Meet Marco Glucini: Every Project Is Its Own Expedition

A mountain offers no shortcuts. The destination may be visible from the outset, but the route is rarely straightforward. There are steep sections, unexpected obstacles, changing conditions and moments when progress depends on careful steps, experience and trust in the people climbing alongside you. For Marco Glucini, Senior Business Development Manager at WuXi STA, that is also the best way to describe pharmaceutical development.

“Working at WuXi AppTec really reminds me of two of my favorite hobbies: hiking and snowboarding,” he says. “Pharmaceutical development is a journey that feels very much like climbing a mountain.”

It is an analogy shaped by his own journey. After graduating through a program with Pfizer and the University of Camerino—one of Italy’s oldest universities, founded in 1336—he spent a few years working as a scientist before moving into business development. More than two years ago, he brought that scientific foundation and commercial perspective to WuXi STA, a subsidiary of WuXi AppTec.

As an integral part of WuXi AppTec’s CRDMO model, WuXi STA offers partners worldwide efficient, flexible and high-quality solutions for integrated drug development and manufacturing from preclinical to commercial. Marco primarily supports clinical-stage assets, at a stage when scientific vision begins its most demanding ascent. “You start with a clear destination in mind,” he explains, “but you know the path won’t be straightforward.”

For Marco, every project is its own expedition. A molecule begins as a promising idea, and from there it starts a long and demanding ascent. Every milestone in process development that leads to a transition into clinical phases represents another stage of the climb. Each step requires dedication, scientific rigor, and close collaboration among experts from different disciplines. 

His role is to connect those disciplines.

“My job is to connect all the dots, ensuring a safe journey,” he says. “Progress is often measured in small milestones, but every one of them brings the project closer to its ultimate summit, delivering a new treatment to patients.”

That perspective also shapes how he defines partnership. Rather than simply supporting programs, he believes WuXi STA becomes an extension of clients’ own teams, helping them overcome challenges and maintain momentum when development becomes increasingly complex.

“One of the things I appreciate most about my work is that I help our partners overcome challenges and keep moving forward,” he says. “It’s rewarding to see how our contribution can make a real difference in helping innovative therapies progress through development.”

Yet, as every mountaineer knows, reaching the summit is not necessarily the end of the story.

“Sometimes it’s the moment when you can stop, look back, appreciate the effort that made it possible, and enjoy,” he reflects. “Or there’s also the chance to enjoy the ride—just like snowboarding after reaching the top.”

The lesson extends beyond the mountains. While drug development demands persistence and resilience, it is equally important to celebrate achievements, enjoy the moments shared with colleagues and partners, and recharge before setting sights on the next challenge.

Away from work, that same curiosity continues to guide him. Before hanging up his basketball shoes, he played the sport at a semi-professional level for much of his life. These days, winter is reserved for snowboarding, while warmer months are spent hiking whenever time allows. 

Travel is another enduring passion. Having visited more than 30 countries across all five inhabited continents, he is always looking for the next adventure. 

Whether on a mountain trail or alongside clients navigating clinical development, his philosophy remains unchanged. Significant journeys are rarely defined by a single leap forward. They are built one careful step at a time, with trusted partners who make even the most challenging ascent possible.