William W. Bachovchin, Ph.D.

VP Research & Innovation
Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine

Professor Bachovchin received his Doctorate in Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and did postdoctoral work at Caltech with Professor J.D. Roberts, and at Harvard with Professor Bert Vallee before coming to Tufts University School of Medicine where he has been a Professor since 1986. Dr. Bachovchin’s work has focused on the structure, mechanisms, and biological functions of serine proteases, especially the DASH family (Dipeptidyl amino peptidase type 4 Activity and Structural Homologs) of post proline cleaving serine proteases to which DPP4, DPP8/9 and FAP, PREP and DPP2 belong.

In addition to the catalytic mechanism, and biological functions of these proteases, his work has included a strong drug design and discovery component that has led to the design, synthesis, and characterization of highly potent and specific inhibitors for all members of the DASH family of enzymes. Several of these were used to help identify DPP4 as a target for the treatment of diabetes and led to an issued patent on the use of DPP4 inhibitors for the treatment of diabetes. One molecule, known as Talabostat®, was advanced into a phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of cancer by Point Therapeutics. Two more molecules have been advanced into human clinical testing by Arisaph Pharmaceuticals, one for diabetes (Ari 2243), the other for cardiovascular disease (Ari3037MO). An IND for a fourth drug candidate (AVA6000) was just approved and is scheduled to begin human clinical testing in June of 2021 by Avacta Life Sciences. A fifth drug candidate, a targeted radiotherapy, is currently being advanced by Point Biopharma and is scheduled to enter human clinical testing in Q1 of 2022.

Professor Bachovchin has published more than 100 peer reviewed journal articles and have been invited to speak at numerous international scientific conferences in the United States, Germany, England, France, Canada, Ireland, Australia, Italy, Poland, and South Africa.  He is a named inventor on more than fifty issued U.S. patents which cover a variety of novel new chemical entities (NCEs) as well as methods of treatment.  He has also have served as a consultant to Merck, Boehringer Ingelheim, Dupont, Cetus, and Novartis. He has served as an expert witness in a number of IP disputes involving well known drugs including four cases which included testimony in court.  His research at Tufts has been well funded by the NIH and NSF and includes a Research Career Development Award (RCDA) from the NIH, a “Partnership for Innovation: Building Innovation Capacity” grant from the NSF, multiple RO1’s, and several STTR grants including a phase 2 grant from the NIH, and four Major Instrumentation grants for acquiring or upgrading Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectrometers; as well as funding from pharmaceutical company sponsored research grants.  He has served on the outside advisory committee for the Stable Isotope Resource at Los Alamos National laboratory for 12years including as Chairman for seven years.  Professor Bachovchin has founded three companies; Point Therapeutics, Arisaph Pharmaceuticals, and Bach BioSciences.  He was inducted into the National Academy of Inventors in 2020.