Michelle G.
About Michelle G.
Michael Varney, Ph.D., is a distinguished chemist and biotech leader, known for his significant contributions to drug discovery, including the development of novel anti-cancer agents like Xalkori and Inlyta, and his transformative leadership at Genentech.
Education and Expertise of Michael Varney, Ph.D.
Michael Varney holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles. He furthered his specialization by earning a Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry from the California Institute of Technology. Post-Ph.D., Varney was an American Cancer Society postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University. His educational background and training lay a solid foundation for his expertise in synthetic organic chemistry and drug discovery.
Professional Background of Michael Varney, Ph.D.
Michael Varney began his career as one of the original fifteen employees at Agouron, a San Diego-based biotech company. At Agouron, he developed a novel approach to drug discovery based on protein-structure design. His contributions at Agouron included the discovery of multiple marketed anti-cancer agents such as Xalkori and Inlyta. In 2005, Varney was recruited to Genentech to enhance their drug discovery capabilities with small molecules.
Leadership Roles of Michael Varney, Ph.D.
Michael Varney took on significant leadership roles throughout his career. At Genentech, he was appointed Executive Vice President and Head of Research and Early Development (gRED) in 2015. Under his leadership, he built a team-based organization that contributed to more than 40% of Genentech's development portfolio. His focus was on developing a team-based culture aiming to streamline drug development pathways to patients.
Significant Achievements of Michael Varney, Ph.D.
Michael Varney's leadership at Genentech led to the discovery and development of several successful medicines. Notable projects include Venclexta, the first BCL-2 inhibitor developed in collaboration with AbbVie, and Polivy, an antibody drug conjugate for the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). His work has had a substantial impact on the field of oncology drug development.