James S. MacDonald, Ph.D.
Jim MacDonald received his undergraduate degree from DePauw University in 1970 and his Ph.D. in Toxicology from the University of Cincinnati in 1975. After completing a post-doctoral fellowship at Vanderbilt University, he joined Merck Research Laboratories as a Senior Research Toxicologist in 1977. In increasing positions of responsibility at Merck, Jim had direct and supervisory responsibility for bringing dozens of new molecular entities from discovery through the development process. Many of the compounds that came forward under his leadership are now important human medicines with global registration. These include Primaxin®, Vasotec®, Mevacor®, and Zocor®, among others. Jim left Merck as Executive Director of Toxicology.
In 1994, Jim joined Schering Plough Research Institute as Senior Vice President of Drug Safety and Metabolism. In addition to his direct responsibility for the Drug Safety and Metabolism group, Jim was responsible for directing the activities surrounding the movement of new potential therapeutic entities from discovery research into and through the development process. This position was responsible for assuring a steady flow of new compounds for the development pipeline by establishing effective working relationships with the appropriate groups in Discovery, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Global Clinical Research. This function was coordinated through the Early Development Committee, a corporate governance body which he co-chaired. Of the many compounds that were brought forward under his leadership, several important new medicines were successfully registered for global marketing including Asmanex®, Nasonex®, PEG-Intron®, Noxafil®, and Victrelis®. He retired from Schering Plough as Executive Vice President of Preclinical Development.
In 2009, Jim formed Chrysalis Pharma Consulting, LLC to continue to facilitate the development of new molecular entities for unmet medical needs, and expanded these efforts by co-founding the Synergy Partners network in 2014. In this role, he focuses on optimizing the path from late stage lead optimization in discovery to a robust proof-of-concept in early clinical trials in patients to enable rapid, data-based decision making based on sound science enhancing probability of success in later stages of development. He continues his interest in understanding mechanisms of toxicity and in improving the process of assessment of human risk of cancer.
In 1994, Jim joined Schering Plough Research Institute as Senior Vice President of Drug Safety and Metabolism. In addition to his direct responsibility for the Drug Safety and Metabolism group, Jim was responsible for directing the activities surrounding the movement of new potential therapeutic entities from discovery research into and through the development process. This position was responsible for assuring a steady flow of new compounds for the development pipeline by establishing effective working relationships with the appropriate groups in Discovery, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Global Clinical Research. This function was coordinated through the Early Development Committee, a corporate governance body which he co-chaired. Of the many compounds that were brought forward under his leadership, several important new medicines were successfully registered for global marketing including Asmanex®, Nasonex®, PEG-Intron®, Noxafil®, and Victrelis®. He retired from Schering Plough as Executive Vice President of Preclinical Development.
In 2009, Jim formed Chrysalis Pharma Consulting, LLC to continue to facilitate the development of new molecular entities for unmet medical needs, and expanded these efforts by co-founding the Synergy Partners network in 2014. In this role, he focuses on optimizing the path from late stage lead optimization in discovery to a robust proof-of-concept in early clinical trials in patients to enable rapid, data-based decision making based on sound science enhancing probability of success in later stages of development. He continues his interest in understanding mechanisms of toxicity and in improving the process of assessment of human risk of cancer.