Principal Scientist
Merck , New Jersey
Li Li is a Principal Scientist at Merck Research Laboratories with a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Drexel University. Since joining Merck’s Pharmaceutical Sciences organization in 2001, she has designed predictive in vitro methods and stability studies for more than 20 drug candidates, spanning preclinical programs through Phase III. Her analytical leadership has advanced understanding of excipient structure–performance relationships—critical for developing reliable oral formulations for candidates with diverse physicochemical profiles. More recently, she led early formulation development for an oral PCSK9 inhibitor, an innovative therapy with potential to transform care for patients at high cardiovascular risk. She also directed analytical strategy for mRNA drug-substance development, implementing advanced characterization tools to deepen process understanding of in vitro transcription and purification.
Li is currently leading early development of an NLRP3 inhibitor, a novel therapeutic approach for cardiometabolic disease.
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Rapid Fires: Predictive Power: Modeling, AI & Regulatory Design in Drug Development
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM CT