Senior Scientist

Dr. Jayaprakash Neerasa: Expertise in Total Synthesis of small molecules, Degraders, ADC-linker-payloads, AI-driven drug design, Medicinal Chemistry, Drug Discovery and API Process development & DMF filings. Dr. Jayaprakash Neerasa is a distinguished pharmaceutical researcher and team leader with over a decade of experience in API synthesis process research and development, medicinal chemistry, and AI-driven drug design. Currently serving as the Team Leader in the Synthetic R&D division at DongBang Future Tech & Life Co. Ltd. in Seoul, South Korea, Dr. Neerasa has established himself as a key figure in the field of drug discovery and development. Education and Early Career Dr. Neerasa's journey in chemistry began with his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Andhra University, India, where he specialized in Organic Chemistry. His academic excellence was evident early on, as he secured the 3rd rank in the MSc entrance examination. Pursuing his passion for research, Dr. Neerasa completed his Ph.D. in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from the prestigious Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) in Hyderabad. His doctoral research focused on catalytic asymmetric synthesis, showcasing his expertise in complex molecule synthesis. Postdoctoral Research and Industry Experience Following his Ph.D., Dr. Neerasa gained valuable postdoctoral experience at two renowned institutions in the United States. At the University of Illinois at Chicago, he worked on designing and synthesizing biologically active complex molecules. Later, at the University of California, San Francisco, he focused on the design and synthesis of nuclear receptor ligands. Dr. Neerasa's industry experience includes a significant stint as a Research Scientist at Divis Laboratories Ltd in Hyderabad, where he honed his skills in process R&D and developing cost-effective API processes. Current Role and Achievements In his current role at DongBang Future Tech & Life Co. Ltd., Dr. Neerasa leads a team in AI-driven drug design, medicinal chemistry, and drug discovery. His achievements include: Successfully completing five CDMO synthesis process developments for clinical-stage drugs Discovering a lead candidate as a dual inhibitor of DNA Gyrase for non-infectious disease treatment Developing a new process for Edoxaban API via a patent non-infringement route, leading to KDMF and JDMF filings Gaining extensive experience in scale and process development for multiple new APIs Patents and Publications Dr. Neerasa's innovative work has resulted in five patents, covering novel synthetic routes for pharmaceutical compounds and new drug candidates. He has also authored several publications in reputable journals such as ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, ChemMedChem, and the Journal of Organic Chemistry. Technical Expertise Dr. Neerasa's technical skills span a wide range of areas crucial to modern pharmaceutical research, including: Knowledge Areas: AI-driven drug design Process R&D Medicinal chemistry Patent analysis GMP practice and ICH guidelines Impurity profiling Computer-aided drug design (CADD) Polymorph development Analytical techniques (HPLC, LC-MS, XRD, NMR, IR) Awards and Recognitions Throughout his career, Dr. Neerasa has received several awards and fellowships, including the Senior Research Fellowship and Junior Research Fellowship from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India. Dr. Jayaprakash Neerasa's career exemplifies a commitment to advancing pharmaceutical research and development. His unique blend of academic knowledge, industry experience, and innovative thinking continues to drive progress in drug discovery and process optimization.