Jean-Michel Gries

Jean-Michel is an accomplished drug development executive. Starting as a director of clinical pharmacology at Aventis (and predecessor companies), and he then became the Head of Clinical Pharmacology for Hoffmann-La Roche. He joined Alcon as the Head of R&D for the Pharmaceutical Products Division, in which capacity he led the transformation of the organization to support more innovative mechanism of actions for the treatment of ocular diseases, leading all activities from research to registration. His successes in the drug development space cover both early stage (with over 275 INDs) and late stage (15+ NDAs, 7 ANDAs) and are a testament both of his strong scientific education, and his focus on driving projects forward. Most recently Jean-Michel Gries led the Early Phase organization aka the translational medicine arm of PAREXEL.

As a business executive, Dr, Gries helped create 9 companies (2 of which are now public) via 26 assets acquisition and led them early on, in a Venture Capital company specialized in the creation and incubation of Biotechnology startups. He has extensive licensing experience from both Roche (member of the licensing committee) and Aventis (Oncology and CNS licensing committee) and Alcon (Board level). Dr. Gries also served on private companies and Not For Profits Boards of Directors.

Dr. Gries has had exposure over a broad set of disease area, Oncology, Inflammation & Pain, CNS, Metabolism, Cardio-Renal, Anti-Infectives (including HIV and HCV), Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Genito-Urinary, GastroEnterology. Dr. Gries joined Covance in 2012 as the General Manager for Early Clinical Development, an organization dedicated to help companies achieve their major clinical and investment decision through efficient Proof of Concept or in patient studies. He built and grew this organization to a very successful business, winning 3 Business Unit of the Year Award. In 2016, Dr Gries joined PAREXEL International to lead the transformation of its Early Phase Organization which grew 26%.

Dr. Jean-Michel Gries has a PharmD, and a PhD in pharmacokinetics from Rene Descartes University in Paris, a Master in Statistics and a doctoral degree in Analytical Chemistry. He is a Clinical Pharmacology fellow with numerous assignments both in adult and pediatric medicine and a post-doctoral fellowship from UC San Francisco. He also completed a MBA with a Major in Finance and concentration in entrepreneurial Leadership from the Wharton School.

Dr. Gries is the author of more than 30 papers and communications. He has been a fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacology since 2001, served on its Finance Committee and on its Board of Regents, and is a reviewer for JCP. He is also a long time member of ASCPT and a Member of its Board of Director. Jean-Michel is also a member of ASCO.