Influential Woman · Pharmaceuticals
Anahita Eckard
PhD, MSc
CMC, Analytical Sciences and Quality Control Consultant, NovaCMC Consulting
Hercules, CA 94547
Her Story
About Anahita
Anahita Eckard is a pharmaceutical leader and biologics CMC expert with more than 12 years of experience in analytical science, quality control, and regulatory strategy for biologic drug development. As Principal Consultant at NovaCMC Consulting, she partners with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to provide end-to-end support for analytical method development, validation, technology transfer, quality control, comparability studies, and regulatory submissions. Her expertise spans the full product lifecycle, from early-stage development through commercialization and post-market lifecycle management, helping clients build robust analytical strategies that meet global regulatory expectations. Prior to founding NovaCMC Consulting, Anahita held scientific and leadership positions with Immunovant, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Throughout her career, she has led cross-functional teams, managed analytical and quality control laboratories, developed innovative analytical workflows for biologics, and supported global technology transfers and biologics license application (BLA) submissions. Her contributions include the successful development and commercialization of analytical products and methods, along with extensive experience in protein characterization, glycan analysis, assay validation, specification development, and regulatory compliance. She has authored 12 peer-reviewed publications, contributed to three books and book chapters, delivered 18 scientific presentations, and earned more than 500 citations for her research. Anahita earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences from South Dakota State University, graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA, and holds a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering and Applied Biotechnology from the University of Borås in Sweden. She is recognized for combining scientific rigor with strategic thinking to solve complex analytical challenges while mentoring colleagues and fostering collaborative partnerships. Guided by perseverance, integrity, and a passion for advancing science, Dr. Eckard is committed to helping organizations bring high-quality, life-changing biologic therapies to patients around the world.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Anahita
01What do you attribute your success to?
I believe perseverance and grit, planning and following through with consistent hard work, not being afraid to take a leap in change, and passion in the science that I always had.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say to young women who want to enter into pharmaceutical careers, know that this is a very satisfactory and rewarding career where you can contribute technically and it translates into meaningful healing drugs for patients, but also expect a volatile and very rapid industry. Early on in your career take your time and don't worry so much about title or rushing through climbing up the ladder. Take your time to learn and then the opportunity and titles come on its own. Don't be afraid of taking roles that challenge you.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in the pharmaceutical industry today is bringing increasingly complex and meaningful therapies to patients faster, while maintaining the scientific rigor and quality required to ensure patient safety. Drug development is both time-intensive and costly, so the opportunity is to find smarter and more efficient ways to accelerate development without compromising quality. I believe advances in analytical science, technology, and data-driven decision-making can help us achieve that balance and ultimately bring important medicines to patients sooner.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity and making a meaningful impact on patients’ lives are the values that guide me most, both professionally and personally. To me, integrity means doing the right thing even when it is difficult, taking responsibility for my decisions, and being honest and transparent with others. In the pharmaceutical industry, that responsibility is especially important because the quality of our work can directly affect patients and their families. Knowing that my work can contribute to bringing safe and effective therapies to people who need them gives my career a strong sense of purpose. In my personal life, I try to live by these same principles and demonstrate them through my actions, especially for my children.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.