Leading BXN’s medicinal chemistry optimization is Dr. Richard Gless, who has over 25 years of industry experience in all aspects of small molecule drug discovery from initial, small scale hit identification efforts (standard medicinal chemistry and combinatorial chemistry), to hit-to-lead optimization, radiochemistry, initial scale-up, and development of manufacturing processes.

Dr. Gless was previously VP of Chemistry at Arete Therapeutics (2005-2009) and served as VP of Chemistry at Galileo Pharmaceuticals (2003-2004). Prior to that he was VP of Chemistry and General Manager at Signature BioScience (2001-2003) and acted as VP of Chemistry, Cambridge Discovery Chemistry (2000-2001). Dr. Gless was Group Supervisor, Group Leader, Research Chemist, and Assoc. Research Chemist at Zeneca from 1978 – 1999. While at Zeneca, he developed or supervised programs developing commercial manufacturing processes for a number of biologically active compounds including orphan tyrosinemia and transplantation-rejection drug nitisinone (Orfadine®). At the US site of the UK-based CRO Cambridge Discovery Chemistry, he supervised contract chemistry research for a number of large pharmaceutical companies around a variety of disease targets. At startups Signature BioSciences, Galileo Pharmaceuticals and Arete Therapeutics, he supervised medicinal chemistry programs both in-house and at overseas CROs in India, Korea, and Singapore targeting oncology, inflammation, cardiovascular, and metabolic disease. For Arete’s clinical candidate AR9281, he supervised route development at a US CRO, wrote the CMC portion of Arete’s IND, and oversaw various subsequent drug substance and drug product CMC functions.