Lars Engstrom Email & Phone Number

San Diego, Ca, Us

San Diego, California, United States

Biology lead for the MTA-cooperative PRMT5 pharmacology team, overseeing studies to advance the program from target validation to IND submission. MRTX1719 (BMS-986504) is a potential best-in-class precision medicine for MTAP-deleted cancers, leveraging the concept of synthetic lethality.Expanded Mirati's research capabilities by leading translational biology workstreams that generated clinical hypotheses, developed combination strategies, and supported the clinical development strategy for the KRAS G12C inhibitor Krazati (adagrasib / MRTX849).Established functional genetic and small molecule platforms to support new target validation, elucidate mechanisms of resistance, and enhance biological understanding across all programs. This included drug-anchored in vitro and in vivo CRISPR screens, mutagenesis screens, and a customized open-source drug synergy-driven in vitro combination screening pipeline.Biology lead for the Lysine-specific histone demethylase 1 (LSD1) program, resulting in the clinical candidate MRTX1264. Designed the experimental approach and managed translational biology efforts to support the clinical development of glesatinib (MGCD265) for MET exon 14 NSCLC patients.Managed CRO projects to leverage external resources in executing studies including but not limited to in vitro and in vivo PDX/CDX efficacy screens, engineered cell line model generation, molecular biology services, and custom assay development.Responsible for managing and curating comprehensive non-clinical data packages, authoring internal study reports to support the non-clinical sections of IND/NDA documents, collaborating with academic key opinion leaders (KOLs), and contributing to impactful peer-reviewed publications.

In vitro assay development and data generation for PF-02341066 (crizotinib / Xalkori) NDA and sNDA study reports demonstrating potency in pALK and pROS1 ELISA assays, as well as viability and apoptosis assays.Engineered cell lines with secondary resistance mutations to first- and second-generation ALK inhibitors and developed cell-based assays, leading to the identification of the third-generation CNS-penetrant ALK/ROS1 inhibitor PF-06463922 (lorlatinib / Lorbrena).Optimized qRT-PCR TaqMan assays to investigate Hedgehog pathway modulation and establish PK/PD relationships for PF-04449913 (glasdegib / Daurismo) IND. Developed, validated, and transferred a cell-based reporter assay using mouse embryonic fibroblasts from Gli-Luciferase transgenic mice to a CRO for backup program screening.

Developed imaging methods to quantify hepatic endothelial cell proliferation in rats. Results were included in a follow-up data package to address FDA toxicology inquiries, facilitating the approval of CI-1008 (pregabalin/Lyrica). Provided expertise in epifluorescence and confocal imaging to create automated capture and analysis assays for toxicology studies.

Characterized DNA binding and protein interactions of an alternatively spliced Mxi isoform involved in the Myc/Max/Mad network. Managed laboratory operations, researched new instruments for purchase, assisted in manuscript and grant writing, and supervised and trained technicians, research fellows, post-doctoral researchers, undergraduate students, and medical students.

Bachelor Of Science (Bs)

Biology, Economics

Activities and Societies: Varsity Soccer