Gerard Jensen
Gerard M. Jensen earned a B.S. in Biochemistry from UCLA and a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Southern California, with Professor Philip Stephens FRS as advisor. Dr. Jensen then completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Molecular Biology at The Scripps Research Institute. His academic research has involved chiroptical and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies, theoretical modeling of metalloproteins, site-directed mutagenesis, protein purification, protein X-ray crystallography, experimental and theoretical study of small molecule binding to natural and engineered protein cavities, and ab initio calculation of fundamental properties of small molecules.
Since 1995, Dr. Jensen has worked in the biotechnology industry. At NeXstar Pharmaceuticals and later Gilead Sciences, he has led efforts in formulation development, scale-up and manufacturing of liposomal and oligonucleotide based therapeutics, analytical method development and product and process characterization. He is presently the Executive Director of Development and Technical Services at the Gilead commercial manufacturing facility in San Dimas California and a new facility in La Verne California. The group provides primary process and analytical chemistry development and support for the Gilead parenteral manufacturing sites. Commercial products developed, approved, manufactured and commercialized from this site include AmBisome® (liposomal amphotericin B injection), a product that treats life threatening fungal infections, DaunoXome® (liposomal daunorubicin citrate for injection), a product that treats Kaposi’s sarcoma, and Macugen® (pegaptanib sodium injection) an oligonucleotide aptamer treatment for age-related macular degeneration.
Dr. Jensen has been an Adjunct Professor at the Keck Graduate Institute in Claremont, at the California State University at Fullerton, the California Polytechnic State University at Pomona, and at Azusa Pacific University. He has taught graduate courses in Pharmaceutical Development and Regulatory Affairs. Dr. Jensen is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Liposome Research and has authored or co-authored over 40 publications or patent applications.