John A. McCauley

About John A. McCauley

John A. McCauley joined Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, Pa, in 1998 and is currently a Senior Director in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry. Over the past 28 years, John and his group have been involved in the design and synthesis of eighteen compounds entering clinical development, including the combination therapy for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection: ZEPATIER (elbasvir/grazoprevir), and HCV NS3/4a protease inhibitor VANIHEP (vaniprevir), as well as NR2B antagonist MK-0657 (rislenemdaz, CERC-301, Phase II) for the treatment of depression and Parkinson’s disease, and dual Plasmepsin IX/X inhibitor, MK-7602 for the treatment of malaria. John has been a project leader in both the lead identification and lead optimization space in a variety of therapeutic areas and drug target classes, and he currently has responsibility for Infectious Disease and Neglected Tropical Disease programs. John has co-authored 57 publications, is a co-inventor on 78 issued patents and patent applications, and has given 72 invited lectures.John was awarded the Gordon E. Moore Medal from the Society of Chemical Industry, for Early Career Success in Innovation in 2015 and was recognized with an American Chemical Society Heroes of Chemistry Award in 2017 as part of the ZEPATIER team.John graduated from Swarthmore College in 1991 with honors in chemistry. He received a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania in 1996, where he completed the total synthesis of rapamycin in the research group of Professor Amos B. Smith, Following graduate studies, John worked with Professor Yoshito Kishi at Harvard University as an NIH postdoctoral fellow and completed the total synthesis of pinnatoxin A.

Experience

1. Senior Director, Medicinal Chemistry

   Merck

   Oct 2021 — Present · West Point, PA, US

   Infectious Disease and NTD chemistry leader. Responsible for multiple programs, including partnered programs with academic, non-profit and biotech institutions.Discovery Chemistry representative on cross-functional NTD and HIV Early Development Teams responsible for candidate development from preclinical to Phase II.

Education

• University of Pennsylvania

  Ph.D., Organic Chemistry

  1991 — 1996

• Swarthmore College

  B.A., Chemistry

  1987 — 1991

Skills

• CRO
• Lc-Ms
• Synthetic Organic Chemistry
• Neuroscience
• Medicinal Chemistry
• Heterocyclic Chemistry
• Clinical Trials
• Organic Chemistry
• Drug Development
• Drug Design
• Drug Discovery
• Organic Synthesis
• Chemistry
• Infectious Diseases
• Leadership
• Therapeutic Areas
• Lead Change