10 small molecule process chemistry experts
These ten small molecule process chemistry leaders hold process chemistry and drug substance development roles at pharmaceutical and biotech companies, including Merck, GSK, Bayer and AstraZeneca. A reader can learn how drug makers develop synthetic routes and scale up manufacturing processes for small molecule drug substances.
Professionals to explore
Christoph Sämann
LinkedInExperience: Head of Drug Substance Small Molecules, VP · Bayer
Christoph Sämann has been Head of Drug Substance Small Molecules, VP at Bayer since February 2026, leading the competence center for drug substance development and industrialization that covers end-to-end API process development, scale-up and manufacturing support. Christoph Sämann was Head of Process Design & Sample Delivery, VP at Bayer from 2024 to 2026 and Head of Process Research, VP from 2022 to 2024.
Erick A. Goldman
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director, Small Molecule Process Development · Zogenix, Inc.
Erick A. Goldman has been Senior Director, Small Molecule Process Development at Zogenix, a UCB subsidiary, since October 2021, based in Concord, California. Erick A. Goldman was Associate Director, Chemical Development and Manufacturing at Pharmacyclics, an AbbVie Company, from 2015 to 2021 and a Research Scientist II, Process Chemistry at Exelixis from 2004 to 2010.
Flavien Susanne
LinkedInExperience: VP, head of chemical development and clinical manufacturing · AstraZeneca
Flavien Susanne has been VP, head of chemical development and clinical manufacturing at AstraZeneca since January 2025, leading drug substance small molecule process development for the AstraZeneca portfolio. Flavien Susanne was VP Chemical Development at AstraZeneca from 2023 to 2025 and CMC Site Head and Head of Drug Substance Process Development & Clinical Manufacturing at Sanofi from 2021 to 2023.
Joe Flisak
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director Small Molecule Drug Substance CMC · Syndax Pharmaceuticals
Joe Flisak has been Senior Director Small Molecule Drug Substance CMC at Syndax Pharmaceuticals since February 2024 and was Director Small Molecule Drug Substance there from 2022 to 2024. Joe Flisak was Senior Director, API Chemistry at GSK from 2014 to 2019, as departmental head of API Chemistry US with oversight of small molecule process chemistry and route development.
Keiko Sujino
LinkedInExperience: Sr. Director, Small Molecule Design and Development · Eli Lilly and Company
Keiko Sujino has been Sr. Director, Small Molecule Design and Development at Eli Lilly and Company since September 2025, and the profile describes a specialty in small molecule drug substance development and manufacturing operations. Keiko Sujino was Executive Director, DICE Process Chemistry at Eli Lilly and Company from 2024 to 2025 and Sr. Director, Chemical Development and Manufacturing at Gilead Sciences from 2015 to 2022.
Louis‐Charles Campeau
LinkedInExperience: Associate Vice President, Head of Small Molecule Process R&D · Merck
Louis‐Charles Campeau has been Associate Vice President, Head of Small Molecule Process R&D at Merck since January 2022, based in Rahway, New Jersey. Louis‐Charles Campeau was Executive Director, Head of Process Chemistry and Discovery Process Chemistry at Merck from 2016 to 2022 and Director, Process Chemistry at Merck from 2015 to 2016.
Matthew A. Zajac
LinkedInExperience: Head of Small Molecule Process Chemistry · GSK
Matthew A. Zajac has been Head of Small Molecule Process Chemistry at GSK since May 2026, in a small molecule drug substance chemistry department that handles work from pre-candidate to filing and launch. Matthew A. Zajac was a Senior Director at GSK from 2019 to 2026 and Director of Chemistry Technology and Automation at GSK from 2015 to 2019.
Sankar Subramanian
LinkedInExperience: Director, Process Chemistry, CMC Small Molecule · Centessa Pharmaceuticals
Sankar Subramanian has been Director, Process Chemistry, CMC Small Molecule at Centessa Pharmaceuticals since May 2025, based in the Boston area. Sankar Subramanian was Director, Process Chemistry at Black Diamond Therapeutics in 2024, an Associate Director there from 2021 to 2023, and an Associate Director Manager at ArQule from 2017 to 2020.
Venkatraman Laksmanan
LinkedInExperience: Director, Drug Substance Development · Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Venkatraman Laksmanan has been Director, Drug Substance Development at Jazz Pharmaceuticals since November 2025, leading chemical process development, tech transfer and external manufacturing of small molecule drug substances from preclinical work to NDA submission. Venkatraman Laksmanan was Director, Process Chemistry at Chimerix, a Jazz Pharmaceuticals Company, from 2022 to 2025.
Zhiguo J. Song
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Head of Small Molecule Drug Subtance Dev & Mfg · Arcus Biosciences
Zhiguo J. Song has been Vice President, Head of Small Molecule Drug Subtance Dev & Mfg at Arcus Biosciences since January 2023, with a CMC focus on process chemistry, route design, route scouting and pilot plant scale up. Zhiguo J. Song held the Exe Dir, Head of Small Molecule Drug Substance Dev & Mfg title at Arcus from 2021 to 2023 and process chemistry roles at Merck until 2021.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's stage of experience to your program, since early route work for first clinical supply differs from locking a commercial process and validating it. Also consider whether your process will be run in-house or at a contract manufacturer, and ask how much of the person's work involved managing outside partners.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01When do you replace a discovery route with a new process route, and how do you justify the cost?
- 02How do you choose and manage contract manufacturers for drug substance, and what do you keep in-house?
- 03What process chemistry issues most often surface during a regulatory filing, and how do you get ahead of them?
Reaching small molecule process chemistry experts
How can I contact one of these small molecule process chemistry experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 10 companies, including Bayer; Zogenix, Inc. and AstraZeneca, based on profile data retrieved on October 23, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach small molecule process chemistry experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. The offer is what the person receives, and Instant Expert's fee is added on top, so a $100 offer costs you $125. The fee is 20% of what you pay. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
Can an AI agent ask one of these small molecule process chemistry experts a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
Request a correction or removal