Vincent C.O. Njar

Dr. Vincent C.O. Njar is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Physiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, with concurrent roles as Medicinal Chemistry Group Leader at the Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics (CBT) and Full Member at the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center. He is a distinguished medicinal chemist and oncopharmacologist known for developing small-molecule anti-cancer agents, particularly galeterone and its analogs. His academic journey includes B.Sc. (1976) and Ph.D. (1980) from the University of Ibadan and University College London, followed by postdoctoral training at the Worcester Foundation.

• Education:
  • University of Ibadan - B.Sc. Chemistry (1976)
  • University College London - Ph.D. Organic Chemistry (1980)

Dr. Njar’s research spans Mechanistic Oncopharmacology and Molecular Targeting, focusing on:

• Design of retinoidal/steroidal compounds targeting CYP enzymes and androgen receptors
• Development of MNK1/2 degraders (e.g., VNLG-152R) for translational oncology
• Mechanistic studies on apoptosis induction and metastasis inhibition
• Translational research bridging preclinical models to clinical trials

His recent publications emphasize:

• Novel deuterated compounds for enhanced stability
• Mechanistic insights into kinase degradation
• Drug repurposing for dermatological and neurological cancers
• Therapeutic strategies for racial disparities in prostate cancer
• Pharmacokinetic optimization for clinical translation
• Combination therapies synergizing with gemcitabine

Dr. Njar founded Terpene Pharmaceuticals LLC in 2014 and led galeterone through Phase III trials (ARMOR3-SV) for castration-resistant prostate cancer. His work spans epigenetic regulation via HDAC inhibitors, autophagy modulation, and computational drug design for multi-target agents. Current research explores cholesterol biosynthesis and Stat5 inhibition in cancer progression.

• Key Collaborations:
  • Angela Brodie (University of Maryland School of Medicine)
  • Kimmel Cancer Center
  • Terpene Pharmaceuticals