A lifetime of drug hunting

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Karen Lackey, CEO at X-Chem.

Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Karen, covering:

• Why diversity of thought is essential in solving problems that have never been solved before
• Why did she leave the big pharma world after 30 years to join the world of academia? And how joining a global CRO enabled Karen to democratize its tech and platforms
• Why she’s taking her decades of drug discovery experience to help redefine it at X-Chem
• Using AI/ML more holistically to make its innovative platform more accessible and capital-efficient to biotechs dealing with challenging small molecule projects
• Her view on biotech failures and fragmented space and the need to rethink ways to launch biotechs

Karen Lackey is the Chief Executive Officer of X-Chem, a company dedicated to delivering on the promise of a leading small molecule drug discovery partner with unmatched excellence in DNA encoded library technology, digitized drug discovery, and discovery chemistry.

Karen’s over 30-year career encompasses international leadership roles within Pharma (GSK, Roche), Academia (MUSC, UA), Biotech (e.g. PyramidBio, BlinkBio, Centauri, Aurobac), Foundations/Charities (e.g. CRUK, TI Horizons) and most recently with the CRO Evotec. She is a passionate drug hunter, playing a pivotal role in discovering Tykerb, and contributing to the advancement of numerous clinical candidates and launched drugs.

Throughout her distinguished career, Karen has been at the forefront of integrated drug discovery, spanning diverse areas such as machine learning/AI/computational chemistry, medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, biochemistry, discovery biology, pharmacology, DMPK, and the application and integration of new technologies.

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This episode of Molecule to Market is sponsored by Vetter, a global leader in aseptic filling solutions for injectable products in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Discover more about Vetter’s comprehensive services, from early-stage development to commercial production, and how they support clients in delivering high-quality therapies to the market.

Molecule to Market is sponsored and funded by ramarketing, an international marketing, design, digital and content agency helping companies differentiate, get noticed and grow in life sciences.