Andy Mackinnon Email Address

Associate Director of Biology

Calithera Biosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel small molecule drugs directed against tumor metabolism and tumor immunology targets for the treatment of cancer. Calithera’s lead product candidate, CB-839, is currently being evaluated in three Phase 1 clinical trials in solid and hematological cancers. CB-1158 is a first-in- class immuno-oncology metabolic checkpoint inhibitor targeting arginase, a critical immunosuppressive enzyme responsible for T-cell suppression by myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Arginase depletes arginine, a nutrient that is critical for the activation, growth and survival of the body’s cancer-fighting immune cells, known as cytotoxic T -cells. Calithera is headquartered in South San Francisco, California.

I am a biochemist and cellular pharmacologist with expertise in early phase drug discovery and development programs, primarily in the oncology therapeutic area. My core competencies include: Development of quantitative biochemical and cellular assays to support small-molecule lead identification and optimization; Development, optimization and validation of pharmacodynamic (PD) and biomarker assays to support programs at the discovery, pre-clinical and clinical stages; Biochemical and cellular mechanism-of-action studies. I have a can-do attitude with a strong commitment to the team and team goals. I am broadly trained and flexible in my approach, and I can effectively communicate across diverse disciplines. My ultimate goal is to provide key scientific support to the discovery and development of novel therapies that will improve the quality of life for patients. Key skills: Quantitative assay development, optimization and validation Target selection and validation PD/biomarker assay development Protein purification and characterization Enzyme kinetics/mechanism of action Knowledgeable in the oncology therapeutic area