Leen Kawas, Ph.D., is a visionary leader in the biotechnology industry with extensive experience in drug development and commercialization. She is the President and CEO of M3 Biotechnology, a clinical-stage biotechnology company that focuses on developing innovative therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.

Kawas received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Jordan and her Ph.D. in Molecular Pharmacology from Washington State University. She also completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Washington, where she focused on neurodegenerative diseases and drug discovery.

In 2015, Leen Kawas founded M3 Biotechnology, which aims to develop novel therapeutics for treating Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases. She has raised over $25 million in funding to support M3’s research and development efforts.

Under Kawas’s leadership, M3 has made significant progress in developing a pipeline of potential therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. The company’s lead drug candidate, NDX-1017, is a small molecule that targets the sigma-2 receptor, which protects neurons from damage. NDX-1017 has shown promising results in preclinical studies and is currently being evaluated in Phase 1 clinical trial.

Leen Kawas is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), a trade organization that represents more than 1,000 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, and other organizations. She is a frequent speaker at industry conferences. She has been recognized for her leadership in the biotechnology industry, including being named one of the Puget Sound Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” honorees in 2018.

Besides her work at M3, Kawas is passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion in the biotechnology industry. She is a member of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) and is committed to advancing women in healthcare and the life sciences leadership positions.

Leen Kawas is a highly accomplished leader in the biotechnology industry, focusing on developing innovative therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Her leadership and expertise have propelled M3 Biotechnology to the forefront of the industry, and she is a respected voice in the biotechnology community.