John Emery, PhD
A cell/molecular biologist, I have advanced drug discovery from target identification to clinical candidate selection over the past 25+ years. Experience includes small molecule and biologics discovery, from hit ID, developing critical path assays, & optimizing lead molecules for advancement to the clinic.
Skills
About
I have over 25 years of experience in pharmaceutical drug discovery, primarily at GSK and Janssen Pharmaceuticals. My expertise spans all aspects of drug discovery, including target identification and validation, biochemistry, protein production, biochemical/cellular assay development and screening, in vivo pharmacology, biomarker assay development, and establishing PK/PD relationships, amongst others. I have extensive experience leading small molecule drug discovery teams in establishing critical path assays and screening strategies to support efficient lead optimization campaigns.
Over the course of my career in industry, I was involved in multiple disease areas, including autoimmunity and inflammation (adaptive and innate immunity), neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation, musculoskeletal diseases (osteoporosis, osteoarthritis), oncology (solid tumors, leukemia, lymphoma), fibrosis, and metabolic disease. I led small molecule drug discovery programs targeting proteases, kinases, and enzymes, as well as therapeutic mAb programs targeting cell surface receptors.
I have led various small and large teams that have included both internal and external (CRO, academic) collaborators and partners. As such, I have a strong knowledge of how to optimally resource multiple aspects of drug discovery projects and how to select the best providers.
I am eager to continue advancing the discovery and development of novel effective medicines as a consultant with Resonance Pharma Consulting LLC. Service offerings include strategic and scientific advising on target identification and validation, critical path assay development and screening, hit identification and lead optimization, in vivo pharmacology and PK/PD profiling, due diligence/strategic/competitive environment positioning, and preclinical scientific writing (manuscripts, reports, presentations).
Work experience
Senior Director, Novel Human Genetics Research Unit
Over a twenty-five-year research career at GSK, I conducted preclinical drug discovery research in diverse disease areas including inflammation, innate & adaptive immunity, oncology, musculoskeletal and metabolic diseases.
I am a seasoned drug hunter and leader of Discovery matrix teams, laboratory scientists, external partners and academic alliances, with demonstrated achievement from target to clinical candidate selection.
I have a wide breadth of technical expertise including molecular biology, genetics, biomarker and cellular assay development, compound profiling, and in vivo pharmacology.
Director, Adaptive Immunity
Led a multi-site research team of 12 scientists (PhD, MS, BS levels) advancing small molecule and biopharmaceutical therapies that modulate dysregulated adaptive immune signaling in autoimmune diseases.
Program leader for externally partnered novel biopharmaceutical to dampen B cell signaling in multiple autoimmune disorders (e.g., RA, SLE).
Coordinated academic collaboration focused on multi-omic profiling of autoimmune disease patient samples.
Founder & Principal
Providing consulting services to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, with focus on preclinical drug discovery (target identification to clinical candidate selection), due diligence, strategic positioning, and scientific writing.
Education
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of Pennsylvania
Publications
Case STUDIES
Critical path assay development for hit identification and lead optimization
I led multiple matrix teams and bench scientists in developing and screening compounds in critical path assays for hit-identification (HTS, fragment, knowledge-based chemistry), hit-to-lead characterization, and lead optimization/SAR studies. Critical path activities included biochemical, cellular, and ADME assays, as well as identification and optimization of in vivo pharmacology and PD models to increase confidence in on-target pharmacological activity. Target classes included proteases, kinases, and enzymes for multiple disease indications (autoimmune, musculoskeletal, cancer, fibrosis).
Drug repositioning through phenotypic cellular assay profiling
Goal: To assess small molecule repositioning opportunities by profiling lead compounds in a phenotypic cellular assay portfolio. In this large pharma project, I led a team of bench scientists, as well as coordinated the efforts of four other transnational labs, to develop and screen small molecule compounds in a portfolio of >30 cellular assays representing pathways and endpoints that are dysregulated in multiple diseases (e.g., metabolic, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, inflammation). Utilizing this portfolio, the team successfully profiled the company’s lead portfolio to identify several potential repositioning opportunities.
Therapeutic monoclonal antibody for acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Utilizing both internal and external (CRO, academic collaborator) resources, I led a highly matrixed team in generating humanized mAbs that bound to and depleted leukemic stem cells. The team demonstrated preclinical proof-of-concept in relevant primary patient cellular assays and animal models using patient-derived leukemic cell lines. The resultant work led to the clinical candidate selection and successful out-licensing of the optimized molecule.
