Larry Mortin, PhD
Consultant, In Vivo Pharmacology, Preclinical
Discovery and Development, Project Leadership
Profile
Innovative biomedical scientist with expertise in multiple drug discovery-related fields. Leadership positions in
small and mid-sized pharmaceutical companies, including leading drug discovery project teams, exploratory
project teams and early-stage in-licensing due diligence evaluations. Expertise in the design and development
of animal models for testing novel therapies. Areas include:
• Infectious diseases, esp. antibacterials
• Neuroscience & ion channels
• Preclinical discovery & development
• Pharmacology
• Pharmacokinetics & pharmacodynamics
• Safety pharmacology
• Regulatory toxicology
• Medical writing, grants & technical reports
Professional Experience
InnovaTID Pharmaceuticals Consulting
Consultant: 2015-present
McCarthy Consultants
Director, Preclinical Discovery & Development: 2014-present
Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Senior Scientist II, In Vivo Pharmacology: 2001-2013; Human Diseases: 2013-1014
Redeon, Inc.
Director of Pharmacology & Toxicology: 1999-2000
Primedica Corporation (formerly GTC Mason Laboratories)
Scientist II, Preclinical Development & Toxicology: 1995-1999
Cambridge NeuroScience, Inc.
Staff Scientist, Pharmacology Department, In Vivo Group: 1992-1995
Drug Discovery and Development Experience
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Initiated and launched ion channel project focused on specialized delivery platform; led team that initiated
new internal capabilities, and mapped out study plans, including >$1M in studies at CROs over 2 years
Increased clinical usage and approved indications for a first-in-class novel antibiotic (daptomycin) in
hospital settings, with annual sales currently exceeding $1B annually in the US; by:
o Published critical studies showing speed of killing using bioluminescent bacteria in living mice
o Established novel hematogenous pneumonia models to successfully lift FDA clinical hold
o Wrote preclinical pharmacology sNDA for approval of daptomycin for patients with
Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia with or without right-sided infectious endocarditis
Advanced five drug discovery programs into clinical trials (2 still active): led initial pharmacology screens,
PK/PD assessments, dose selection & testing, and lead optimization pharmacology screening
Designed and set up new laboratory animal facilities and facility expansions for multiple companies
Designed & oversaw ex vivo & in vivo studies testing novel micro-needle arrays for painless drug delivery
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2015
Education/Certification
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences. 1991-1992. MIT
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Biology Department. 1987-1991. Brandeis University
PhD, Biology and Biomedical Sciences (Neural Sciences). 1987. Washington University in St. Louis
BS (with Honors), Biology. 1978. California Institute of Technology
Selected Publications/Patents
Mascio CTM, Mortin LI, Howland KT, Van Praagh ADG, Zhang S, Arya A, Chuong CL, Kang C, Li T,
Silverman JA. 2012. In vitro and in vivo characterization of CB-183,315, a novel lipopeptide antibiotic for the
treatment of Clostridium difficile. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 56:5023-5030.
Del Camino D, Hayward NJ, Chong JA, Monsen J, Moran MM, Curtis R, Murphy CK, Gao L, Mortin LI,
Abraham WM. 2012. Effects of blocking TRPA1 in a sheep model of asthma. Poster presentation. Society for
Neuroscience Annual Meeting.
Van Praagh ADG, Li T, Zhang S, Arya A, Chen L, Zhang X, Bertolami S, Mortin LI. 2011. Daptomycin
antibiotic lock therapy in a rat model of Staphylococcal central venous catheter biofilm infections. Antimicrob
Agents Chemother 55:4081-4089.
Moran MM, del Camino D, Hayward NJ, Curtis R, Murphy C, Mortin LI, Xiao W, Zheng H, Bennett G. 2011.
TRPA1 antagonists reduce pain behaviors in a rat model of chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy.
Post presentation. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting.
Nguyen KT, He X, Alexander DC, Li C, Gu J-Q, Mascio C, Van Praagh A, Mortin L, Chu M, Silverman JA,
Brian P, Baltz RH. 2010. Genetically engineered lipopeptide antibiotics related to A54145 and daptomycin with
improved properties. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 54:1404-1413.
Mortin LI, Li T, Van Praagh ADG, Zhang S, Zhang X, Alder JD. 2007. Rapid bactericidal activity of daptomycin
against methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus peritonitis in mice as measured
with bioluminescent bacteria. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 51:1787-1794.
Alder J, Silverman J, Mortin LI, Van Praagh A. 2006. Daptomycin for the treatment of biofilm and catheter
salvage. International Patent WO 2006/130629 A2.
Sliverman JA, Mortin LI, Van Praagh ADG, Li T, Alder J. 2005. Inhibition of daptomycin by pulmonary
surfactant: In vitro modeling and clinical impact. J Infect Dis 191:2149-2152.
Mortin LI, Li T, Van Praagh A, Zhang X, Ewing PJ, Alder J. 2004. Daptomycin efficacy in a model of MSSA or
MRSA hematogenous pulmonary infection in mice and rats. Poster presentation. Infectious Disease Society of
America Annual Meeting.
Mortin LI, Horvath CJ, Wyand MS. 1997. Safety pharmacology screening: practical problems in drug
development. J Toxicology 16:39-3.
Professional Activities
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Editorial Board Member, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, ASM, 2007-present
IACUC Member and Chair, multiple companies
Grant Review Committee member, several NIH study sections and collaborative research panels
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2015