John McCauley ’91—Groundbreaking Scientist

Merck research scientist John McCauley ’91 received the 12th annual Society of Chemical Industry Gordon E. Moore Medal for innovative chemistry by a young investigator. Using a molecular modeling approach, McCauley directed the design and synthesis of a novel class of protease inhibitors—a significant step in the treatment of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). These efforts led to two new medicines, VANIHEPTM, approved in Japan in 2014, and ZEPATIERTM, a next-generation treatment for HCV, approved by the Food and Drug Administration in January.