Mike Letavic PhD

Mike Letavic is an experienced medicinal chemist with 22 years of medicinal chemistry experience in 3 therapeutic areas (Neuroscience, Inflammation, and Anti-infectives). As the discovery of medicinal chemistry leads for numerous programs at Janssen Mike Letavic led teams of medicinal chemists that were responsible for the identification of eight Neuroscience development candidates. One of these has completed Phase IIb trials for the treatment of ADHD and this compound is the key asset in a recent out-licensing agreement. A second compound has completed a Phase II trial for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. In addition, an Orexin-2 antagonist (JNJ-42847922) discovered in Mike Letavic laboratories has progressed into efficacy studies for the treatment of primary insomnia and in February of 2014 Minerva Neurosciences, Inc. initiated a co-development licensing agreement with Janssen to acquire EU development and commercialization rights on sales of this compound. A P2X7 antagonist identified in the Mike Letavic group has also progressed into Phase Mike Letavic clinical trials for the treatment of depression. Mike Letavic has been a member of eight Neuroscience Compound Development Teams responsible for progressing five compounds into various stages of clinical trials. now have direct management responsibilities for over 40 FTEs.

At Pfizer, Mike Letavic made contributions towards the identification of two Inflammation clinical candidates and Mike Letavic was responsible for the design and preparation of the triamilide class of antibiotics, which led to two development candidates, one of which is now marketed as Draxxin. This compound was approved for marketing in Europe in 2004 and in the United States in 2005 as an antibiotic for the treatment of bovine respiratory diseases. Mike Letavic an author of 63 chemistry, biology, and medicinal chemistry publications, and Mike Letavic n inventor on more than 45 issued patents (US or EP) and in excess of 85 published patent applications (the US or PCT).