Overview

Gender

male

Investor Type

Investment Partner

Brett P. Monia is the CEO of Ionis Pharmaceuticals. He previously worked as a founding member of Isis and Senior Vice President of Antisense Drug Discovery. Dr. Monia is also the Franchise Leader for Programs in Oncology and Rare Genetic Diseases at Isis Pharmaceuticals. As head of Drug Discovery, Dr. Monia is responsible for establishing strategic directions for preclinical drug discovery research focused on RNA-directed therapeutic platforms, establishment and supervision of early clinical development strategies through clinical proof-of-concept, and coordinating research activities with clinical investigators, consultants, and with corporate partners. His contributions include research into the medicinal chemistry and mechanisms of action of oligonucleotide-based drugs in cell culture and in animals, and in the establishment of numerous preclinical and clinical programs in various therapeutic areas, including oncology, metabolic disease, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and rare diseases.

Programs under Dr. Monia's direct supervision have resulted in the clinical development of more than twenty antisense-based drugs to date, covering areas as diverse as cancer, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and rare genetic diseases.

Dr. Monia's publication record exceeds 150 primary research manuscripts, reviews and book chapters, and is an inventor on more than 100 issued patents. In addition, Dr. Monia serves on the editorial boards for a number of scientific journals, is a member of the American Association of Cancer Research, the American Diabetes Association, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the American Society of Hematology, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society. Dr. Monia also holds a position as a scientific advisory board member with OncoGeneX Technologies, Inc., and is an adjunct professor of biology at San Diego State University where he lectures at the graduate level on pharmacology.

Dr. Monia received his Ph.D. in Pharmacology at the University of Pennsylvania and B.S. degrees in Molecular Biology and Analytical Chemistry at Stockton State College, in Pomona, New Jersey.