An internationally recognized industry leader with more than 30 years of experience in drug discovery, development and commercialization at start-ups and established pharmaceutical companies will give the annual Vera Fay Righthand Seminar in Virology this week at the Wayne State University School of Medicine.

Ann Kwong, Ph.D., executive vice president of Research for Pardes Biosciences, will present "Discovery and Development of PBI-0451 a Novel Oral Protease Inhibitor for the Potential Treatment of SARS-CoV-2” at 11:30 a.m. April 26.

The annual lecture, presented by the WSU Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, will take place in Room 2268 of Scott Hall. The lecture may also be viewed via Zoom at https://wayne-edu.zoom.us/j/91937758593?pwd=ZklhajhxVUNyQms1dXN6YkhRNlpjZz09 using meeting ID 919 3775 8593 and passcode 599226.

Dr. Kwong’s lecture will detail discovering and developing a SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease inhibitor now in clinical trials to treat COVID-19.

The 2020 Gertrude Elion Memorial Award played a crucial role in developing Incivek, a hepatitis C virus protease inhibitor, approved in 2011; Pimodivir, a first-in-class influenza A PB2 inhibitor now in Phase 3; Merimipodib, an IMPDH inhibitor; and Agenerase, an approved HIV-1 protease inhibitor.

Dr. Kwong’s specialties include infectious disease discovery, especially antiviral drug discovery, development, regulatory submission and commercialization, and strategic development of novel drugs with a special emphasis on matching implications of clinical and commercial needs to drive the discovery decision and target product profile. She has led small and large cross-functional pharma teams, and has successfully attracted investors, including raising $11 million for Trek Therapeutics and $77 million for Dewpoint Therapeutics.

For more information, contact Ladislau Kovari, Ph.D., professor and associate chair of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, at kovari@med.wayne.edu.