North Chicago, Illinois, United States
Senior Medicinal Chemist with experience in fragment-based drug design, inhibition of protein-protein interactions, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADC’s). One of the pioneers of BCL-2 protein family inhibitors for the treatment of cancer, playing a significant role in the discovery of multiple clinical compounds as well as the marketed first-in-class BCL-2 selective inhibitor Venclexta™. Major Accomplishments: One marketed drug: Venclexta™ with six Breakthrough Therapy Designations 11 drug development candidates Inventor on 45 issued patents Author on 17 publications (collectively cited over 3,550 times) Five invited lectures including major conferences and Northwestern University Recipient of the American Chemical Society Technical Achievements in Organic Chemistry Award (2011) Recipient of the prestigious ACS Heroes of Chemistry Award (2021) Demonstrated Abilities: Effectively lead chemists in SAR exploration Independently investigate multiple chemical series Develop synthetic methodology Create innovative solutions to broad-based drug discovery initiatives Contribute significantly to / rapidly transition between multiple projects simultaneously Specialties: medicinal chemistry, drug discovery, antibody-drug conjugates, structure-based drug design, organic synthesis, protein-protein interactions, public speaking, laboratory safety
• Synthesized both small molecule and ADC-based oncology therapeutics. • Managed a group of chemists at a CRO to explore additional SAR beyond the limits of internal resources. • Environmental, Health and Safety Committee representative. • Served as AbbVie Chemistry Connections Mentor to chemistry graduate students.
• Synthesized novel warheads, linkers, and payloads for antibody-drug conjugates. • Identified multiple inhibitors of BCL-2 Family proteins. • Managed and mentored two high-performing summer research interns. • Proposed numerous proprietary monomers for enhancement initiative - many funded/synthesized. • TB Drug Accelerator Consortium. • Monomer Committee, Medicinal Chemistry Leadership Team. • Environmental, Health and Safety Committee representative.
• Monomer Committee, Medicinal Chemistry Leadership Team. • Environmental, Health and Safety Committee representative.
• Identified multiple inhibitors of BCL-2 Family proteins including ABT-731 and ABT-199 (venetoclax, Venclexta™). • Contributed to a significant and complex patent estate covering novel protein-protein interaction inhibitors. • Proposed numerous novel libraries for a screening compound file enhancement initiative with several funded and synthesized. • Environmental, Health and Safety Committee representative.
• Identified multiple dual inhibitors of BCL-2 and BCL-xL, including ABT-737 and ABT-263 (navitoclax). • Performed extensive hit-to-lead chemistry on multiple chemical series, serving as lead chemist on a majority of them. • Synthesized unprecedented inhibitors selective for either the open or closed forms of Hsp90. • Identified inhibitors of survivin and obtained the first patent covering small molecule inhibitors of this target. • Identified multiple inhibitors of MCL-1 and obtained the first patent covering small molecule inhibitors of this target. • Environmental, Health and Safety Committee representative.