Kiren Khanduja
Senior Director, CMC
Kiren Khanduja is an accomplished pharmaceutical executive with over 15 years of experience in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries. As a Senior Director of Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) at Pheast Therapeutics and a Director of CMC at Pionyr Immunotherapeutics, Kiren brings a wealth of expertise in the development and optimization of complex biologics and small molecule drug products.
Professional Overview
Kiren is a skilled leader in the CMC domain, with a proven track record of driving innovative solutions to improve manufacturing processes, quality control, and regulatory compliance. He has a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical product lifecycle, from early-stage process development to commercial-scale production, and a keen focus on enhancing operational efficiency and mitigating risk.
Experience Summary
Current Roles
In his current roles, Kiren serves as the Senior Director of CMC at Pheast Therapeutics, where he leads a team responsible for the development and manufacturing of the company's pipeline of biologics and small molecules. He also holds a concurrent position as a Director of CMC at Pionyr Immunotherapeutics, where he oversees the CMC aspects of the company's innovative immunotherapeutic programs.
Career Progression
Prior to his current roles, Kiren held various positions at Pionyr Immunotherapeutics and Boehringer Ingelheim, where he demonstrated his expertise in downstream process development, manufacturing, and quality assurance. He has also gained valuable experience in the cannabis industry as an Operations Manager at Sublime Concentrates and in business development at Gymsurfing.
Kiren's early career was marked by his contributions as a Process Development Associate at Perseid Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Astellas Pharma, and as a Co-op student at Genentech, where he gained hands-on experience in late-stage formulation and purification processes.
Academic Background
Kiren holds a Master's degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Johns Hopkins University, where he conducted graduate research on novel bioprocessing techniques.
Areas of Expertise
- Biopharmaceutical process development and optimization
- Upstream and downstream process engineering
- Analytical method development and validation
- Regulatory compliance and quality management systems
- Project management and cross-functional collaboration
- Technical leadership and team building
Professional Impact
Throughout his career, Kiren has made significant contributions to the development and manufacturing of cutting-edge biopharmaceutical products. His innovative approaches and collaborative leadership have resulted in improved productivity, enhanced product quality, and successful regulatory submissions. Kiren's dedication to advancing the field of CMC has earned him a reputation as a respected industry expert.
Conclusion
With his extensive experience, technical expertise, and proven leadership abilities, Kiren Khanduja is well-positioned to drive continued success and innovation in the biopharmaceutical industry. As he continues to thrive in his current roles, Kiren remains focused on leveraging his skills to deliver transformative solutions that benefit patients and advance the field of pharmaceutical development.
