Magid Abou-Gharbia, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Head (Retired), Chemical and Screening
Sciences, Wyeth Drug Discovery and Development, South Brunswick, NJ
In October, Magid Abou-Gharbia, Ph.D., retired after 26 years with Wyeth Drug Discovery and Development
– but not before leaving his mark in the pharmaceutical industry. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Abou-Gharbia’s
research interest has included the manipulation of synthetic approaches in the design and synthesis of
biologically active agents. His scientific contributions have resulted in over 130 publications, presentations and
invited lectures and 95 U.S.-issued patents and more than 300 patents worldwide.
Under his leadership Wyeth Medicinal Chemistry discovered and marketed three leading drugs in their fields:
first-in-class antidepressant Effexor®; anticancer agent Mylotarg™; and a broad-spectrum antibiotic, Tygacil™.
Many compounds currently under clinical evaluation include: Sonata®, a sedative hypnotic; Temsirolimus, an
anticancer agent; and Bazedoxifene, a non-steroidal hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
Dr. Abou-Gharbia’s scientific accomplishments have been recognized through numerous awards from
external scientific and professional organizations, as well as internal recognition including: The New
Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame Award, the Procter Medal, the American Chemical Society Earle B. Barnes Award and the Wyeth-Ayerst
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