George Karam, PhD — NBE and NCE Expert and Strategist

More than 25 years experience as a protein biochemist investigator and outsourcing director

Recognized as a global influencer who pioneered biology outsourcing at Pfizer, Dr. Karam’s experience as a protein biochemist includes development of small molecule (NCE) and novel biotherapeutics (NBE) across disease areas such as oncology, inflammation, neuroscience, cardiovascular, metabolic-diabetes, rare diseases and others. He has developed scientific strategies for biotherapeutics, vaccines and prophylactics for Traveler’s diarrhea, Zika, Dengue, and Chikungunya diseases, as well as assays to study pathways and evaluate drugs. Dr. Karam was instrumental in advancing numerous drugs and drug candidates, including Xeljanz® (tofacitinib), Aricept® (donepezil hydrochloride), insulin and the biosimilar trastuzumab. He is a global keynote speaker and a recipient of several awards, including the Biopharma Research Council’s Outstanding Contributor award. His expertise has been sought by major pharmaceuticals including Pfizer, Novartis, Merck and Johnson and Johnson, as well as leading academic institutions, such as Yale, Harvard, University of California, San Francisco, University of Pennsylvania and Dana Farber.

Dr. Karam’s cross-functional skills as a pharmaceutical leader serve to build industry partnerships worldwide to develop, generate, and analyze discovery, preclinical, and clinical protein targets, as well as antibodies for development of novel small molecule and biotherapeutic drugs. His business strengths include pharmaceutical market consulting and strategic and operational project management across a broad array of external contract research organizations (CROs) and contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs). He has developed marketplace platforms, scientific, legal and financial strategies, and has advanced lead discovery, structure-based drug design, biomarkers and proteomics, and investigational new drug (IND) management.

Highlights 

  • NCE and NBE biotherapeutic R&D guidance
  • Protein and antibody drug development
  • Drug/target analysis and assay development
  • Pharma consulting and market analysis