Washington State University College of Arts and Sciences Innovative Leaders Lecture Series 2025
About the event
Development of Robust, Sustainable Chemical Processes for the Rapid Delivery of Drug-Linkers
Keynote: Dr. Rajappa Vaidyanathan, Head of Chemical Process and Analytical Development, Pfizer Inc.
Presentation: This talk will describe the development of innovative chemical processes that can reliably produce large quantities of Drug-Linkers to support clinical trials as well as commercial supply. Specifically, techniques used to accelerate process development (and consequently, availability of product to patients) will be described and illustrated with several examples.
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a class of cancer drugs that combine the targeting ability of monoclonal antibodies with the cell-killing power of cytotoxic drugs. A typical ADC consists of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) covalently attached to a Drug-Linker molecule (i.e. cytotoxic drug attached to a chemical linker). ADCs are designed to selectively deliver potent chemotherapy to cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy tissues.
About Rajappa Vaidyanathan
Rajappa Vaidyanathan is a scientific and business leader with 20+ years of experience in CMC aspects of drug development. He is currently the Head of Chemical Process and Analytical Development at Pfizer Inc. and has held leadership roles at Pharmacia, Pfizer, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, where he contributed to the development of multiple FDA-approved drugs.
Vaidyanathan has received numerous awards, including the 2015 ACS Heroes of Chemistry Award, and serves on the editorial board of Organic Process Research & Development. Vaidyanathan earned his PhD in chemistry from UC Irvine and his master’s degree from IIT Madras, where he is also an adjunct faculty member.
About the WSU College of Arts and Sciences Innovative Lecture Series
The Washington State University (WSU) Innovative Leaders Lecture Series is designed to invite visionary leaders, academic entrepreneurs, and industry innovators who have successfully brought transformative research and technological advancements to the market. This series offers an exclusive platform for these distinguished innovators to share their entrepreneurial journeys, address the challenges they overcame, and provide valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs. By fostering stronger connections between academia and industry, this initiative aims to inspire the next generation of innovators and enrich WSU’s entrepreneurial culture.
Sponsored by:
Washington State University College of Arts and Sciences
Washington Research Foundation