Bruce Roth Vice President: Discovery Chemistry Profile | Education/Background | Top Scientific Papers | Awards & Honors

"I joined Genentech in May 2007 to lead the Small Molecule Discovery Chemistry Department after 25 years at the Pfizer Ann Arbor site, the last seven as Vice President of Chemistry. I was attracted to Genentech because of its rich culture of scientific excellence and dedication to innovative, ground-breaking research driven by the needs of patients. What I have seen at Genentech during my short tenure is a real commitment to discovering and developing therapies for difficult, life-threatening diseases where medical need is high and often patients are desperate for new medical advances. This commitment is a distinguishing feature that attracted me to Genentech."

Inspiration/Vision "Early in my career at Parke-Davis, I synthesized the molecule that would ultimately become the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor , currently the largest selling pharmaceutical in the world. Because of this experience, I have met a large number of patients who have benefited from the outstanding work we do in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry and have come to realize that patients are waiting, often desperately, for the hope brought by new drug therapies and that our efforts really can make a difference in the lives of patients. It is my desire, therefore, to build a world-class discovery chemistry department in order to enable Genentech to more rapidly and effectively bring to patients small molecule drugs to treat serious life-threatening diseases, such as cancer, in the hope of helping as many patients as possible."