Behind the Science: Fueling Rare Disease Research at Omeros

For Dr. Suneet Mehrotra, Ph.D., a passion for improving healthcare underpins everything he does. Mehrotra is a Senior Group Leader in High-Throughput Screening & Assay Development at Omeros, a Seattle-based life sciences company that focuses on rare disease research and development. In his role, he is the lead developer of biochemical, pharmacological, cell-based, and enzymatic assays utilizing high-throughput screening platforms. 

High-throughput screening (HTS) is an advanced laboratory automation technology designed to enhance drug discovery through rapid and accurate evaluation of large numbers of compounds to determine their biological activity. Omeros’ cutting-edge HTS facility automates assay execution to screen compound libraries that typically range from thousands to 250,000 samples. These screens encompass both small molecules (chemically synthesized) and large molecules (biologics such as antibodies, proteins, and peptides) with minimal human intervention. Automated liquid handling systems precisely dispense compounds and reagents in nanoliter volumes onto assay plates, while robotic arms manage the assay workflow, reducing manual handling.

Once the assays are completed, the next steps are data collection and analysis. Large datasets are analyzed to identify potential scaffolds – molecular structures that interact with the biological target and can form the backbones of new drugs, particularly small molecules. For promising scaffolds, Mehrotra’s team, in collaboration with Omeros’ medicinal chemists, conducts a detailed Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) analysis to predict the biological activity of scaffold-related compounds based on their molecular structure and to evaluate their potency. Mehrotra describes this process as akin to “finding a needle in a haystack,” noting that it can take years to discover and develop a drug candidate that not only exhibits significant biological activity against the target, but also demonstrates optimal efficacy.

Omeros’ strong focus on innovation and on fostering a team-driven environment has laid the foundation for a culture that values and emphasizes collaboration. Mehrotra appreciates that, at Omeros, mission-centric scientists are working closely together to push the boundaries of drug discovery. “Omeros’ structure and size allow its employees to reach across functional groups and departments, sharing information and common goals for the good of our patients,” he stated.

Leveraging their HTS and assay development, Mehrotra and his team contributed to the building of Omeros’ deep and diverse pipeline of first-in-class antibody therapeutics and small molecules targeting critical unmet patient needs in complement-mediated diseases, immuno-oncology, and central nervous system disorders. They now are working to expand that pipeline to include small-molecule complement-targeting drugs that can be administered orally, adding to Omeros’ existing intravenously and subcutaneously delivered agents. The goal is to provide patients choice and an option that could be better suited for large-market indications beyond Omeros’ current focus on rare diseases.

“At Omeros,” he remarked, “we regularly see the impact of our work, underscored through publications, international conference presentations, case reports, or internal meetings with grateful patients, their families and their physicians. The transition from bench to bedside is tangible.”

As for the Seattle area, Mehrotra appreciates the city’s unique placement as a center for excellence in both life sciences and technology. From the cutting-edge scientific research happening at the University of Washington, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, and local biotech companies to well-known tech giants that enable the use of data-driven cloud and AI solutions within healthcare, there are vast opportunities for scientific professionals to explore their passions.

“Scientists are driven by curiosity and a desire to improve people’s lives. We seek answers to questions, and the ability to discover and develop new life-saving drugs – and what that means for families everywhere – is an opportunity that few get and one that fuels my excitement for what I do every day.” 

Interested in joining Dr. Suneet Mehrotra and exploring your own scientific passions in Seattle? See current job openings at Omeros here.

Sponsored by Life Science Washington and Omeros