University at Buffalo (UB)
John N. Kapoor, PhD '72
Samuel P. Capen Award
Editor’s note
In 2019, the SUNY Board of Trustees revoked the naming of John and Editha Kapoor Hall as well as John Kapoor's honorary degree. More information is available in the university’s News Center.
By Barbara A. Byers
Release Date: March 28, 2011 This content is archived.
Born in Amristar, India, John Kapoor received his undergraduate degree in pharmacy from Bombay University and dreamed of coming to the United States for graduate work. The University at Buffalo provided financial support that enabled him to earn his doctorate in medicinal chemistry from the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1972.
Kapoor began his career as plant manager of Invenex Laboratories of Grand Island, N.Y., originally a West Coast injectable drug company that had recently expanded to the Eastern U.S. In 1978, he was named president and CEO of LyphoMed, a hospital products company that he later bought. When it went public in 1983, Kapoor was elected chairman. LyphoMed, which offered more than 350 nutritional and off-patent injectable drugs sold primarily through hospital pharmacies, annually earned more than $100 million. In 1990, Kapoor sold LyphoMed to Fujisawa Pharmaceuticals.
Kapoor then formed E.J. Financial Enterprises, Inc., a private management consulting and venture capital firm that provides financial and strategic advice to start-up and early-stage health care concerns with high-growth potential.
Along with his wife, Kapoor established the John and Editha Kapoor Charitable Foundation, which supports children and youth services, Christian organizations, health organizations, higher education, hospitals and many charitable causes in India.
A strong advocate for UB, Kapoor also has funded research, a state-of-the-art instrumentation core and graduate fellowships. His most recent investment, a $5 million challenge gift, will support construction of a building on the South Campus to house the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, which will be named in his honor in recognition of his unmatched generosity.
A brilliant entrepreneur and visionary leader in the pharmaceutical industry, Kapoor has received many honors throughout his career, including an honorary doctorate from the State University of New York, the UB Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award, the San Diego Indian American Society Chakra Award and the American Cancer Society International Achievement Award for Philanthropy.