Tod Smeal
About Tod Smeal
Tod Smeal is a distinguished scientist specializing in oncology research, with a focus on targeted therapies and their resistance mechanisms, and has held key positions at major pharmaceutical companies.
Chief Scientific Officer at Hexagon Bio
Tod Smeal served as the Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) at Hexagon Bio from 2020 to 2021. During his tenure, he oversaw cutting-edge research and development initiatives aimed at discovering new biological compounds and drugs. His leadership was instrumental in steering the company’s scientific direction and advancing its mission to harness the power of microbial genomics for drug discovery.
CSO of Cancer Biology at Eli Lilly
From 2015 to 2020, Tod Smeal held the position of Chief Scientific Officer of Cancer Biology at Eli Lilly and Company. He played a significant role in leading oncology research efforts at Lilly Research Labs in Indianapolis. His work involved the development and progression of novel cancer therapies, including targeted treatments aimed at intracellular signaling and drug resistance mechanisms.
Oncology Research Director at Pfizer
Tod Smeal worked as the Director at the Oncology Research Unit of Pfizer from 2003 to 2015. He continued his oncology research on targeted therapies and resistance mechanisms after Pfizer closed the SUGEN site in 2003. His leadership contributed to the development of innovative cancer treatments and the delivery of numerous first human dose/new molecular entities (FHD/NMEs) and FDA-approved drugs.
Educational Background and Research Fellowships
Tod Smeal holds a B.S. in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and earned a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of California, San Diego. He was a post-doctoral fellow of the American Cancer Society and a senior post-doctoral fellow of the MIT-Merck fellowship program from 1994 to 1998. These experiences provided a strong foundation for his research in cancer therapies and drug pharmacology.
Publications and Contributions to Cancer Research
Tod Smeal has authored over 45 publications, including high-impact articles in prestigious journals such as Cell, Nature, New England Journal of Medicine, Cancer Cell, and Cancer Discovery. His research has significantly contributed to understanding intracellular signaling, kinases, and targeted therapies for cancer. His work has led to the development of several FDA-approved drugs, including Lorbrena, Xalkori, Vizimpro, and Nirogacestat.