Scientists / Our Scientists

Paul Carter

Genentech Fellow, Antibody Engineering, Drug Discovery

Postdoc Mentor

"My passion is the pursuit of breakthrough antibody-based 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 left as a Senior Scientist and Head of the Postdoctoral Program in 2000. I had the good fortune to rejoin Genentech in 2010 as a Senior Director and Staff Scientist to lead the Antibody Engineering Department where I am now a Genentech Fellow.

I began research on antibodies many years ago when it was unclear if these complex proteins would ever provide meaningful benefit to patients. I co-initiated antibody humanization at Genentech with a novel and patentable method. This technology has utilized over many years for the discovery of nine approved antibody products that have been used to treat millions of patients worldwide. We developed ‘knobs-into-holes’ technology that was incorporated into a one-armed antibody and many different bispecific antibodies that have reached clinical trials including three approved bispecific antibody therapeutics. We also developed a common light chain technology has used by several different companies for developing bispecific antibodies including one approved bispecific antibody therapeutic. We invented technologies for high-level expression of antibody Fab fragments in E. coli used for one approved antibody therapeutic.

I have authored or co-authored 120+ scientific publications that together have been cited 27,000+ times (h-index = 66). I am an inventor or co-inventor on 51+ issued US patents and 39+ published patent applications. I have co-organized 22 international conferences on antibody engineering and antibody therapeutics. I have delivered 130+ conference presentations and invited lectures including 16+ keynote presentations.

Postdoctoral Mentor

I joined Genentech as a Postdoctoral Fellow in 1986 in the laboratory of Dr Jim Wells. This was a dream come true for me that launched my career. In the 1990s I became a mentor and tried to pass on what I had learned to my own postdocs. I have been privileged to lead Genentech’s postdoctoral program (1998-2000) and postdoctoral programs at 2 other premiere biotechnology companies. One of my greatest sources of professional satisfaction is in mentoring a few of the next generation of antibody engineers, including helping them to launch their own careers.

Featured Publication

Designing antibodies as therapeutics

Cell, ISSN: 10974172 00928674

Paul J. Carter; Arvin Rajpal

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 new options for patients.

In recent years I have spent much time thinking about the future of antibody therapeutics and how to make currently intractable targets druggable – see featured publication.

Immunogenicity risk assessment and mitigation for engineered antibody and protein therapeutics

Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, ISSN: 14741776

Paul J. Carter; Quarmby

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Paul Carter

Genentech Fellow, Antibody Engineering, Drug Discovery

Featured Publication

Designing antibodies as therapeutics

Targeted Delivery

A Bispecific Revolution