Greater than 12 years of operational and scientific leadership in life science i

ndustry. Built effective multidisciplinary teams, introduced new products and pa

rticipated in successful product commercialization. Also, honed skills in implem
enting and sustaining numerous quality and functional excellence systems (e.g.,
Lean Mfg., Six Sigma, 5S, ISO and cGMP).

Specialties: Business Management, Enzymology, Antibody Engineering, Process Deve

lopment, DOE, Fermentation, Cell Culture, Cell Line Development, Media Developm
ent, Formulation Development, Project Management, Manufacturing and ERP Systems
(SAP & xMII).

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

XBiotech, Inc., Sr. Director Product Development, Austin, TX

Dec. 2009 - Present
cGMP pilot production of lead clinical antibody candidates to support P
hase I/II clinical trials.
CHO stable cell line development (Targeted integration, enhancer elemen
ts etc.)
Upstream and downstream process development.

Life Technolgies, Sr. Manager, Scientists, Austin, TX Jan. 2006 -

Dec. 2009
Built Austin enzyme and antibody production capabilities to support $ 2
50 M business.
Process improvement, scaling up and successful introduction of new prot
ein products.
Assay development, quality testing, writing and implementing SOPs.
Cost saving initiatives (OEM, PPV, MUV); $600 k in year 2009 alone.
Successful integration of product lines/work centers between sites gene
rating synergy savings.
SKU rationalization and obsolescence resulting in better FTE utilizatio
n and reduced scrap.
xMII (Lean SAP tool) implementation for Austin site.

Thios Pharmaceuticals, Head Protein Chemistry, Emeryville, CA

2002-2005
Managed the team responsible for producing and testing antibody and enz
yme therapeutics.
 Project management for preclinical candidates and for clinical trials (
ADME Studies).
Antibody testing using Biacore, ELISA and other analytical methods.
Optimization of IgG and scFv expression. Transient and stable expressio
n in CHO, NS0 etc.
Developed antibodies against proprietary targets. Converted a rat IgM t
o a human IgG scaffold.
Generation of single chain antibodies from hybridoma utilizing molecula
r biology approaches.
Insect cell expression of full IgG molecules.

Genetastix Corporation, Senior Scientist, San Jose, CA

2000-2002
Responsible for cloning, expression and purification of antigens and an
tibodies.
Affinity maturation and humanization of antibodies.
In vitro characterization of antibodies and other therapeutic targets.

CuraGen Corporation, Research Scientist, New Haven, CT

1997-1999
Protein-Protein interaction studies by large scale yeast two hybrid scr
eens.
Normalized cDNA library preparation and full length robotic PCR cloning
.

EDUCATION

Post Doc: Columbia University, New York; Mentor: Dr. C

hris Schindler 1993-1996
Cytokine (IL3, IL5 & GMCSF) signaling.
Purified and cloned Stat5, and identified STAT5 specific protease.
Characterization of different isoforms of Stat5 and developed knock-out
mice.

Post Doc: Max-Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Germany; Mentor: Dr. Axel Ullri
ch 1990-1993
 Tyrosine kinase signaling (EGF and Her2).
Developed recombinant Her2 and EGF receptor extra-cellular domains with
lipid (PIG) tails.

Ph.D. Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), India

1990
Tyrosine kinase signaling and catecholamine pathway enzymes (e.g., Mono
amine Oxidase).
Studied interrelationship of catecholamines and insulin metabolism in d
iabetes.
Identified and purified novel form of Monoamine Oxidase from rat brain
and hepatocytes.

PUBLICATIONS

Taylor WE, Bhasin S, Artaza J, Byhower F, Azam M , Willard DH Jr, Kull FC Jr, Go
nzalez-Cadavid N (2001) Myostatin inhibits cell proliferation and protein synthe
sis in C2C12 muscle cells. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 280: E221-8

Hromas R, Broxmeyer HE, Kim C, Nakshatri H, Christopherson K 2nd, Azam, M. , Hou

YH (1999) Cloning of BRAK, a novel divergent CXC chemokine preferentially expre
ssed in normal versus malignant cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun ; 255:703-706

Silvestri B, Calderazzo F, Coppola V, Rosato A, Iacobelli S, Natoli C, Ullrich A

, Sures I, Azam, M. , Brakebush C, Chieco-Bianchi L, Amadori A, (1998) Different
ial effect on TCR:CD3 stimulation of a 90-kD glycoprotein (gp90/Mac-2BP), a memb
er of the scavenger receptor cysteine-rich domain protein family. Clin Exp Immun
ol ; 113:394-400.

Azam, M. , Gupta, G., Willington, S., Warburton, D. and Danziger, R. (1998) Gene
tic mapping of soluble Guanylyl Cyclase genes: Implications for linkage to blood
pressure in the Dahl rat. Hypertension 32:149-154

Gupta, G., Azam, M . and Danziger, R. S. (1997) The b2 subunit inhibits the a1/b
1 isoform of soluble guanylyl cyclase and is overexpressed in the Dahl salt sens
itive rat, J. Clin. Invest. 100: 1488-1492.

Azam, M ., Lee, C., Strehlow, I. and Schindler, C. (1997) Functionally distinct

isoforms of Stat5 are generated by protein procssing, Immunity, 6:691-701.

Powell, T. J., Schreck, R., McCall, M., Hui, T., Rice, A., App, H., Azam, M ., U
llrich, A. and Schwver, L. K. (1995) A tumor derived protein which provides T-
Cell costimulation through accessory cell activation. J. Immunotherap . 17: 209-
221.

Azam, M ., Erdjument-Bromenge, H., Kreider, B., Min, X., Quelle, F., Basu,
R., Tempst, P., Saris, C., Ihle, J. and Schindler, C. (1995) Interleukin-3
signals through multiple isoforms of Stat5. EMBO J. 14: 1402-1411.

Rothman, P., Kreider, B., Azam, M ., Levy, D., Wegenka, U., Eilers, A., Decker,
T., Horn, F., Kashleva, H., Ihle, J. and Schindler, C. (1994) Cytokines and grow
th factors signal through tyrosine phosphorylation of a family of related transc
ription factors. Immunity 1: 457-468.

Ullrich, A., Sures, I., DEgidio, M., Jallal, B., Powell, T. J., Herbst, R., Drep
s, A., Azam, M ., Rubinstein, M., Natoli, C., Shawver, L., Schlessinger, J.,
Iacobelli, S. (1994) The secreted tumor-associated antigen 90K is a potent immu
ne stimulator. J. Biol. Chem. 269: 18401-18407

De Corte, V., De Potter, C., Vandebberghe, D., Laerebeke, N.V., Azam, M ., Roels
, H., Mareel, M. and Vandekerckhove, J. (1994) A 50 kDa protein present in the c
onditioned medium of COLO-16 cells stimulates cell spreading and motility, and a
ctivatestyrosine phosphorylation of Neu/Her2, in SK-Br-3 mammary cancer cells. J
. Cell Sci. 107: 405-416.

Gupta, G. Azam, M. and Baquer, N. Z. (1992) Modulation of insulin receptor kinas

e in Diabetes. Neurochem. Int. 20: 487-492.

Gupta, G., Azam, M. and Baquer, N. Z. (1992) Effect of experimental diabetes on

catecholamine metabolism in rat brain. J. Neurochem . 58: 95-100.

Nehal, M., Azam, M. and Baquer, N.Z. (1992) Modulation of rat brain insulin rece
ptor kinase activity in diabetes. Biochem. Int. 22: 517-522

Dash, N.K., Azam, M ., Gupta, G. and Baquer, N. Z. (1991)Effect of hyperglycemia

on acetylcholinestrase activity and catechol-amines in rat brain and heart. Bio
chem. Int. 23:261 -269.
Gupta G., Azam, M. , Sonone, SR, Baquer, N. Z. (1991)Imipramine inhibits monoami
ne oxidase activity in hyperglycemic rat brain Biochem. Int. 23:1079-1085.

Dash, N.K., Azam, M ., Gupta, G. and Baquer, N. Z. (1990)Effect of chronic admin

istration of propranolol on acetylcholinestrase and 5-hydroxytryptamine levels i
n rat brain and heart. Biochem. Int. 22:475-482.

Nehal, M., Azam, M . and Baquer, N. Z. (1990) Changes in the level of catecholam
ines, hexokinase and glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase in red cell aging. Bioche
m. Int. 22:517-522

Gupta, B. L., Azam, M. and Baquer, N.Z.(1990) Changes in erythrocyte glutathione

peroxidase and glutathione reductase
in alloxan diadetes. Biochem. Int. 21: 725-731.

Azam, M. and Baquer, N. Z. (1990) Modulation of insulin receptors and catecholam

ines in rat brain in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Biochem. Int. 20:1141-1
148

Azam, M ., Gupta, B. L. and Baquer, N. Z. (1990) Effect of Hyperthyroidism and H

ypothyroidism on rat red blood
cell insulin receptors and catecholamines: relationship with cellular ageing. Bi
ochem. Int. 21: 135-144

Azam, M ., Gupta, B. L., Gupta, G., Jain, S. and Baquer, N. Z. (1990) Rat brain
insulin degrading enzyme in insulin and thyroid hormones imbalances. Biochem. In
t. 21: 321-329

Azam, M ., Gupta, G. and Baquer, N. Z. (1990) Effect of hyperglycemia and hyperi

nsulinemia on rat red blood cell insulin receptors and catecholamines: relation
ship with cellular ageing. Biochem. Int. 22:21-30.

Azam, M ., Gupta, G. and Baquer, N. Z. (1990) Purification and immunochemical in

terrelationship of insulin receptors from rat brain and liver. Biochem. Int., 2
2: 45-55.

Azam, M ., Gupta, G. and Baquer, N. Z. (1990) Modulation of insulin receptor and

catecholamines in rat brain in hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. Biochem. Int
. 22: 1-9.

Azam, M ., Jain, S. and Baquer, N. Z. (1990) Enhancement of rat brain cytosolic

monoamine oxidase by Clorgyline. Biochem. Pharmacol. 40: 2215-2218.

Azam, M . and Baquer, N. Z. (1989) Purification and immuno-chemical interrelatio

nship of cytosolic monoamine oxidase from rat brain. Neurochem. Int. 14:321-32
6.