Dr. Peter Meinke is the Sanders Director at the Sanders Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute in New York, NY, USA.

Peter has extensive experience in all stages of drug discovery from target validation through early clinical development, resulting in 13 development compounds that advanced into the clinic in seven distinct therapeutic areas while at Merck. Programs under his direct supervision produced one drug: NS5A inhibitor elbasvir for hepatitis C for which he was recognized with the ACS Heroes of Chemistry award in 2017. Elbasvir is combined with grazoprevir (trade name Zepatier) to completely clear Hepatitis C infection – total sales are over $3.3 billion for this combination. In addition, Peter has significant international experience and, from 2008-2016, focused on working and living overseas (Shanghai, China) to direct and mentor drug discovery research teams globally while managing the attendant business issues. 

Peter previously held the title of Executive Director, Discovery Chemistry at Merck. He joined Merck in 1989 following undergraduate (Eckerd College, FL), doctoral (Syracuse University, NY, G. A. Krafft) and post-doctoral (Columbia University, NY, W. Clark Still) education. He is co-author on over 100 publications in peer reviewed journals and co-inventor on more than 35 patents.