Brian Austad

Brian has been leading Karyopharm’s Pharmaceutical Sciences Department since November 2013 where he has been responsible for all CMC operations and supply chain activities. He brings nearly 20 years of experience in process chemistry with a focus on developing novel medicines for unmet needs. He has expertise in natural product synthesis and natural product derivatives, CMC management, and optimizing API synthetic routes and formulations manufacturing.

Prior to Karyopharm Therapeutics, he served in senior leadership roles at Rondaxe Pharma and Infinity. Brian served in roles of increasing responsibility at Eisai Research Institute, culminating in his role as Scientist, Process Chemistry, where he was a core contributor in the development and manufacture of Halaven® (eribulin mesylate), a fully synthetic derivative of the highly complex marine natural product Halichondrin B, approved for the treatment of breast cancer and liposarcoma.

Brian received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and his Doctor of Philosophy in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studying under Professor Steven D. Burke.