CALPACS members are cordially invited to our Fall Luncheon. This year, we will be treated to an inside look at the development of small molecule therapeutics by Vu Ma, a decades-long member of Amgen’s research arm in Thousand Oaks, CA. The event will include appetizers and a three course lunch. Attendees can also choose to stay for the annual open session of the CALPACS Executive Committee.
Speaker: Vu Ma, Senior Scientist, Amgen
Title: The Discovery of Sotorasib (AMG 510): A First-in-Class Investigational Covalent Inhibitor of KRASG12C
Date & Time: Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 11:30 – 2:30 PM
Place: Firestone Walker Barrelworks, 620 McMurray Rd, Buellton, CA 93427 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/mq4VHUfh4YmgoP8g6)
Cost: $25/$15 for students
Note: Seating is limited. Please RSVP and submit payment here at the bottom of this page (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSed5A_knuSMEphett3-eAsGE3g3-FdlDbmjNzQ335yE289Ugg/viewform?usp=sf_link)
Vu Ma has been at Amgen for over 20 years where he has worked on several discovery and pipeline projects in the medicinal chemistry department at the Thousand Oaks campus. With a wide variety of experience in different therapeutic areas including metabolic disorders, analgesics, CNS neurology, and oncology, Vu is a valued member of the medical chemistry team. Notably, Vu worked on the pioneering project of KRAS small molecule inhibitors. Up until 5 years ago, this ubiquitous oncogene was considered undruggable since its discovery in the 1980’s. The CALPACS section is pleased to have Vu take us through the journey of the discovery of Sotorasib, an FDA approved treatment of non-small cell lung carcinoma. This discovery had a big impact in the field of medicinal chemistry and this work was recognized as the Best Pharmaceutical Agent in 2022 with the Prix Galien Award. Before Amgen, Vu worked at Pharmacopiea in combinatorial chemistry and graduated from Lehigh University with a masters degree in chemistry.