Ann D. Kwong, PhD

Affiliated Expert

Ann Kwong, PhD, has over 30 years of leadership experience in biopharmaceutical drug discovery, development, and commercialization, with deep expertise in antiviral therapeutics. She has successfully advanced multiple antiviral compounds from discovery through regulatory approval, launch, and commercialization across diverse therapeutic areas including hepatitis, influenza, coronaviruses, and other emerging viral pathogens.

Dr. Kwong is a prolific inventor and author, with 37 issued patents and 77 peer-reviewed publications covering antiviral drug discovery, development, resistance mechanisms, clinical trial design, and regulatory strategy. Her patents and publications span multiple drug classes including protease inhibitors, polymerase inhibitors, and novel antiviral mechanisms.

During her 15-year tenure at Vertex Pharmaceuticals (1997-2012), Dr. Kwong served as VP, HCV Franchise Lead, and Head of Infectious Diseases, where she created and led the Infectious Diseases Group and played pivotal roles in the research, development, regulatory approval, and commercialization of multiple FDA-approved antiviral agents. She led NDA teams and contributed to generating over $1 billion in first-year sales for approved products. Her work on antiviral protease inhibitors received the prestigious International Prix Galien Award for Best Pharmaceutical Agent in 2014.

Dr. Kwong founded the Drug Development Advisory Group (DrAG)—a highly influential consortium of scientists, clinical-trial leaders, community representatives, and regulators that established industry standards for antiviral drug development, clinical trial design, and resistance monitoring. She has extensive experience across the complete drug development lifecycle, from Investigational New Drug (IND) applications through NDA submissions, FDA approvals, product launch, and post-market surveillance.

Dr. Kwong has also held executive leadership positions including Executive VP of Research and Development at Dewpoint Therapeutics (where she secured major pharmaceutical collaborations totaling over $600 million), Executive VP of Research at Pardes Biosciences, and Co-Founder/CEO of Trek Therapeutics. She received the Gertrude Elion Memorial Award from the International Society for Antiviral Research in 2020 and holds a BA in Biology and PhD in Virology from the University of Chicago.

Education:

University of Chicago, PhD in Virology

University of Chicago, BA in Biology

To meet with Dr. Kwong, contact Omar Robles, Ph.D. at orobles@emerginghealthllc.com or +1 (617) 378-8810