Joseph Balthasar, Pioneer in Antibody-Drug Conjugate and Protein Therapeutics Research, Named SUNY Distinguished Professor
Key Insights
Joseph P. Balthasar (search), director of UB's Center for Protein Therapeutics, has been appointed SUNY Distinguished Professor, the highest faculty rank in the SUNY system.
His pioneering research on monoclonal antibodies (search) and antibody-drug conjugates (search) led to the launch of Abceutics (search), a startup acquired by Merck (search) for up to $208 million in 2024.
Balthasar received the Outstanding Academic Investigator Award at the 2024 World Antibody-Drug Conjugate Summit and has secured over $13.5 million in NIH grants as principal investigator.
The State University of New York Board of Trustees has appointed Joseph P. Balthasar (search), professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University at Buffalo (UB), to the rank of SUNY Distinguished Professor — the highest faculty distinction within the SUNY system. The appointment, confirmed at the board's April 28 meeting, recognizes Balthasar's internationally acclaimed contributions to the development of novel biological therapies for cancer (search) and autoimmune diseases (search).
Balthasar holds the David and Jane Chu Endowed Chair in Drug Discovery and Development in the UB School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and serves as director of UB's Center for Protein Therapeutics (CPT). He is a fellow of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists.
Pioneering ADC and Monoclonal Antibody Research
Balthasar's research program has focused on the biodistribution, pharmacokinetic modeling, and targeting of monoclonal antibodies (search) and antibody-drug conjugates (search) (ADCs). His laboratory has generated numerous technologies that have been licensed to pharmaceutical companies, advancing the development of next-generation protein-based drugs.
In 2020, Balthasar translated his academic research into a commercial venture by launching Abceutics (search), a preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. Four years later, in 2024, Merck (search) acquired the startup for considerations totaling up to $208 million, underscoring the therapeutic and commercial potential of the platform technologies developed in his laboratory.
Research Funding and International Recognition
Balthasar's research has attracted more than $13.5 million in National Institutes of Health grants on which he served as principal investigator. Additionally, he has secured more than $21.6 million in awards as principal investigator for UB's Center for Protein Therapeutics, which collaborates with pharmaceutical companies to accelerate the development of next-generation protein drugs.
On the international stage, Balthasar received the Outstanding Academic Investigator Award at the 2024 World Antibody-Drug Conjugate Summit, a recognition that highlights his leadership in the ADC field.
Broader Context of SUNY Distinguished Appointments
Balthasar was one of eight UB faculty members elevated to the Distinguished Professor rank at the April 28 SUNY Board of Trustees meeting. The cohort also includes Suzanne Dickerson (School of Nursing), Leonard Egede (Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences), Thomas Feeley (Department of Communication), Melanie Green (Department of Communication), Maria Kraimer (School of Management), Pauline Mendola (Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health), and Sriram Neelamegham (Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering). Christopher Hollister of UB Libraries was named SUNY Distinguished Librarian.
The SUNY Distinguished Professorship represents the highest academic rank conferred by the State University of New York system, honoring faculty who have achieved national and international prominence in their respective fields through outstanding research, scholarship, and service.