Date: May 17, 2011 Source: YouTube (
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QsXnwsAr0I
President Stephen C. MacDonald conferred an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree on Dr. Tibor Sipos '64, whose discoveries in the field of medical pharmaceuticals have alleviated suffering and prolonged the lives of those diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and other serious diseases. A research chemist and entrepreneur, Sipos was born in Budapest, Hungary, and came to the U.S. in 1957.
"His English was not strong," MacDonald said. "After interviewing at several area colleges, he chose LVC because, he said, it was 'the friendliest.' What that meant, he explained, was that Dr. Tony Neidig, chair of LVC's chemistry department recognized his academic promise and was prepared to be patient with him and to engage him in undergraduate faculty-student research. Dr. Sipos prospered under Tony's mentoring, received his B.S. in chemistry in 1964, went on to Lehigh University and received a Ph.D. in biochemistry in 1968."
Sipos worked for 23 years with the Johnson & Johnson Company where he rose through the ranks from bench chemist to manager of dental research. He invented a drug called Pancrease for cystic fibrosis patients., The drug contained digestive enzymes that significantly extended the life expectancy of cystic fibrosis patients. For his role in the development of this drug, Sipos received the Johnson Medal, Johnson & Johnson' highest award. He left the company in 1990 and created Digestive Care, Inc. in Bethlehem, Pa., where he developed an especially noteworthy drug called Pancrecarb that is highly effective in treating the pancreatic enzyme insufficiency associated with cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer. Sipos received the Ben Franklin Innovator Award for his work as a scientist and entrepreneur with Digestive Care, Inc.
