Eugene Chekler

Eugene (Gene) Chekler, is an accomplished medicinal chemist with over two decades of experience in drug discovery and development across multiple therapeutic areas. Gene has successfully advanced candidates into clinical development (up to Phase II) and built high-performing chemistry teams at leading pharmaceutical companies.

His expertise spans AI/ML-driven drug discovery, chemical biology, structure- and fragment-based drug design, multiple therapeutic modalities, and academic collaborations. Most recently, Gene served as head of chemistry at Bristol Myers Squibb’s Bay Area site, where he oversaw programs in molecular glue degraders, bifunctional degraders, and ADCs, with a focus on cancer immunology and cardiovascular diseases. He led successful development nominations and expanded the site’s chemistry portfolio, driving both small molecule and ADC discovery efforts.

Prior to BMS, Gene was head of medicinal Chemistry at Cygnal Therapeutics, a Flagship Pioneering company, where he led oncology and immunology programs through vivo proof-of-concept. At Merck KgAa/EMD, he managed oncology and immuno-oncology teams and projects and initiated the company’s first bifunctional degrader effort. Earlier in his career at Pfizer/Wyeth, Gene held positions of increasing responsibility, leading programs in nuclear receptor modulators, neuromuscular disorders, cardiovascular therapies, and epigenetics, contributing to the discovery of clinical candidates.