Education:

  • Postdoctoral Fellowship at Rockefeller University, 1981
  • Ph.D. at Indiana University, 1979
  • B.S. at Florida Atlantic University, 1974

Research interests:

Dr. DiMarchi’s contribution in chemistry and related sciences consists of nearly four decades of work in academics, the pharmaceutical industry, and biotechnology. He is a Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Gill Chair in Biomolecular Sciences at Indiana University. He is a co-founder of Ambrx, Inc., Marcadia Biotech, Assembly Biosciences, Calibrium, and MB2 Biotech. He has served as a scientific advisor to multiple pharmaceutical companies and venture funds. He is currently chairman of the Peptide Therapeutics Foundation and an external board member at Assembly Biosciences.

Dr. DiMarchi is a vice president at Novo Nordisk Research Laboratories and a retired group vice president at Eli Lilly and Company, where for more than two decades he provided leadership in biotechnology, endocrine research, and product development. He is widely recognized for discovery and development of rDNA-derived Humalog® (LisPro-human insulin), rGlucagon®, and Forteo®. As scientist and executive, Dr. DiMarchi also significantly contributed to the commercial development of Humulin®, Humatrope®, and Evista®. His current research is focused on developing macromolecules with enhanced therapeutic properties through biochemical and chemical optimization, an approach he has termed chemical-biotechnology. His academic research has broadened the understanding of glucagon physiology while championing the discovery of single molecule mixed agonists for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. He is identified as a top-five translation researcher by Nature Biotechnology for the years 2014 and 2015.

Dr. DiMarchi is the recipient of numerous awards including the 2005 AAPS Career Research Achievement Award in Biotechnology; the 2006 ACS Barnes Award for Leadership in Chemical Research Management; the 2006 ACS Esselen Award for Chemistry in the Service of Public Interest; the 2007 Carothers Award for Excellence in Polymer Sciences; the 2009 Watanabe Award for Life Sciences Research; the 2011 Merrifield Award for Career Contributions in Peptide Sciences; the 2014 German National Erwin Schrödinger-Preis, the 2015 Meienhofer Prize; 2015 Max Bergmann Medal and the 2016 ACS Alfred Burger Career Award in Medicinal Chemistry. He was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2014 and the National Academy of Medicine in 2015.

Selected Distinguished Lectures and Recognitions (since 2005):

  • 2016 Am. Chem. Soc. Alfred Burger Career Achievement Award in Medicinal Chemistry
  • 2016 Honorary Doctorate, Florida Atlantic University
  • 2015 Inductee, National Academy of Medicine
  • 2015 Inductee, National Association of Inventors
  • 2014 Schrodinger German National Innovation Prize Award
  • 2014 Inductee, National Inventors Hall of Fame
  • 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award, Indiana University
  • 2012 Philip E. Nelson Innovation Prize
  • 2011 American Peptide Society Merrifield Career Excellence Award
  • 2011 Distinguished Faculty Research Award, Indiana University
  • 2009 Watanabe Biotechnology Leadership Award – State of Indiana Award
  • 2007 Am. Chem. Soc. Carothers Award for Excellence in Polymer Chemistry
  • 2007 Honorary Doctorate, Valparasio University
  • 2006 Am. Chem. Soc. Esselen Award for Outstanding Chemistry in Public Interest
  • 2006 Am. Chem. Soc. Barnes Award for Excellence in Chemical Research Management
  • 2005 AAPS Career Achievement Award in Biotechnology

Media Links:

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Representative Publications (2015–18):

  • Schwenk, R.; Baumeier, C.; Finan, B.; Kluth, O.; Brauer, C.; Joost, H-G.; DiMarchi, R.; Tschöp, M. and Schürmann, A. GLP-1-estrogen attenuates hyperphagia and protects from beta cell failure in diabetes-prone NZO mice Diabetologia (2015) 58: 604–614.
  • Finan, B.; Yang, B.; Ottaway, N.; Perez-Tilve, D.; Smiley, D.; Tao M.; Chabenne, J.; Zhang, Pfluger, P.L.; Habegger, K.; Müller, T.; Uhles, S.; Riboulet, W.; Hertel, C.;  Sebokova, E.; Conde-Knape, K.; Konkar, A.; Bleicher, K.; Drucker, D.; Gelfanov, V.; DiMarchi, R. and Tschöp, M. Discovery of a Potent, Balanced, and Integrated Triple Agonist of Glucagon, GLP-1, and GIP that Safely Reverses Obesity Nature Medicine (2015) 21:27-36 Volume:162.
  • Wu, F.; Chabenne, J.; Gelfanov, V.; Mayer,, J. and DiMarchi, R. Three-chain insulin analogs demonstrate the importance of insulin secondary structure to bioactivity J. Peptide Science (2015) 21:223-30.
  • Muller T.; Clemmensen C.; Finan B.; DiMarchi, R. and Tschop, M. Novel Combinatorial Therapies Involving Leptin: Opportunities for Mechanistic Advances and Therapeutic Translation in Human Diseases Leptin (2015) pp 267-79 Springer
  • Hoover, S.; Perez, A.; Tsui, H.-C.; Mukherjee, D.; Smiley, D.; DiMarchi, R.; Winkler, M. and Lazazzera, B. A new Quorum Sensing System for Streptococcus pneumoniae D39 that Regulates Expression of a Lantibiotic Biosynthesis Gene Cluster Molecular Microbiology (2015) 97:229-43
  • Heppner, K.; Marks, S.; Holland, J.; Ottaway, N.; Smiley, D.; DiMarchi, R. and Perez-Tilve, D. Contribution of brown adipose tissue activity to the control of energy balance by glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor signaling in mice Diabetologia (2015) 58:2124-2132
  • Tiano, J.; Tate, C.; Yang, B.; DiMarchi, R. and Mauvais-Jarvis, F. Effect of targeted estrogen delivery using glucagon-like peptide-1 on incretin-stimulated insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis Nature Scientific Reports (2015) 5:10211&
  • Kharitonenkov, A. and DiMarchi, R. FGF21 Revolutions: Recent Advances Illuminating FGF21 Biology and Medicinal Properties Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism (2015) 26:608–617
  • Xu, P.; Cao, X.; Zhu, L.; Yang, Y.; Saito, K.; Wang, C.; Yan, X.; Hinton, H.; Zou, F.; Ding, H.; Xia Y.; Yan, C.; Wu, S-P.; Yan, B.; Feng, Y.; Clegg, D.; DiMarchi, R.; Khan, S.; Tsai, S.; DeMayo, F.; Wu, Q.; Tong, Q. and Xu, Y. Estrogen Receptor-α in Medial Amygdala Neurons Regulates Body Weight in Both Genders The Journal of clinical investigation (2015) 125:2861-76
  • Clemmensen, C.; Müller, T.; Finan, B.; Tschöp, M. and DiMarchi, R. Current and Emerging Treatment Options in Diabetes Care Handbook Exp Pharmacol (2016) 233:437-59
  • Vogel, H.; Wolfa, S.; Rabasaa, C.; Rodriguez-Pachecoa, F.; Babaeia, F.; Stöberc, F.; Goldschmidt, J.; DiMarchi, R.; Finan, B. F.; Tschoep, M.; Dickson, S.; Schürmann, A. and Skibicka, K. CNS impact of the GLP-1 estrogen conjugate on energy homeostasis and food motivated behavior Neuropharmacology (2016) 110:296-406
  • Matthias, T.; Finan, B.; Clemmensen, C....; Gelfanov, V.; Perez-Tilve, D.; Müller, T. and DiMarchi, R. Unimolecular Polypharmacy for Treatment of Diabetes and Obesity Cell Metabolism, (2016) 24:51-62
  • Finan, B.; Müller, T.; Clemmensen, C....; Perez-Tilve, D.; DiMarchi, R. and Tschöp, M. Reappraisal of GIP Pharmacology for Metabolic Diseases Trends in Molecular Medicine, (2016), 22:359-376
  • Liu, F.; Zaykov, A.; Levy, J....; DiMarchi, R. and Mayer, J. Chemical synthesis of peptides within the insulin superfamily (2016) Journal of Peptide Science, 2016, 22:260-270
  • Zaykov, A.; Mayer, J. and DiMarchi, R. (2016) Pursuit of a Perfect Insulin Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 15:425-39
  • Wu, F.; Mayer, J.; Zaykov, A....; Zhang, F.; Liu, F. and DiMarchi, R. Chemical Synthesis of Human Insulin-Like Peptide-6 Chemistry - A European Journal, (2016) 22:9777-83
  • Sánchez-Garrido; Miguel A.; Habegger, K.; Clemmensen, C....; Holleman, C.; Müller, T.; Perez-Tilve, D.; Li, P.; Agrawal, A.; Finan, B.; Drucker, D.; Tschöp, M.; DiMarchi, R. and Kharitonenkov, A.Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) as a novel metabolic target Molecular Metabolism (2016) 5:1015-24
  • Mroz, P; Perez-Tilve, D.; Liu, F.; Gelfanov, V.; DiMarchi, R. and Mayer, J. Pyridyl-alanine as a Hydrophobic, Aromatic Element in Peptide Structural Optimization J. Med. Chem. (2016) 59(17):8061-7
  • Finan, B.; Clemmensen, C.; Zhu, Z.; Stemmer, K.; Gauthier, K.; Mueller, G.; Angelis, M.; Moreth, K.; Neff, F.; Perez-Tilve, D.; Fischer, K.; Lutter, D.; Sanchez-Garrido, M.; Liu, P.; Tuckermann, J.; Malehmir, M.; Weber, A.; Heikenwalder, M.; Jastroch, M.; Kleinert, M.; Brandt, S.; Flamant, F.; Schramm, K.; Biebermann, H.; Doering, Y.; Weber, C.; Habegger, K.; Keuper, M.; Gelfanov, V.; Liu, F.; Kohrle, J.; Rozman, J.; Fuchs, H.,; Gailus-Durner, V.; deAngelis, M.; Hofmann, S.; Yang, B.; Tschöp, M.; DiMarchi, R. and Müller, T. Selective Targeting of T3 via glucagon transport offers precision metabolic therapy without thyrotoxicity Cell (2016) 167:1-15.
  • Mroz, P.; Perez-Tilve, D.; Liu, F.; Mayer, J. and DiMarchi, R. Native design of soluble, aggregation-resistant bioactive peptides: Chemical evolution of human glucagon ACS Chem Biol (2016) 11:3412−3420. 
  • Yang, X.; Gelfanov, V.; Liu, F. and DiMarchi R. Synthetic Route to Human Relaxin2 via Iodine-Free Sequential Disulfide Bond Formation Org. Lett. (2016), 18:5516−9.
  • Tamargo IA, Bader M, Yazhou L, Yu S-J, Wang Y, Talbot K, DiMarchi RD, Pick CG, Greig NH Novel GLP-1R/GIPR co-agonist "twincretin" is neuroprotective in cell and rodent models of mild traumatic brain injury. Experimental Neurology, (2017) 288:176-186.
  • Kharitonenkov A, DiMarchi R. FGF21 Night Watch: advances and uncertainties in the field Journal of Internal Medicine Journal of Internal Medicine, (2017) 281:233–246.
  • Müller TD, Finan B, Clemmensen C, DiMarchi RD, Tschöp, MH (2017) The New Biology and Pharmacology of Glucagon Physiological reviews, (2017) 97:721-766.
  • Thalluri K, Kou B, Gelfanov V, Mayer J, Liu F, DiMarchi R. Biomimetic Synthesis of Insulin Enabled by Oxime Ligation and Traceless "C-Peptide" Chemical Excision Org. Lett. (2017) 19:706−709.
  • Jall S, Sachs S, Clemmensen C, Finan B, Neff F, DiMarchi R, Tschöp M, Müller T, Hofmann S, Monomeric GLP-1/GIP/glucagon triagonism corrects obesity, hepatosteatosis, and dyslipidemia in female mice Molecular Metabolism (2017) 6:440-446.
  • Wu; F., Mayer, J.; Gelfanov, V.; Liu, F. and DiMarchi, R. Synthesis of Four-Disulfide Insulin Analogs via Sequential Disulfide Bond Formation Journal of Organic Chemistry (2017) 82:3506–3512
  • Thalluri K, Kou B, Xu Y, Zaykov A, Mayer J, Gelfanov V, Liu F, DiMarchi R. Synthesis of Relaxin-2 and Insulin-like Peptide 5 Enabled by Novel Tethering and Traceless Chemical Excision Journal of Peptide Science (2017) 23:455-465.
  • Portron A, Jadidi S, Sarkar N, DiMarchi R and Schmitt C. Pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability of the novel dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide/glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist RG7697 after single subcutaneous administration in healthy subjects Diabetes Obes Metab. (2017) 19:1446-1453.
  • Schmitt C, Portron A, Jadidi S, Sarkar N. and DiMarchi R. Pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and safety of multiple ascending doses of the novel dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide/glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist RG7697 in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus Diabetes Obes Metab. (2017) 19:1436-1445.
  • Tschop M and DiMarchi R. Single-Molecule Combinatorial Therapeutics for Treating Obesity and Diabetes. Diabetes (2017) 66:1766-1769.
  • Sanchez-Garrido MA, Brandt SJ, Clemmensen C, Muller TD, DiMarchi RD, Tschop MH. GLP-1/glucagon receptor co-agonism for treatment of obesity Diabetologia (2017) 60:1851-1861.
  • Mayer J, Tschop M. and DiMarchi R. Once Blind, Now We See GLP-1 Molecular Action Cell Metabolism (2017), 26:289-291.
  • Frias J-P, Bastyr EJ, Vignati L, Tschop MH, Schmitt C, Owen K, Christensen, RH, DiMarchi RD The Sustained Effects of a Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor Agonist, NNC0090-2746, in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Cell Metabolism (2017), 26:343-352.
  • Liu F, Li P, Gelfanov, V, Mayer, J, DiMarchi R. Synthetic Advances in Insulin-like Peptides Enable Novel Bioactivity Advances in Chemical Research (2017) 50:1855–1865.
  • Girada S, Kuna R, Bele S, Zhu Z, Chakravarthi N, DiMarchi R, Mitra P. A Multimeric Assembly of Beta arrestin-1 and Heterotrimeric G protein Gas Regulates Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor-mediated Cyclic AMP Generation at Rab5 Endosomal Compartment Molecular Metabolism (2017) 6:1173-1185.
  • Khajavi N, Biebermann H, Tschöp M, DiMarchi R. (2017) Treatment of Diabetes and Obesity by Rationally Designed Peptide Agonists Functioning at Multiple Metabolic Receptors Developmental Biology of Gastrointestinal Hormones (2017) 32:165-182.
  • Quarta C, Clemmensen C, Zhu Z, Sini J, Lutter D, Yi C-X, Graf E, Fischer K, Brommage R, Cota D, Franklin B, Yang B, Tuckermann J, Gailus-Durner V, Sandoval D, Seeley R, Latz E, Müller T, DiMarchi R, Finan B, Tschöp M. Molecular Integration of incretin and glucocorticoid action immunometabolic dysfunction and obesity Cell Metabolism (2017), 26:1-13. doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2017.08.023 Kleinert M, Clemmensen C, Stemmer K, Muller TD, DiMarchi RD and Tschöp MH Emerging Poly-Agonists for Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Obesity (2017), 25:1647-1649
  • Knerr PJ, Finan B, Gelfanov V, Perez-Tilve D, Tschöp NH and DiMarchi RD Optimization of peptide-based polyagonists for treatment of diabetes and obesity Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry (2017), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2017.10.047.
  • DiMarchi RD, Mayer J, Gelfanov V and Tschöp MH Macromolecular Medicinal Chemistry as Applied to Metabolic Disease Journal of Peptide Sciences (2018), DOI: 10.1002/psc. 3056.
  • Brandt SJ, Mayer JP, Ford J, Gelfanov V and DiMarchi RD Controlled intramolecular antagonism as a regulator of insulin receptor maximal activity Peptide (2018), 100:18-23.
  • Altindia E, Cai W, Sakaguchi M, Zhang F, Guoxiao W, Liu F, Gelfanov V, De Meyts P, DiMarchi R and Kahn R Viral Insulin-like Peptides (VILPs) are new ligands of Human Insulin and IGF-1 Receptors PNAS (2018)
  • Zaykov A, Gelfanov V, Liu F and DiMarchi R (2018) Synthesis and Characterization of the Putative Insulin-Like peptide 5, B5Ser (R27S) Chem Commun (2018)

Representative Patents (2015–18):

  • DiMarchi, R.D.; Azriel J.; Kaur, Z.; Meyers, J.; Parody, T. and Zhao, Y. Single Chain Insulin Analogs Exhibiting High Activity at the Insulin Receptor. January 27, 2015 U. S. Patent # 8,940,860.
  • DiMarchi, R.D.; Kou, B. and Cheng, S. Amide Based Insulin Prodrugs. February 3, 2015 U. S. Patent # 8,946,147.
  • DiMarchi, R.D. and Kou, B. Amide Based Glucagon and Superfamily Peptide Prodrugs. March 3, 2015 U. S. Patent # 8,969,288.
  • Bianchi, E.; Pessi, A.; Day, J.; Smiley, D. and DiMarchi, R.D. Glucagon/GLP-1 Receptor Co-agonists. March 3, 2015 U. S. Patent # 8,969,294.
  • Vignati, L. and DiMarchi, R.D. Methods for treating metabolic disorders and obesity with a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No 146. March 10, 2015 U. S. Patent #8,975,223.
  • DiMarchi, R.; Yang, B. and Ouyang, C. Peptide compounds exhibiting glucagon antagonist and GLP-1 agonist activity. March 17, 2015 U. S. Patent # 8,980,830.
  • DiMarchi, R.D. and Yang, B. Glucagon antagonists. March 17, 2015 U. S. Patent # 8,981,047.
  • DiMarchi, R.D. and Smiley, D.L. Glucagon analogs exhibiting physiological solubility and Stability. April 28, 2015 U. S. Patent # 9,018,164.
  • DiMarchi, R.D. and Tao, M. GIP-based mixed agonists for treatment of metabolic disorders and obesity. June 23, 2015 U. S. Patent # 9,062,124.
  • Sheffer, J.; Norman, T.; DiMarchi, R.D.; Putnam, A-M.; Hays, A.; Feng, T.; Chu, S.; Krawitz, D. and Cho, H.S. human plasma polypeptide or Fc scaffolds and uses thereof are provided. July 7, 2015 U. S. Patent # 9,074,010.
  • DiMarchi, R.D. and De, A. Ester-Based Peptide Prodrugs. July 28, 2015 U. S. Patent # 9,089,539.
  • DiMarchi, R.D., Yang, B. and Finan, B. Glucagon superfamily peptides exhibiting nuclear hormone receptor activity. September 8, 2015 U. S. Patent # 9,127,088.
  • DiMarchi, R.D. and Zhang, L. Glucagon superfamily peptides exhibiting G protein receptor activity. September 29, 2015 U. S. Patent # 9,145,451.
  • DiMarchi, R.D. and Tao, M. GIP receptor-active glucagon compunds. October 6, 2015 U. S. Patent # 9,150,632.
  • DiMarchi, R.D. and Smiley, D.L. Glucagon/GLP-1 receptor co-agonists October 13, 2015 U. S. Patent # 9,156,902.
  • DiMarchi, R.D. and Ward, B. Glucagon analogs exhibiting GIP receptor activity February 2, 2016 U. S. Patent # 9,249,206.
  • Cho, H.S.; Daniel, T.O.; DiMarchi, R.D.; Hays, A-M.; Wilson, T.E.; Sim, B. and Litzinger, D.C. Modified human four helical bundle polypeptides and their uses. February 16, 2016 U. S. Patent # 9,260,472.
  • DiMarchi, R.D. and Smiley, D.L. Glucagon/GLP-1 receptor co-agonists April 12, 2016 U. S. Patent # 9,309,301.
  • DiMarchi, R.D. Glucagon analogs exhibiting GIP receptor activity May 17, 2016 U. S. Patent # 9,340,600.
  • Day, J.; Patterson, J.; Chabenne, J.; DiMarchi, M.; Smiley, D. and DiMarchi, R.D. Glucagon/GLP-1 Receptor Co-Agonists. September 20, 2016 U. S. Patent # 9,447,162.
  • DiMarchi, R.D.; Azriel J.; Kaur, Z.; Meyers, J.; Parody, T. and Zhao, Y. Single Chain Insulin Analogs Exhibiting High Activity at the Insulin Receptor. October 4, 2016 U. S. Patent # 9,458,220
  • DiMarchi, R.D. and Tao, M. Glucagon antagonist-GIP agonist conjugates and compositions for the treatment of metabolic disorders and obesity. November 8, 2016 U.S. Patent # 9,487,571.
  • DiMarchi, R.D. and Li, P. CTP-Based insulin analogs for treatment of diabetes February 21, 2017 U.S. Patent #9,573,987.
  • DiMarchi, R.D. and Ward, B. Glucagon analogs exhibiting GIP receptor activity March 7, 2017 U. S. Patent #9,587,005.
  • Carrington, P.E; Eiermann, G.J.; Marsh, D.J.; Metzger, J.M.; Pocai, A.; SinhaRoy, R.; Bianchi, E.; Ingallinella, P.; Pessi, A.; Prete, A.; Capito, E.; DiMarchi, R.D. and Ward, B. Oxyntomodulin Analogs March 14, 2017 U.S. Patent # 9,593,155
  • DiMarchi, R.D. and Zhao, Y. Insulin analog dimers March 14, 2017 U. S. Patent # 9,593,156.
  • Meehl, M., DiMarchi, R. and Li, P.O-Glycosylated Caroxy Terminal Portion (CTP) peptide-based insulin and insulin analogues July 18, 2017 U. S. Patent # 9,707,276.
  • DiMarchi, R.D. and Smiley, D.L. Glucagon/GLP-1 receptor co-agonists September 12, 2017 U. S. Patent # 9,758,562.
  • DiMarchi, R.D., Yang, B. and Finan, B. Glucagon superfamily peptides exhibiting nuclear hormone receptor activity. October 10, 2017 U. S. Patent # 9,783,592.
  • DiMarchi, R.D. and Tao, M. GIP receptor-active glucagon compounds. October 17, 2017 U. S. Patent # 9,790,263.
  • DiMarchi, R.D., Smiley, D.L., Bleicher, K.H. and Kitas, E. A. Analogs of Glucagon Exhibiting GIP Activity January 16, 2018 U. S. Patent # 9,868,772.

I wanted to create the future, not just apply the discoveries of the past.

Richard DiMarchi