Henry L. Wong, PhD

Bio

Dr. Wong has broad experience as a bench scientist in both academic and biotech/pharmaceutical settings with an emphasis in drug discovery and development of both small molecules and biologics. Originally trained as a cellular immunologist who focused on the interaction of regulatory T-cells with cytokines and effector cells that occurred during the cell-mediated immune response, Dr. Wong’s interests began to shift when he elected to enter one of the first post-doctoral programs offered by the pharmaceutical industry at Hoffmann-LaRoche in Nutley, NJ. While conducting basic research on the biological and biochemical characterization of a novel cytokine, Dr. Wong was also introduced to the drug discovery/development process where he was responsible for developing in vivo pharmacodynamic animal models for lead optimization of immunosuppressive drugs for transplant rejection.

Following his tenure at Roche, Dr. Wong chose to re-enter academia with an appointment at the NIH (Bethesda, MD) where he continued to investigate regulation of cellular interactions by cytokines. During this period, he had the opportunity to collaborate with clinicians and had initial experiences with clinical cancer research. Following his return to industry, Dr. Wong has focused on oncology and immunology/inflammation drug discovery and development programs either as a member or leader of multi-disciplinary project teams. This has enabled him to be involved in all aspects of drug development from target identification, screening, lead optimization, proof of concept, efficacy, PK/PD, mechanism of action, biomarker development to the planning of Phase I clinical strategies. Successful programs where Dr. Wong has played a role in pre-clinical pharmacology and biomarker development include the regulatory approval of the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (Velcade) and the BLA filing of the anti-angiogenic antibody mimetic pegdinetanib (Angiocept).

Research Interests

• Immunology and Inflammation drug discovery/development
• Oncology drug discovery/development
• PK/PD
• Animal Disease Models
• Development of cell-based assays

PubMed

1.Coulup, S. K.; Huang, D. S.; Wong, H. L.; Georg, G. I. Identification of the metabolic profile of the alpha-tubulin-binding natural product (-)-pironetin. J. Med. Chem. 2019, 62, 1684-1689.

2.Huang, D. S.; Wong, H. L.; Georg, G. I. Synthesis and evaluation of C2 functionalized analogs of the alpha-tubulin-binding natural product pironetin. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2018, 28, 2789-2793.

3.Huang, D. S.; Wong, H. L.; Georg, G. I. Synthesis and cytotoxicity evaluation of C4- and C5-modified analogues of the alpha,beta-unsaturated lactone of pironetin. ChemMedChem 2017, 12, 520-528.

4.Kirtane, A. R.; Wong, H. L.; Guru, B. R.; Lis, L. G.; Georg, G. I.; Gurvich, V. J.; Panyam, J. Reformulating tylocrebrine in epidermal growth factor receptor targeted polymeric nanoparticles improves its therapeutic index. Mol. Pharm. 2015, 12, 2912-23.

5.Dosa, P. I.; Georg, G. I.; Gurvich, V. J.; Hawkinson, J. E.; Walters, M. A.; Wong, H. L. From HTS to phase I: the Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development at the University of Minnesota. Comb. Chem. High Throughput Screen. 2014, 17, 231-240.

Patent #5643893: Benson, B.J., Chen, Xiannong, Cianciolo, G.J., Diaz, J.D., Ishaq, K.S., Morris-Natschke, S.L., Uhing, R.J. and Wong, H. N-substituted-(Dihydroxyboryl)alkyl purine, indole and pyrimidine derivatives, useful as inhibitors of inflammatory cytokines. Issued July 1, 1997.

Patent #5550132: Benson, B.J., Chen, Xiannong, Cianciolo, G.J., Diaz, J.L., Ishaq, K.S., Morris-Natschke, S.L., Uhing, R.J. and Wong, H. Hydroxyalkylammonium-pryimidines or purines and nucleoside derivatives, useful as inhibitors of inflammatory cytokines. Issued August 27, 1997.

Patent #5679684: Benson, B.J., Chen, Xiannong, Cianciolo, GJ., Diaz, J.L., Ishaq, K.S., Morris-Natschke, S.L., Uhing, R.J. and Wong, H. Hydroxyalkylammonium-pyrimidines and nucleoside derivatives, useful inhibitors of inflammatory cytokines. Issued October, 21, 1997.