Vibha C.

Biotechnology Consultant

Saratoga, United States

Experience

Jun 2024 - Present
1 year 6 months
Saratoga, United States

Biotechnology Consultant

Freelance BiotecMaven.com

  • Molecular biology, protein engineering, antibody engineering
  • Cell line development, cell line engineering, single cell cloning
  • Protein production, antibody humanization, vector development
  • Target analysis, competitive intelligence, report writing
  • Molecular modeling and the use of AI in biotech
Feb 2022 - Jun 2024
2 years 5 months
South San Francisco, United States

Senior Director (Group Head), Protein Engineering

Sanofi

  • Protein engineering and expression: masking, conditional drug activation, sequence optimization, mammalian expression optimization of DS
  • Computational biology: molecular modeling (PyMol, AlphaFold), intrinsic immunogenicity prediction, affinity detuning, developability
  • Directed evolution: phage display, animal immunization campaigns
  • Biology: MOA, in vivo pre-clinical models, cell based assays, binding assays, competition assays, Octet/Biacore
  • CMC: CDMO interaction, TPP evaluation
  • Group head and project team lead involved in team strategy decisions on therapeutic programs
  • Target identification and analysis, MOA studies, interrogation of in-depth in vitro and in vivo biology
  • Protein design of T-cell engagers and masked fusion proteins, molecular modeling to detune target binding, enhance developability, generate intrinsic immunogenicity scores and improve expression
  • Establishing a robust mammalian expression platform for recombinant protein production
  • Leading and guiding purification teams and collaborators
  • Key role in pre-clinical study designs and PK studies
  • Leading CMC/CLD activities, engaging with CROs/CDMOs
  • Gathering and analyzing clinical and competitive intelligence data, writing project updates, patents and selecting portions of IND filings
  • Presenting Sanofi-wide project updates and furthering scientific discussion
  • Managing and mentoring direct reports and cross-functional teams
  • Acting as a thought partner on additional Sanofi therapeutic programs
Oct 2018 - Feb 2022
3 years 5 months
Mountain View, United States

Director, Protein Engineering

Amunix Pharmaceuticals

  • Protein engineering and expression: protease cleavage site optimization
  • Computational biology: molecular modeling (PyMol)
  • Directed evolution: VHH campaigns
  • Biology: protease profiling in tumors, IHC, protease assays, peptide cleavage assays
  • Leading protein engineering, mammalian expression and production, project team leadership, target evaluation and protease profiling
Dec 2009 - Oct 2018
8 years 11 months
Redwood City, United States

Antibody Engineering Scientist and Expression Pipeline Manager

Bristol Myers Squibb

  • Antibody engineering and expression: engineered ipilimumab (Yervoy) and nivolumab (Opdivo), antibody masks and linker engineering, Fc engineering, CDR and FR engineering, bispecific antibody engineering, antibody format optimization, mammalian expression optimization, antibody-drug conjugate engineering
  • Computational biology: antibody repertoire analysis (Abgenesis), developability and PK optimization, AbYsis use
  • Biology: clonal expression, CHO expression systems and biology, cell line engineering, BLI system
  • Berkeley Lights Beacon CLD workflow expert
  • Antibody engineer and pipeline manager for human and mouse lead, surrogate and reagent antibody expression
  • Custom cell line engineering to enhance recombinant expression from production cell lines
  • Next-Gen sequencing and analysis for antibody sequences from hybridomas and B cells
  • Supporting immuno-oncology pipeline by tailoring antibodies for effector functions and pharmacokinetics
  • Generation of gene edited tumor cell lines for mouse xenograft models using CRISPRs
  • Stable and transient antibody expression in CHO cells
  • Cell line editing group manager
Oct 2007 - Dec 2009
2 years 3 months
South San Francisco, United States

Scientist II, Antibody Engineering and Molecular Biology

Kalobios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

  • Humanizing mouse antibodies using homology-based modeling
  • Developing antibody libraries and directed evolution
  • Standardizing binding assays, ELISAs and Octet
  • Deploying CHO-based antibody and antigen expression
Jun 2006 - Sep 2007
1 year 4 months
Fremont, United States

Scientist, Molecular and Cell Biology

Genitope Corp.

  • Antibody mammalian expression vector design and engineering
  • Expression optimization for mAbs
  • CHO transfections and FACS analysis

Summary

With over two decades of biotechnology experience, I am a Biotechnology Consultant specializing in protein engineering, cell line development and protein production. More recently, I provide input on and work on ADCs, TCEs, Bispecifics, Cytokines and masked proteins and the use of AI in Pharma and biotechnology space.

My work has focused on advancing therapeutic innovations, as demonstrated during my tenure at Sanofi, where I led the Protein Engineering team and oversaw the technical aspects of CMC.

As a group head and project leader, I collaborated globally to guide target identification and pre-clinical model development. My leadership has contributed to successful company acquisition and drug launches such as Yervoy and Opdivo.

Languages

English
Advanced
Hindi
Advanced

Education

Jun 2002 - Jun 2006

Stanford University

Postdoctoral Degree · Oncology · Palo Alto, United States

Postdoctoral scholar working on Tumor hypoxia in solid tumors

Oct 1994 - Jun 2002

Jawaharlal Nehru University

PhD · Biotechnology · New Delhi, India

Oct 1994 - Jun 1996

Delhi University

Master of Science · Biotechnology · New Delhi, India

Certifications & licenses

Artificial Intelligence In Pharma And Biotech

MIT Sloan

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