Douglas J. MacNeil, PhD

Douglas J. MacNeil, PhD

Early Drug Discovery expert with 30+ years experience
United States
English
Academic affiliation

Molecular biologist with over 30+ years in all aspects of early Drug Discovery. Working in Large Pharma and small Biotechs; identified 15 compounds for development, 4 novel drugs approved. Extensive experience with drug discovery CROs.

Individual
Company

Skills

In vitro screening
Preclinical development
GPCRs
Target assesment
CNS (Central Nervous System)
RNA / DNA targeting
Allosteric modulators
Kinases
Consortium experience
Translational biomarkers
Hit identification

About

Extensive experience in Early Drug Discovery and Development. A proven record of delivering development compounds, including expertise in target identification, target validation, project initiation, and discovery team leadership. Deep capability in G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR), neuropeptides, energy homeostasis, neurodegeneration, and metabolic diseases. Expert at optimizing internal and external in vitro assays to support Lead ID and Lead Optimization. Initiated seven programs that delivered compounds for development; four achieved clinical proof of concept. Responsible for 17 GPCR programs including agonist, antagonist, inverse agonist, allosteric modulators, and biased ligand projects. Broad background managing international collaborations with partners in Japan, India, China, Germany and Denmark.

Recognized as expert in the following areas:

• Biology Project Leader

• Metabolic Disorders

• Neuroscience

• Target ID and Validation

• GPCR biology    

• Kinases

• Cell based assay development and validation

• Assay validation and CRO selection

Carreer highlights:

• Chief Biologist at two Biotechs, designed Proof of Concept studies

• Biology Project Lead on 9 Drug Discovery projects, from bench to the FDA

• Led a MRL-wide team that reviewed 500+ New Targets for Metabolic Disorders

• Led a 25+ team of cell biologists to support all Merck NJ Medicinal Chemistry projects

• Responsible for evaluating and managing in vitro biology support at CROs

• Molecular Biologist on Nobel Prize winner Bill Campbell’s Avermectin Team

• Over 95 publications and 15 patents

Work experience

Director of in vitro pharmacology

Company:
Merck, Inc.
Duration:
Jan 2009
-
Nov 2013
present

Select, develop, and validate optimal in vitro assays to support > 25 novel drug discovery projects, about half were implemented at CROs in Asia, Europe and North America

Chief Science Officer

Company:
SPR Biosciences
Duration:
Jul 2016
-
Nov 2017
present

Design and implement Proof of Concept studies for novel small molecule treatment for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

VP Preclinical Discovery

Company:
Ophidion, Inc.
Duration:
Oct 2018
-
present

Design and implement Proof of Concept studies for novel peptide:nucleic acid complex that delivers the nucleic acid into the brain after IV dosing

Education

MIT

Degree:
B. Sc.: Biology
Year of degree awarded:
1974

MIT

Degree:
B. Sc.: Organic Chemistry
Year of degree awarded:
1974

University of Wisconsin

Degree:
Ph. D.: Microbiology
Year of degree awarded:
1979

Publications

Case STUDIES

Targeting novel therapies for GPCRs

Identified the appropriate agonists, allosteric modulators, antagonsits or inverse agonists as novel therapeutics for over 15 GPCR targets, resulting in 7 clinical programs.

Target Identification among academic labs

Worked with two different Universities to review ongoing research among faculty, identified the top 10 labs that were appropriate to receive drug discovery support potentially leading to novel therapies.

Optimizing in vitro assays for Lead ID

Improved in vitro assay support for multiple Medicinal Chemistry Projects. Selected, transferred to a CRO, and validated assays to support SAR and selection of development compounds. Worked in the lab with Chinese CROs to improve assay quality and reproducibility. Reduced the cost, time, and data points needed to support SAR by 75%.