" class="no-js "lang="en-US"> James Rusnak - Medtech Alert
Tuesday, February 24, 2026

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James Rusnak

James Rusnak

About James Rusnak

Pursuing a career in the pharmaceutical industry was both an early epiphany and a natural marriage of my core passions: a long-standing interest in medicine and purpose-driven research. A polymer chemistry laboratory college internship offered my first exposure to what a career in research would offer. While I loved the applied and driven nature of that work, researching chip guards and auto body sealants lacked sufficient meaning to me.

Fast-forward 30 years… I earned my MD/PhD degrees from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and trained in Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic. Along the way, I refined and reaffirmed my career intent.

I joined the pharmaceutical industry in 2000 and have spent 20+ years in roles of increasing responsibility at Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer. I have been privileged to contribute individually to many drug development programs and ultimately to lead many more.

I have largely worked in therapeutic areas that touch tens to hundreds of millions of patients annually – a gratifying contribution to society that I could have never achieved outside the pharmaceutical industry.

Some highlights include:

• Authoring and initiating a major cardiovascular outcome study, and contributing to two FDA Cardiorenal Advisory Panels within my first two years in industry. In hindsight, this experience was the foundation of the remainder of my career.

• Leading the development of PAXLOVID – a novel antiviral that has made a nearly 90% reduction in hospitalization or death in high-risk patients with COVID-19. From first synthesis to EUA approval was achieved in an industry leading 17 months to urgently address patient’s needs in the pandemic.

• Having multiple opportunities to shape the clinical development of ELIQUIS, a product of the Pfizer-Bristol-Myers Squibb Alliance.

• Leading the CHANTIX team in an FDA Advisory Panel that resulted in removal of the Boxed Warning.

• Expanding the indications for LYRICA during life-cycle management.

• Contributing to the development of important medicines that have impacted patients’ lives, including premier products in the areas of neuropathic pain, type 2 diabetes and hypertension

My current work at Pfizer represents some of the most satisfying highlights of my career, and every day presents profound new opportunities to positively impact human health. These include drugs that address residual cardiovascular risk, diabetes, obesity, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), antivirals, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).