Ivars Kalviņš (born 2 June 1947) is a Latvian chemist who invented the drug meldonium, trade-named Mildronate.[1][2]

Ivars Kalviņš
Kalviņš in 2020
Born (1947-06-02) 2 June 1947 (age 77)
NationalityLatvian
Alma materUniversity of Latvia
Known formeldonium
Scientific career
FieldsChemistry
InstitutionsLatvian Institute of Organic Synthesis

Biography

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In 1969 Kalviņš graduated from the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Latvia,[1] and in 1985 defended a habilitation at the Saint Petersburg State University. Since 1986 he works at the Riga Institute of Organic Synthesis, which he headed in 2003–2014. Earlier between 1994 and 2000 he served as President of the Latvian Society of Chemistry.

Kalviņš was involved in the synthesis of several drugs, including meldonium, leakadin, neramexane, and belinostat.[3]

Awards and honors

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Kalviņš is an Officer of Order of the Three Stars and since 1994 is a full member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. He was awarded the State Prize of the Latvian SSR in 1988 and the Grand Medal of Academy of Sciences of Latvia in 2009.[4] He was nominated as a finalist for the European Inventor Award 2015.[5] As a member of a team of authors he received the "Annual Award in Science 2017" for the development of a new and promising compound E1R (methylphenylpiracetam) for improving memory and treating epilepsy. The E1R is the first known and published positive allosteric modulator of Sigma 1 receptor that improves memory processes and prevents seizures.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b Ivars KALVIŅŠ Archived 12 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Inventions.lza.lv. Retrieved on 14 May 2016.
  2. ^ Ivars KALVINSH Archived 13 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Lza.lv. Retrieved on 14 May 2016.
  3. ^ Ivars Kalviņš Archived 9 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Kvalitates-konference.lv. Retrieved on 14 May 2016.
  4. ^ Иварс Калвиньш: мы фанатики, и этим всё сказано // Latvijas Radio 4
  5. ^ "European Inventor Award: Can a British inventor win in the 'Oscars of Innovation'?". The Independent. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  6. ^ "Pasniegtas balvas par 2017. gada nozīmīgākajiem zinātnes sasniegumiem Latvijā". Diena. 16 February 2018.
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