We are a precision therapy company striving to improve human health.
We develop transformational medicines rooted in our leading expertise in protein kinases, which are proven drivers of disease.
Early-generation kinase medicines are limited by poor selectivity, off-target effects and the emergence of resistance.
Our founding scientists envisioned a new generation of highly selective kinase medicines that could prolong lives, improve quality of life and prevent disease recurrences, with more potent target inhibition, fewer off-target effects and opportunities for therapeutic combinations.
They worked to build a scalable platform that could yield multiple selective kinase medicines for a wide range of diseases, bringing this innovation to as many patients as possible.
A look inside our labs
Our scientists merge expertise in bioinformatics and structural and cell biology, world-class drug design capabilities and a proprietary library of novel compounds to create a new discovery paradigm. This unique approach enables us to rapidly identify compelling disease targets and design highly selective kinase medicines.
The result is a robust and diverse portfolio of clinical- and research-stage programs targeting genomically defined cancers, rare diseases and cancer immunotherapy. With a steadfast commitment to scientific excellence and to patients, we aim to rapidly and unequivocally change the face of medicine.
Meet our Scientists
Stella (Yunxing) Li: Senior Scientist I, Biophysics
My path
I obtained my B.S. in Physics from Peking University and my Ph.D. in Biophysics from Cornell University (Richard A. Cerione’s lab). My graduate research was focused on using small molecule chemistry to block bioenergetic and metabolic requirements of cancer cell proliferation utilizing structural biology and biophysics approaches.
My experience
After I graduated from Cornell, I moved to Boston to join a computational drug discovery startup company. It was a tremendous learning experience, and I was able to utilize my structural biology skills to contribute to projects that made it to clinical programs. It was here that I was able to develop strong expertise in developing Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) assays to study a variety of targets. When I saw that Blueprint Medicines was looking to build out its Biophysics team with its first hire, I knew it was the perfect opportunity for me to grow and learn with such talented and passionate team.
My biggest achievement
During my time at the startup company, I was able to achieve the first co-crystal structure of the candidate compound while bound to its target. This enabled the R&D programs to move forward and shortly afterwards, the compound progressed to clinical trials. It was extremely exciting and rewarding to be a key contributor on a project that may one day be used in patients.
My recent scientific publications
“Predicting the structural basis of targeted protein degradation by integrating molecular dynamics simulations with structural mass spectrometry,” published in Nature Communications in 2022
“Adeno-associated viral vector-mediated immune responses: Understanding barriers to gene delivery,” published in Pharmacology & Therapeutics in 2020
“The activation loop and substrate-binding cleft of glutaminase C are allosterically coupled,” published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry in 2019
“Mechanistic Basis of Glutaminase Activation: A Key Enzyme that Promotes Glutamine Metabolism in Cancer Cells,” published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry in 2016
“Mechanism by which a recently discovered allosteric inhibitor blocks glutamine metabolism in transformed cells,” published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2014
“Small angle X-ray scattering studies of mitochondrial glutaminase C reveals extended flexible regions, and links oligomeric state with enzyme activity,” published in PLoS One in 2013
My Blueprint Medicines
I joined Blueprint because of the talented team, the amazing culture and the opportunity to make a true impact for our patients.
Tyler Rouskin-Faust: Scientist II
My path
I received my B.S. in Biology from the University of Missouri in 2009. For my graduate work, I studied in the lab of Dr. Alan Frankel at UCSF, obtaining a Ph.D. in 2016. Finally, I was a post-doctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Eric Fischer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute until 2020.
My experience
My doctoral and post-doctoral studies were focused on aspects of protein degradation. I learned that Blueprint was entering into targeted protein degradation, and I was excited about the opportunity of joining and helping build a nascent effort at a company with a strong track record of bringing medicines to patients.
My biggest achievement
Coming into my postdoc, I had no structural biology experience but wanted to have a better understanding of the discipline. Over my three and a half years of training at Dana-Farber, several colleagues and I were able to solve the structure of an important protein-small molecule complex, which demonstrated that molecular glue degraders (MGD) were more common than the research community anticipated. On a personal level, this achievement also reinforced the idea that with focused effort and learning, daunting new challenges can always be overcome.
My recent scientific publications
“Structural complementarity facilitates E7820-mediated degradation of RBM39 by DCAF15,” published in Nature Chemical Biology in 2020
“Bruton tyrosine kinase degradation as a therapeutic strategy for cancer,” published in Blood in 2019
“The HIV-1 Tat protein recruits a ubiquitin ligase to reorganize the 7SK snRNP for transcriptional activation,” published in Elife in 2018
“Making Sense of Multifunctional Proteins: Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Accessory and Regulatory Proteins and Connections to Transcription,” published in the Annual Review of Virology in 2017
“PJA2 ubiquitinates the HIV-1 Tat protein with atypical chain linkages to activate viral transcription,” published in Scientific Reports in 2017
My Blueprint Medicines
I joined Blueprint because of the intense commitment to and record of success in bringing targeted medicines to patients in need.
Ludivine Moine: Senior Scientist II, Medicinal Chemistry
My path
I earned a chemical engineering degree from CPE Lyon, France and a M.Sc. in organic chemistry at the University of Montreal, Canada.
My experience
I worked in a big pharma in oncology for many years using different modalities, but I never worked with kinases. I wanted to work for a precision medicine company that specialized in this area and is fully dedicated to discovery. Blueprint Medicines naturally fit the bill.
I was also attracted to Blueprint by the company’s values and its focus on quickly delivering life-changing therapies, and I saw an amazing opportunity for growth and no glass ceiling.
My biggest achievement
I recently contributed to the design and synthesis of multiple research candidates during the COVID-19 pandemic. These efforts offer an opportunity to potentially benefit more patients who harbor specific mutations by targeting the underlying genetic drivers of their disease.
My recent scientific publications
“Identification and characterization of second-generation EZH2 inhibitors with extended residence times and improved biological activity,” published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry in 2021
“Design, Synthesis, and Pharmacological Evaluation of Second Generation EZH2 Inhibitors with Long Residence Time,” published in ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters in 2020
“Molecular Basis of Valine-Citrulline-PABC Linker Instability in Site-Specific ADCs and Its Mitigation by Linker Design,” published in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics in 2016
“Site-Dependent Degradation of a Non-Cleavable Auristatin-Based Linker-Payload in Rodent Plasma and Its Effect on ADC Efficacy,” published in PLoS One in 2015
“Effect of attachment site on stability of cleavable antibody drug conjugates,” published in Bioconjugate Chemistry in 2015
“Discovery of a novel Kv7 channel opener as a treatment for epilepsy,” published in Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters in 2015
My Blueprint Medicines
Blueprint is a pioneer in precision medicine, and I wanted to learn from the inside how the company has been able to provide innovative therapies to patients in record time. Our core values also resonate with me, and I specifically enjoy how deeply Blueprint invests in discovery and selects targets that may make the most and fastest impact on patients’ lives. Lastly, the collaborative, dynamic, diverse and empowering environment has been another big factor. I believe I can accomplish anything here, and I get the full support of my team to be the best version of myself.
Dean Zhang: Director, Biology Drug Discovery & Targeted Protein Degradation
My path
I was trained as a biochemist and chemical biologist in Dr. Peter Tonge’s group at Stony Brook University. During my five years of Ph.D. training, I tried to understand how drug molecules interact with their protein targets, and how this interaction quantitively translates into drug efficacy.
My experience
After my Ph.D., I joined a pharmaceutical company as a biochemist. There, I was exposed to many different drug discovery projects and learned how to best use my biochemistry background to help discover novel drug molecules. A couple of years in, just when I started doubting if I will ever see a drug that I’ve worked on make it to patients, a biochemist position opened at Blueprint Medicines. I said to myself that this is a rare opportunity where I can work in one of the best small molecule drug discovery organizations, and it might be my best shot to ever deliver a drug to patients. So, I applied and joined.
My biggest achievement
I feel incredibly lucky to be able to apply my background to do a job that’s extremely meaningful and super exciting. It’s already quite an achievement to equip yourself with deep knowledge in any scientific area, but it takes a lot of hard work, perseverance, bravery and more to continue down this road of science and eventually use this knowledge to do a job as meaningful as helping save people’s lives. It sounds like a dream come true because it is a dream that came true.
My recent scientific publications
“A quantitative mechanistic PK/PD model directly connects Btk target engagement and in vivo efficacy,” published in Chemical Science in 2017
“Positron Emission Tomography Imaging with 2-[18F]F-p-Aminobenzoic Acid detects Staphylococcus aureus Infections and Monitors Drug Response,” published in ACS Infectious Diseases in 2018
“Correlating Drug-Target Kinetics and In vivo Pharmacodynamics: Long Residence Time Inhibitors of the FabI Enoyl-ACP Reductase,” published in Chemical Science in 2016
“The Biodistribution of 5-[18F]Fluoropyrazinamide in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected Mice determined by Positron Emission Tomography,” published in PLoS One in 2017
“A [(32)P]NAD(+)-based method to identify and quantitate long residence time enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase inhibitors,” pubished in Analytical Biochemistry in 2015
“Rationalizing the Binding Kinetics for the Inhibition of the Burkholderia pseudomallei FabI1 Enoyl-ACP Reductase,” published in Biochemistry in 2017
“Determination of [11C]rifampin pharmacokinetics within Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected mice by using dynamic positron emission tomography bioimaging,” published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy in 2015
My Blueprint Medicines
I joined Blueprint because the company stays true to science and has found a way to do drug discovery very efficiently. As a drug discovery scientist, I’ve always dreamt of developing medicines that can impact people’s lives, and Blueprint is the place where I can not only realize this goal, but also do it quickly and many times over.
Fouad Namouni, M.D., President, Research & Development“We’re entering a new era of precision medicine… we can now rapidly and reproducibly design potent and selective kinase medicines for previously undruggable as well as newly discovered drivers of disease. Combined with recent advances in molecular profiling, we believe these next-generation kinase medicines can quickly achieve clinical proof-of-concept and, ultimately, transform patient care.”
Scientific Advisory Board
Giulio Draetta, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Institute for Applied Cancer Science at MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Professor of Molecular and Cellular Oncology
Brian Druker, M.D.*
Director, Oregon Health & Science University Knight Cancer Institute, and JELD-WEN Chair of Leukemia Research
Carlos Garcia-Echeverria, Ph.D.
Global Head of Research Platforms, Sanofi
Scott Lowe, Ph.D.*
Member, Cancer Biology and Genetics Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Institute Cancer Center, and Chair, Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Center
Nick Lydon, Ph.D.*
Founder, Granite Biopharma LLC
Charles L. Sawyers, M.D.*
Director, Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center