Scientists / Our Scientists

Donglu Zhang

Senior Fellow, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Drug Discovery

Postdoc Mentor

"There is no greater joy than watching your mentees succeed"

Years at Genentech

Awards & Honors

It is a privilege to work at Genentech with highly motivated and talented scientists who transform science, medicine, and society through innovation and deep commitment to patients.

Featured Publication

Property-based prediction uncovers intestinal excretion as an elimination route of small-molecule drugs

J Med Chem 68:17574-17586 (2025)

Chen C, Zhao W, Cao L, He M, Khojasteh SC, Hop CECA, Dragovich PS, Wright MR, and Zhang D

View Abstract

Industry Perspective on the Pharmacokinetic and ADME Characterization of Heterobifunctional Protein Degraders.

Drug Metab Dispos.

Zhang et al., (2023)

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Design and Measurement of Drug Tissue Concentration Asymmetry and Tissue Exposure-Effect (Tissue PK-PD) Evaluation.

J Med Chem.

Zhang et al., (2022)

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Intestinal excretion, enteroenteric recirculation and renal tubule recirculation are a under-appreciated pharmacokinetic driver for small molecule drugs.

J Med Chem.

Zhang et al., (2021)

View Abstract

Intestinal Excretion, Intestinal Recirculation, and Renal Tubule Reabsorption Are Underappreciated Mechanisms That Drive the Distribution and Pharmacokinetic Behavior of Small Molecule Drugs.

J Med Chem.

Zhang et al., (2021)

View Abstract

Linker Design Impacts Antibody-Drug Conjugate Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy via Modulating the Stability and Payload Release Efficiency.

Front Pharmacol.

Zhang, d.; Su, d. (2021)

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Exposure-effect analysis of antibody-drug conjugates delivering an excess level of payload to tumors.

Drug Metab Dispos, 47:1146.

Zhang et al., (2019)

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Tissue concentration asymmetry for novel therapeutic modalities.

Drug Metab Dispos, 47:1122.

Zhang et al., (2019)

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Prior to joining Genentech, I enjoyed many years at Bristol-Myers Squibb at Princeton, New Jersey. I led the preclinical drug development teams to deliver several drugs to the market. One big winner, apixaban (Eliquis), is used by millions of patients each year and was the best seller for several years. Our team also invented the mass defect filtering technology (MDF) that became the industrial standard for metabolite identification.

My research area is in general drug metabolism including intestinal excretion, drug concentration asymmetry, missing metabolites, high resolution mass spectrometry technologies, and Cmax-driven pharmacology.

I am interested in applying drug metabolism studies in drug design and development of small molecules, antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) drugs, and other modalities such as degraders and peptides. My main responsibility is to design and deliver data and result sections to support IND, NDA/BLA filings.

Postdoctoral Mentor

Mentorship is an honor and responsibility. I take mentoring seriously and strive to provide each individual with the requisite time, foundation of knowledge, and technical skills to develop into independent investigators. There is no greater joy than watching your mentees succeed. My trainee won the 2026 STAT Wunderkinds Award.

Shandong University, B.S. –
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry –

ISSX Accomplished achievements in drug discovery and development award – 2025
Sir James Black award – 2018
Ondetti and Cushman award – 2007

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Donglu Zhang

Senior Fellow, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Drug Discovery

Featured Publication

Property-based prediction uncovers intestinal excretion as an elimination route of small-molecule drugs

Industry Perspective on the Pharmacokinetic and ADME Characterization of Heterobifunctional Protein Degraders.

Design and Measurement of Drug Tissue Concentration Asymmetry and Tissue Exposure-Effect (Tissue PK-PD) Evaluation.

Intestinal excretion, enteroenteric recirculation and renal tubule recirculation are a under-appreciated pharmacokinetic driver for small molecule drugs.

Intestinal Excretion, Intestinal Recirculation, and Renal Tubule Reabsorption Are Underappreciated Mechanisms That Drive the Distribution and Pharmacokinetic Behavior of Small Molecule Drugs.

Linker Design Impacts Antibody-Drug Conjugate Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy via Modulating the Stability and Payload Release Efficiency.

Exposure-effect analysis of antibody-drug conjugates delivering an excess level of payload to tumors.

Tissue concentration asymmetry for novel therapeutic modalities.