Tod Smeal

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT TOD SMEAL

I\'m the Chief Scientific Officer of Cardiff Oncology, a clinical stage biotechnology comapany in San Diego, California. Previously, I\'ve worked for SUGEN, Hexagon Bio, Pfizer and Eli Lilly. Prior to my CSO positions at Cardiff Oncology and Hexagon Bio, I was the Chief Scientific Officer of Cancer Biology at Eli Lilly, leading the oncology drug discovery biology and pharmacology efforts at Lilly Research Laboratories in Indianapolis. Prior to Eli Lilly, I was a Director in the Oncology Research Unit at Pfizer labs in La Jolla. The scope of my work at Pfizer mostly ranged from idea to early clinical studies aimed at the discovery of novel oncology therapies, leading to the successful development of lorlatinib, crizotinib, nirogacestat and dacomitinib. My work at SUGEN focused on the identification and validation of novel kinase targets that play a driving role in cancer. As SUGEN evolved, my role changed from initiating new project ideas to driving them through drug discovery and into the clinic. When the SUGEN site was closed in 2003, I moved to Pfizer labs in La Jolla, where I continued my work in oncology drug discovery. I have led both cell biology and in vivo pharmacology efforts on small molecule drug discovery projects in my various group leader roles at SUGEN and Pfizer. As a project team leader of large multi-disciplinary research teams, I have successfully led small molecule drug discovery projects through all stages of drug discovery from idea to IND and first in patient studies (e.g, PAK4, NEK6, GSI, AXL and ALK programs). I was co-project leader and the oncology research unit lead for PF-06••••22 (Lorlatinib; Lorbrena) through early clinical development and I was the ORU lead on the Xalkori (Crizotinib) late development team. I also directly supervised 3-4 research teams that provide biology and pharmacology support to both small molecule and antibody based projects at Pfizer. I joined Eli Lilly in 2015 as the CSO of Cancer Biology at Lilly Research Labs where I led the cancer drug discovery efforts of >100 research associates and scientists. After I left Eli Lilly in 2020, I joined Hexagon Bio and later Cardiff Oncology as Chief Scientific officer. I have 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry in oncology drug discovery and development. I have extensive experience with regulatory filings (IND, NCO, IB, NDA). I\'ve played key roles in delivering ~25 drug candidates leading to 15-20 NCEs entering clinical trials resulting in 3-4 FDA new drug approvals.