research at the institute. In September 1999 he joined the Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ as a Distinguished Research Professor of Chemistry where he teaches Medicinal Chemistry and directs research programs for graduate students.
Prof. Ganguly has made many significant contributions in drug discovery. He is associated with the discovery of ezetimibe (Zetia), a cholesterol absorption inhibitor; noxafil (Posaconazole), a potent antifungal; boceprevir (Victrelis), a potent antiviral agent that inhibits HCV protease, and lonafarnib (Sarasar), a highly selective farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor for the treatment of cancer.
Prof. Ganguly is also recognised for his contributions towards synthesis of many other biologically active molecules and determining structures of complex oligosaccharide antibiotics such as Ziracin; a macrolide antibiotic, rosaramicin, and a cyclic-peptide thiostrepton analog. His work on beta-lactam antibiotics, particularly in the area of penems, is well recognized.
Prof. Ganguly has published two hundred fifteen papers and is a co-inventor of
ninety patents. He has been a plenary lecturer at many international meetings and received several awards. Some of his recent awards include:
2003, American Chemical Society: E. B. Hershberg Award for Important Discoveries in Medicinally Active Substances
2004, Stevens Institute of Technology, Doctor of Engineering, Honoris Causa
2004, Indian Chemical Society, Lifetime achievement award
2006, Thomas Alva Edison Award
2007, A.C.S., "Hall of Fame," Medicinal Chemistry
2011, Topliss Lecture on the advances in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Michigan.
Prof. Ganguly remained as a consultant at Schering-Plough Research Institute and continued when it was taken over by Merck. In the past he has been on the scientific advisory boards of Neogenesis and Dr. Reddy’s pharmaceutical company. Professor Ganguly has also consulted over a period of years with several biotechnology companies in the US, Canada and the UK.