Scientists / Our Scientists

Paul Carter

Genentech Fellow, Antibody Engineering, Drug Discovery

Postdoc Mentor

"My passion is the pursuit of breakthrough antibody therapeutics that transform the lives of patients."

Years at Genentech

Publications at Genentech

Awards & Honors

I joined Genentech as a Postdoctoral Fellow in 1986 and currently serve as a Genentech Fellow in the Antibody Engineering Department. I am honored to be only the fourth person to hold this title in our company’s 50-year history.

I began research on antibodies in 1990 when it was unknown if these complex proteins would ever benefit patients. I feel incredibly blessed in being at Genentech at the right time to help develop our antibody humanization and bispecific antibodies technologies. Reality has exceeded my wildest dreams in that our humanization technology led to 9 approved antibody therapeutics that have been administered to >10 million patients worldwide. I am humbled and delighted that our innovation with bispecific antibodies (knobs-into holes and common light chains) has led to at least 7 different approved bispecific antibodies across the industry.

I am an author/co-author of >120 scientific publications and an inventor/co-inventor of > 50 issued US patents. I have had the privilege to co-organize 23 international conferences on antibody engineering and antibody therapeutics. I have delivered >130 conference presentations and invited lectures including >18 keynote presentations.

Postdoctoral Mentor

My own biotech journey began as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Dr James Wells at Genentech. This was a dream come true for me that launched my career. I have been deeply committed to paying that mentorship forward over several decades. I have led postdoctoral programs at three premier biotech companies, including Genentech. A huge source of professional satisfaction for me is helping talented scientists grow and succeed in their own careers.

Featured Publication

Fab-Fc and Fab-Fab interactions of variable strength and valency contribute to the high concentration viscosity of IgG₁ antibodies.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2026

Joel Heisler, Jennifer L. Hofmann, Zhenyu Tan, Jonathan Zarzar, Saeed Izadi, and Paul J. Carter

View Abstract

My research interests focus on inventing new antibody technologies and applying them to develop future generations of antibody therapeutics. My prime motivator is the desire to create breakthrough antibody drugs with novel or enhanced functions that provide improved therapeutic options for patients.

In recent years, my lab has devoted much of our energy and passion to engineering antibodies with favorable high-concentration properties, such as low viscosity, to facilitate subcutaneous delivery (see featured publication). A second major focus area is immunogenicity risk assessment and mitigation for engineered antibody therapeutics.

Fab-Fc and Fab-Fab interactions of variable strength and valency contribute to the high concentration viscosity of IgG1 antibodies

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America,

Joel C. Heisler; Jennifer L. Hofmann; Zhenyu Tan; Jonathan Zarzar; Saeed Izadi; Paul J. Carter

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Paul Carter

Genentech Fellow, Antibody Engineering, Drug Discovery

Featured Publication

Fab-Fc and Fab-Fab interactions of variable strength and valency contribute to the high concentration viscosity of IgG1 antibodies.

Targeted Delivery

A Bispecific Revolution

Fab-Fc and Fab-Fab interactions of variable strength and valency contribute to the high concentration viscosity of IgG₁ antibodies.