13
May

08:00 AM PST

Medicinal Chemistry

Name: Medicinal Chemistry Strategy Meeting West Coast USA 2026
Start: 2026-01-01T08:00
End: 2026-05-13T18:00
Location: Hard Rock Hotel San Diego

&

Drug Discovery Biology

Strategy Meeting West Coast USA 2026

Reinvigorating Productivity in Pharma & Biotech R&D Through Advanced Technologies and Innovative Techniques that Interrogate Activity and Mechanisms

Hard Rock Hotel San Diego

Fully Booked

A MEETING EXPERIENCE UNLIKE ANY OTHER

Fresh Medicinal Chemistry Insights

Tired of the same conference experience? Real discussions and genuine networking are often promised, but not always delivered. Proventa International’s R&D Strategy Meetings are designed to avoid the pitfalls of a typical conference, by providing the right environment to make those important connections through interactive roundtable discussions, exclusive networking and keynote panel debates. Join Medicinal Chemistry professionals from across the West Coast, in San Diego, to discover new insights and take your company’s mission to the next level.

What makes our strategy meetings unique?

Roundtable Discussions

Intimate discussions led by renowned industry experts. Have your voice heard and debate alongside like-minded life science executives.

Unrivalled Networking

With senior delegation from big pharma and innovative biotech from across the West Coast, you can network with peers from different locations, all in one place.

Personalised Agenda

Choose the topics that matter to you. Reserve your place at the roundtable discussions and ensure your whole day delivers the insights you need to hear.

Solutions to your Problems

We’ve partnered with the best solution providers to solve your biggest challenges. Engage in pre-arranged, private meetings to address your specific needs and find a tangible solution.

Industry Researched Topics

We guarantee our agenda is up-to-date and mission critical because its designed by you. We speak to our extended network of senior decision makers to ensure the most important topics are discussed.

Senior Decision Makers

The entire strategy meeting is specifically tailored to the needs and challenges of senior life science professionals. Discover how your peers are dealing with the same challenges as you.

Our Facilitators

Our panel of facilitators play a key role in shaping the agenda for the day. See who will be bringing their expertise to the table at Medicinal Chemistry Strategy Meeting.

Andrea Small-Howard

President GB Sciences, Inc

Bishnu Nayak

Senior Director/Site Head Neologics Bio

David Bredt

Founder, Chief Scientific Officer Rapport Therapeutics

Bredt graduated summa cum laude in Chemistry at Princeton University in May 1986. He received his M.D. and Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1993. Bredt was Professor of Physiology at the University of California, San Francisco. He joined Eli Lilly and Company as Vice President of Integrative Biology in August 2004 and became Vice President of Neuroscience Discovery and Early Development in June 2007. In March 2011, he moved to Johnson and Johnson as Global Head of Neuroscience Discovery. In February 2017, Bredt became head of Johnson and Johnson’s La Jolla research facility. In 2022, Bredt founded Rapport Therapeutics, precision neuroscience company focused, where he serves as Chief Scientific Officer. Throughout his career Bredt has focused on innovation in neuroscience research and its application to drug discovery. His lab’s work has been cited >80,000 times in the scientific literature and his pharma Discovery teams have created medicines that are now FDA approved for Alzheimer’s, migraine headache and psychiatric disorders.

David Weitz

Chief Executive Officer and Founder Syrna Therapeutics

Devin Swanson

Director, External Innovation Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicines

Igor O. Nasonkin

CEO Phythera Therapeutics

Igor Nasonkin is a Founder, Director, and Principal Investigator, with 9 years in industry (Phythera Therapeutics, Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Biotime, Bresagen) and 24 years in academia (UPitt, NIH, JHU, MIT, UM, UBC). He specialized in small molecule-based therapies modulating neurodegenerative diseases and cancer, botanical-based drugs for cancer therapeutics, cell & gene therapies (retina, brain), stem cell-based therapies, and building new projects and teams from the ground up. Igor has extensive experience in building and leading several productive & cohesive research teams, conceptualizing new ideas and research directions, grant writing (NIH, DOD, CIRM, foundation grants), manuscript writing, drafting patent applications, sponsored projects agreements, and business plans. He has written for a variety of Scientific reviewers (several journals), while being a member of the Editorial Board (several journals). His successfully funded SBIR grants include: 5R44EY027654 09/30/2017- 5/31/2019; 3 R44 EY 027654-02 S1 06/01/2019-05/31/2020

Leo Kirkovsky

Senior Director Exelixis

Mark Nelson

Vice President, Chemistry and Co-Founder Neumedics

Mehran Moghaddam

CEO OROX Biosciences, Inc.

Sanjeev Thohan

Scientific Advisory Board Member Cogentis Therapeutics/ Phoenix Molecular Designs

Sean Sullivan

Vice President Arcturus Therapeutics

Shicheng Guo

Senior Director of Translational Genetics and Data Science Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals

As Senior Director of Translational Genetics and Data Science at Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, I lead the development of AI-integrated decision-making frameworks across the entire drug discovery and development continuum—from target identification, safety assessment, and clinical translation. Central to my work is the strategic pursuit of high-quality, high-value human data—sourced from biobanks, multi-omics platforms, and real-world evidence—followed by rigorous data evaluation to ensure biological and translational relevance. I oversee the design and deployment of proprietary platforms such as TIDVALE (Target Identification and Validation Engine) and TLA (Target Liability Assessment Engine), which fuse computational biology, translational science, and AI agents to guide confident target nomination and liability assessment. My mission is to embed human data–driven, AI-augmented intelligence into every stage of R&D— transforming therapeutic discovery into a predictive, connected, and accelerated process.

Susan Whitehead

Board Director PACT Pharma

Zev Wisotsky

Director, Drug Discovery New Modality Solutions Revvity Signals

First name	Last name	Job title	Company name	Photo URL	Bio Position
Andrea	Small-Howard	President	GB Sciences, Inc	https://proventainternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Andrea-SmallHoward-1.jpg	Andrea Small-Howard has 20+ years of executive, biopharma industry experience. She has shaped corporate strategies and messaging, led partnering efforts, and raised capital. Additionally, she has supervised research & development, manufacturing, and quality control in global divisions. Dr. Small-Howard has taken novel biological products from ideation through commercialization. She has been named an inventor on seventy+ patent applications, obtained regulatory approvals, and orchestrated commercial licensing deals. Currently, Dr. Small-Howard leverages her broad biopharmaceutical industry knowledge as the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Science Officer, and Chairman of the Board of Directors at GB Sciences, Inc.
Bishnu	Nayak	Senior Director/Site Head	Neologics Bio	https://proventainternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Bishnu-Nayak-Neologics-Bio.jpg	Bishnu is an immunologist by training with more than 15-years of experience in drug discovery research. His expertise include target identification, validation, translational research, MoA studies, and validation of therapeutic concepts, both in vitro and in vivo. He worked extensively with small molecules and biologics, particularly in immuno-oncology and inflammation space. From target discovery to lead identification and preclinical validation, he contributed at large pharmaceutical companies like Novartis and AbbVie (Pharmacyclics), mediumsized firms like AnaptysBio, and small biotechs like HealthTell and NeologicsBio. Currently, he serves as Senior Director and Site Head at Neologics Bioscience, San Diego.
David	Bredt	Founder, Chief Scientific Officer	Rapport Therapeutics	https://proventainternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/David-Bredt.jpg	Bredt graduated summa cum laude in Chemistry at Princeton University in May 1986. He received his M.D. and Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1993. Bredt was Professor of Physiology at the University of California, San Francisco. He joined Eli Lilly and Company as Vice President of Integrative Biology in August 2004 and became Vice President of Neuroscience Discovery and Early Development in June 2007. In March 2011, he moved to Johnson and Johnson as Global Head of Neuroscience Discovery. In February 2017, Bredt became head of Johnson and Johnson’s La Jolla research facility. In 2022, Bredt founded Rapport Therapeutics, precision neuroscience company focused, where he serves as Chief Scientific Officer. Throughout his career Bredt has focused on innovation in neuroscience research and its application to drug discovery. His lab’s work has been cited >80,000 times in the scientific literature and his pharma Discovery teams have created medicines that are now FDA approved for Alzheimer’s, migraine headache and psychiatric disorders.
David	Weitz	Chief Executive Officer and Founder	Syrna Therapeutics	https://proventainternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/David-Weitz-1.jpg
Devin	Swanson	Director, External Innovation	Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicines	https://proventainternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Devid-Swanson.jpg	Devin Swanson is a seasoned pharmaceutical R&D leader with deep expertise in drug discovery across multiple therapeutic areas. He currently serves as Director of External Innovation at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, based in San Diego, California. With 25 years of experience in drug discovery, Devin has made significant contributions to the R&D portfolio, including advancing six clinical candidates and contributing to eight publicly announced external innovation deals. In his current role, he focuses on building strategic partnerships around discoverystage platforms and assets, with a particular emphasis on small molecules and peptides.
Igor	O. Nasonkin	CEO	Phythera Therapeutics	https://proventainternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Igor-O.-Nasonkin.jpg	Igor Nasonkin is a Founder, Director, and Principal Investigator, with 9 years in industry (Phythera Therapeutics, Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Biotime, Bresagen) and 24 years in academia (UPitt, NIH, JHU, MIT, UM, UBC). He specialized in small molecule-based therapies modulating neurodegenerative diseases and cancer, botanical-based drugs for cancer therapeutics, cell & gene therapies (retina, brain), stem cell-based therapies, and building new projects and teams from the ground up. Igor has extensive experience in building and leading several productive & cohesive research teams, conceptualizing new ideas and research directions, grant writing (NIH, DOD, CIRM, foundation grants), manuscript writing, drafting patent applications, sponsored projects agreements, and business plans. He has written for a variety of Scientific reviewers (several journals), while being a member of the Editorial Board (several journals). His successfully funded SBIR grants include: 5R44EY027654 09/30/2017- 5/31/2019; 3 R44 EY 027654-02 S1 06/01/2019-05/31/2020
Leo	Kirkovsky	Senior Director	Exelixis	https://proventainternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/unnamed-12.jpg
Mark	Nelson	Vice President, Chemistry and Co-Founder	Neumedics	https://proventainternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Mark-Nelson.jpg	Dr. Mark L. Nelson, received a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, and formed Paratek Pharmaceuticals at Tufts University School of Medicine, bringing novel antibiotics NuzyraTM and SeysaraTM to medicine in 2018. His work spans the synthesis, cheminformatics, and biology of novel compounds against infectious and inflammatory diseases, bringing NCEs to the clinic expeditiously. Currently, he is a founder and VP of Neumedics, and a stealth company from EPFL, Auwerx lab, both modifying mitochondrial processes in neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s disease. He has 40+ patents in novel chemistries and biology, and in 2019 received the ACS Heroes of Chemistry award.
Mehran	Moghaddam	CEO	OROX Biosciences, Inc.	https://proventainternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Mehran-F.-Moghaddam.jpg	Dr. Mehran Moghaddam is the Founder and the Chief Executive Officer of OROX Biosciences, Inc., leading efforts to develop bifunctional small molecules for oncology and inflammatory diseases. With three decades of biopharmaceutical experience, he has guided research and development across multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology, fibrosis, cardiovascular, and CNS disorders. Mehran previously held key scientific and leadership roles at Celgene, DuPont, and Pfizer, contributing to the discovery and development of groundbreaking therapies such as Revlimid®, Pomalyst®, and Otezla®.
Sanjeev	Thohan	Scientific Advisory Board Member	Cogentis Therapeutics/ Phoenix Molecular Designs	https://proventainternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Sanjeev-Thohan-2.jpg	Sanjeev is the President of SARx Consulting, bringing over 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. His practice focuses on Fractional Leadership in R&D, serving as the Chief Scientific Officer for three startups—Fireworks Therapeutics, Arise Biopharma, and Athysis Biopharma. As a subject matter expert in clinical biomarker development and translational mechanistic studies, Sanjeev supports clinical trial execution with deep expertise. He has personally generated and overseen programs involving small molecules and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) across therapeutic areas, including antiviral, anti-infective, anti-inflammatory, biodefense, cardiovascular/metabolic, and oncology.
Sean	Sullivan	Vice President	Arcturus Therapeutics	https://proventainternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Sean-Sullivan.jpg
Shicheng	Guo	Senior Director of Translational Genetics and Data Science	Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals	https://proventainternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Shicheng-Guo.jpg	As Senior Director of Translational Genetics and Data Science at Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, I lead the development of AI-integrated decision-making frameworks across the entire drug discovery and development continuum—from target identification, safety assessment, and clinical translation. Central to my work is the strategic pursuit of high-quality, high-value human data—sourced from biobanks, multi-omics platforms, and real-world evidence—followed by rigorous data evaluation to ensure biological and translational relevance. I oversee the design and deployment of proprietary platforms such as TIDVALE (Target Identification and Validation Engine) and TLA (Target Liability Assessment Engine), which fuse computational biology, translational science, and AI agents to guide confident target nomination and liability assessment. My mission is to embed human data–driven, AI-augmented intelligence into every stage of R&D— transforming therapeutic discovery into a predictive, connected, and accelerated process.
Susan	Whitehead	Board Director	PACT Pharma	https://proventainternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Susan-Whitehead-1.jpg
Zev	Wisotsky	Director, Drug Discovery New Modality Solutions	Revvity Signals	https://proventainternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Zev-Wisotsky.jpg	Zev earned his B.A. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from UC Santa Cruz and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from UC Riverside, where he studied taste detection in fruit flies. After transitioning from academia, he joined early-stage startups to help streamline scientific processes. Drawing on deep experience at the intersection of science and technology, Zev now serves as Director, Discovery Biology Solutions at Revvity Signals, where he focuses on tailoring software solutions to meet the evolving needs of the life sciences community.

Andrea Small-Howard, Bishnu Nayak, David Bredt, David Weitz, Devin Swanson, Igor O. Nasonkin, Leo Kirkovsky, Mark Nelson, Mehran Moghaddam, Sanjeev Thohan, Sean Sullivan, Shicheng Guo, Susan Whitehead, Zev Wisotsky