Genentech: Steven Magnuson | Sr Director SMDD Portfolio Strategy, Small Molecule Drug Discovery

Scientists / Our Scientists

"The challenges of drug discovery, the opportunity to work with amazing colleagues, and the rewards of helping patients – what a great job!"

Years at Genentech

Publications at Genentech

I got my PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Alberta and after a postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University, I started my industrial career at Bayer. In 2007, I got the opportunity to work in the Discovery Chemistry Department at Genentech and help build a lead identification group as the small molecule effort expanded here. I was attracted to the company’s focus on science and helping patients. I’ve been able to work on projects throughout the drug discovery process from inception to clinical testing in different therapeutic areas. Every project is unique and the daily challenges of finding that ideal molecule means no two days are ever the same. Most recently I’ve shifted attention to portfolio strategy contemplating new areas of investigation as we reach into new target classes.

Featured Publication

A TRPA1 inhibitor suppresses neurogenic inflammation and airway contraction for asthma treatment

Journal of Experimental Medicine, ISSN: 15409538 00221007, DOI 10.1084/JEM.20201637

Alessia Balestrini; Victory Joseph; Michelle Dourado; Rebecca M. Reese; Shannon D. Shields; Lionel Rouge; Daniel D. Bravo; Tania Chernov-Rogan; Cary D. Austin; Huifen Chen; Lan Wang; Elisia Villemure; Daniel G. Shore; Vishal A. Verma; Baihua Hu; Yong Chen; Laurie Leong; Chris Bjornson; Kathy Hötzel; Alvin Gogineni; Wyne P. Lee; Eric Suto; Xiumin Wu; John Liu; Juan Zhang; Vineela D. Gandham; Jianyong Wang; Jian Payandeh; Claudio Ciferri; Alberto Estevez; Christopher P. Arthur; Jens Kortmann; Ryan L. Wong; Jose Heredia; Jonas Martin Doerr; Min Jung; Jason A. Vander Heiden; Merone Roose-Girma; Lucinda Tam; Kai H. Barck; Richard A. D. Carano; Han Ting Ding; Bobby Brillantes; Christine Tam; Xiaoying Yang; Simon S. Gao; Justin Ly; Liling Liu; Liuxi Chen; Bianca M. Liederer; Joseph Lin; Steven Magnuson; Jun Chen; David Hackos; Justin Elstrott; Alexis Rohou; Brian S. Safina; Matthew Volgraf; Rebecca N. Bauer; Lorena Riol-Blanco

View Abstract

Early in my time at Genentech, my focus was on lead identification finding promising chemical series for new biological targets. It’s a fast pace area with lots of different chemistry, assays, and biology where we worked on a number of different collaborations focused on new technologies and novel research areas. I’ve also had the opportunity to lead project teams in the lead optimization space for both immunology and oncology targets as well as leading a project in Early Development on its path through advanced safety testing towards Phase 1 testing in people. I’ve learned a great deal in each of these different areas working alongside great scientists.

A Retrospective Look at the Impact of Binding Site Environment on the Optimization of TRPA1 Antagonists

ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, ISSN: 19485875

Elisia Villemure; Jack A. Terrett; Larouche-Gauthier; Martin Déry; Huifen Chen; Rebecca M. Reese; Shannon D. Shields; Jun Chen; Steven Magnuson; Matthew Volgraf

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Steven Magnuson

Sr Director SMDD Portfolio Strategy, Small Molecule Drug Discovery

Featured Publication

A TRPA1 inhibitor suppresses neurogenic inflammation and airway contraction for asthma treatment