Discovery Pharma Consulting LLC
Dr. Lars J. S. Knutsen is a results-driven Pharma R&D VP, Drug Discovery Consultant and Senior Medicinal Chemist, with demonstrated expertise in design and selection of Drug Candidates. He has excellent analytical skills and deep strategic knowledge of the Pharma and Biotech industry, being closely involved in invention of 14 New Chemical Entities (NCEs), of which 6 have progressed to clinical trials, including Vipadenant (Parkinson’s Disease), Irdabisant (Cognition), Requisom (Obstructive Sleep Apnea, informal trials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYRzS73AFgE ) and NMD670 (Myathenia Gravis); the anticonvulsant Gabitril™ is FDA approved and marketed worldwide.
He has a broad background in Drug Discovery and Development, especially medicinal chemistry, innovation and new project generation focused on treatments for neuromuscular disease, epilepsy, sleep disorders, cognition, neurodegeneration and pain. He has motivated teams of scientists to achieve goals in 6 companies over a 30+ year Pharma/Biotech career in 3 countries and 2 continents. Three times in his career he has driven forward the synthesis of what proved to be drug candidates within 6 months of joining a company: Novo Nordisk (tiagabine, 1986), Cephalon (Irdabisant, 2006) and NMD Pharma (NMD670 and NMD572, 2017), so as a creative leader has built several high performing teams in demanding settings. Lars is recognised by his 45 publications and inventorsip on 46 patents as a high level heterocyclic/ nucleoside chemist with ability to move multiple projects forward simultaneously.
Lars held an Adjunct Professorship at Drexel University School of Medicine from 2009-2020 and is a regular major conference speaker. He chaired Patent Committees at Ionix Pharma and Vernalis PLC; strong knowledge of patenting process in US/EU with its manifold issues. He has been involved in 18 US Expert Witness cases since 2011. Lars served as a Member of NIMH/NCDDDG Grant Review Panel in 2010 and 2011 and participated in a NIH-NIDDK Intramural Staff Review in 2016. As an articulate and creative scientific leader with excellent interpersonal skills, methodical and focused he has an excellent knowledge of drug design. Biology and PK/ADME knowledge from leading successful clinical drug discovery efforts. Lars is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and an ACS/SfN member. Lars was raised in the UK of Norwegian parents, holds citizenship of both the US and UK and is available to consult worldwide.