Ann E. Weber

Ann E. Weber is the Senior Vice President for Drug Discovery at Kallyope Inc. in New York City. She previously worked with Merck Research Laboratories (MRL), joining the company in 1987 and retiring from the position of Vice President for Lead Optimization Chemistry in 2015. She has helped develop more than 40 drug candidates including FDA-approved treatments for Type 2 diabetes. She has received a number of awards, including the Perkin Medal (2017) and has been inducted into the ACS Division of Medicinal Chemistry’s MEDI Hall of Fame.

Not to be confused with Anna Weber or Anne Weber.
Ann E. Weber
Weber, Perkin Medal speech, 2017
NationalityUnited States
Alma materUniversity of Notre Dame, Harvard University
AwardsPerkin Medal (2017), MEDI Hall of Fame (2016)
Scientific career
FieldsMedicinal chemistry, drug discovery
InstitutionsKallyope Inc., Merck Research Laboratories

Education

Weber grew up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the child of a nurse and a doctor.[1][2][3] There she attended Lourdes High School (Oshkosh, Wisconsin), a Catholic school with a strong science program.[4]

Weber earned a B.S. degree in chemistry summa cum laude from the University of Notre Dame (1982)[5] and a Ph.D. degree from Harvard University, where she studied synthetic organic chemistry with David A. Evans.[6] She was the first woman to receive a Ph.D. from his group, in 1987.[7]

Research

Weber joined Merck Research Laboratories (MRL) in Rahway, New Jersey in 1987, retiring in 2015 from the position of Vice President for Lead Optimization Chemistry. In 2016 she joined Kallyope Inc. in New York City as Senior Vice President for Drug Discovery.[8] Her research areas include the development of ligands for G protein–coupled receptors, Ligand-gated ion channels and enzymes.[9]

During her career in drug discovery and development, she has published more than 80 publications. She is a co-inventor of more than 35 issued US patents. Her work has led to the development of more than 40 drug candidates including FDA-approved treatments for Type 2 diabetes.[9] Other drug candidates target obesity,[7] atherosclerosis, pain, and urinary incontinence.[10]

Beginning in 1999, Weber led the chemical team for the development of Januvia™ (generic: sitagliptin), a drug that inhibits the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) enzyme and improves glucose tolerance to treat Type 2 diabetes. Nancy Thornberry led the corresponding biological team for the project.[11][12][13] The drug was approved by the FDA in October 2006. Janumet™, a drug combining sitagliptin and metformin was also approved, in April 2007. In 2007, the research team at Merck received the Prix Galien USA award for their work on Januvia™.[14]

Awards
  • 2017, Perkin Medal, Society of Chemical Industry (American Section)[15][16]
  • 2016, MEDI Hall of Fame, ACS Division of Medicinal Chemistry[17]
  • 2013, Women in STEM honoree, Liberty Science Center (LSC)[18]
  • 2012-2013, Sylvia M. Stoesser Lecturer in Chemistry, University of Illinois[19]
  • 2011, Discoverer’s Award, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), with Nancy Thornberry[11]
  • 2011, Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award, Research and Development Council of New Jersey[20]
  • 2010, Heroes of Chemistry Award (ACS) with Nancy Thornberry and Joseph Armstrong[21][22]
  • 2010, Robert M. Scarborough Award for Excellence in Medicinal Chemistry, American Chemistry Society (ACS)[10]
  • 2008, Outstanding Women of Science honoree, New Jersey Association for Biomedical Research (NJABR)[1]
  • 2007, Prix Galien USA award to the Merck research team for Januvia™[23]
  • Merck & Co. Director’s Award, the highest honor that Merck confers on its employees[4]

References
  1. "Recognizing Outstanding Women of Science" (PDF). Weiner and Associates. May 1, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 12, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  2. Schmidt, Christine Brennan. "WCC Merck Research Award - WCC Luncheon Address – Diversity and Me, My Life as a Woman in Chemistry". WCC Newsletter. American Chemical Society. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  3. "Frances Weber (Obituary)". Oshkosh Northwestern. June 10, 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  4. Lucero, Sam (February 22, 2008). "Chemist mixes up generous donation to school Lourdes High School grad gives $25,000 education grant to alma mater". The Compass. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  5. "Alumni Profile: Ann E. Weber '82". University of Notre Dame. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  6. "News from SCI America: Perkin Medal to be awarded to Dr. Ann E. Weber". SCI America. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  7. "WOMEN IN CHEMISTRY CHOOSING TO SUCCEED Medicinal chemist Ann Weber's path has led her to a fulfilling career in industry". Chemical & Engineering News. 80 (21): 28. May 27, 2002. doi:10.1021/cen-v080n021.p028. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  8. "Kallyope Inc. Appoints Ann E. Weber And William J. Rieflin To Key Roles". Cision. Oct 27, 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  9. "Ann E. Weber, PhD". ACS Division of Medicinal Chemistry. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  10. Gebhard, Marissa (June 9, 2010). "Ann Weber '82 wins Scarborough Memorial Award". University of Notre Dame News. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  11. "Women Scientists Honored For New Diabetes Oral Medication". PhRMA. April 14, 2011. Archived from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  12. Cordes, Eugene H. (2014). Hallelujah moments : tales of drug discovery. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. pp. 207–. ISBN 9780199337149. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  13. Wolfe, Josh (June 28, 2016). "Harnessing The Gut-Brain Axis". Forbes. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  14. Stowe, Gene (April 10, 2008). "Distinguished alumna lecture is like a "mini course in medicinal chemistry"". University of Notre Dame News. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  15. "SCI Perkin Medal". Science History Institute. 2016-05-31. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  16. "Perkin Medal". SCI America. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  17. Freehling, Tammi (October 18, 2016). "Chemistry alumna, Ann Weber '82, inducted into MEDI Hall of Fame". University of Notre Dame News. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  18. "Women in STEM honored at LSC annual luncheon". LSC News. Liberty Science Center. December 11, 2013.
  19. "Sylvia M. Stoesser Lecturer 2012-13 -Ann E. Weber". University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  20. "Industry Researchers Honored with Coveted Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award". HealthCare Institute of New Jersey. November 16, 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  21. "New Heroes of Chemistry invented medicines that help millions of people". American Chemical Society. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  22. "Heroes of Chemistry Award". American Chemical Society. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  23. "Discovery of the Decade" (PDF). The Prix Galien USA Awards. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
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