Brian Eastman

Brian Eastman has extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with a strong background in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery. Brian has worked at several companies, starting with Agouron Pharmaceuticals Inc. in 1996, where they rapidly explored the SAR of a benzimidazole/tricyclic benzimidazole scaffold on the PARP project, leading to the approved drug Rucaparib for ovarian cancer. Brian also prepared directed libraries for the anti-picornavirus project.

After their time at Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Brian worked at Merck from 2000 to 2006, first as a research chemist and later as a senior research associate. During this time, they contributed to the development of high throughput Suzuki reactions for the mGlur 5 project and explored the SAR of an alkyne scaffold on the AKT-3 project. Brian also optimized synthetic routes and developed the initial SAR for the SSTR2 project.

Following their tenure at Merck, Brian joined SGX Pharmaceuticals in 2006 as a scientist I. Brian evaluated and advanced several scaffolds for the JAK2 kinase program, proposing a novel series of JAK2 kinase inhibitors through structure-based drug design. Brian successfully managed the medicinal chemistry efforts and contributed to strategic discussions that advanced the JAK2 program to the proof-of-concept stage.

In 2008, Brian joined Mpex Pharmaceuticals as a scientist I, where they evaluated and advanced multiple scaffolds for the Efflux Pump Inhibitor program and received recognition for their work. Brian also trained laboratory staff on LC/MS instruments.

Brian then worked at ChemDiv, Inc. as a consultant in 2011, followed by a brief stint at Pacific World Discovery LLC as a scientist in 2012.

Most recently, Brian has been working at Biosplice Therapeutics since 2012. Brian initially joined as a scientist and later became a scientist III. In their role, they have designed and synthesized focus libraries of novel small molecule inhibitors, developed versatile synthetic routes, and generated development candidates through lead optimization. Brian has made significant contributions to the development of CLK inhibitor SM08502 and the back-up CLK inhibitor SM09419, both of which have potential therapeutic applications. Brian has also supervised and trained an intern and actively participated in general lab duties.

Brian Eastman obtained a Master's degree in Chemistry/Biochemistry from the University of Victoria, where they attended from 1993 to 1995.