Ivars Kalviņš | |
---|---|
Born |
Riga, Latvia |
2 June 1947
Nationality | Latvian |
Alma mater | University of Latvia |
Known for | meldonium |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Chemistry |
Institutions | Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis |
Ivars Kalviņš (born 2 June 1947) is a Latvian chemist who invented the drug meldonium, trade-named Mildronat.
In 1969 Kalviņš graduated from the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Latvia, 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.
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. He was nominated as a finalist for the European Inventor Award 2015.