Best Startup
At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top United Kingdom based VP’ operating in the Pharmaceutical space. If you think a VP’ is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Bruno Angelici
Executive VP of AstraZeneca
Bruno Angelici was appointed in 2007, current term until 2019. He was formerly Executive Vice President, Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa of AstraZeneca Plc.
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About AstraZeneca: AstraZeneca is a global pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets prescription medicines.
James Weatherall
VP, Data Science & AI, Research and Development of AstraZeneca
Jim Weatherall is Head of the Advanced Analytics Centre (AAC) at AstraZeneca, a department of approximately 30 clinical and health data scientists across three countries covering the disciplines of advanced statistics, scientific computing, and biomedical and health informatics. A particle physicist by training, Jim spent time as an academic researcher, before becoming a scientific software engineer consulting across a range of different industries, including the life sciences. He has had affiliate staff status at the University of Manchester since 2012, most recently being appointed as honorary reader at the University’s Health eResearch Centre. Jim and his team have introduced a number of innovations into the clinical research field, in areas such as data and text mining, data visualization, health technology evaluation, and clinical trial design.
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About AstraZeneca, University of Manchester: AstraZeneca is a global pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets prescription medicines.
Jeanne Bolger
Vice President Venture Investing of Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation
Jeanne Bolger, MB BCh BAO, Vice President, Venture Investments, joined Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation (JJDC) in 2013. She is based in London, UK. Dr. Bolger has over 25 years of pharmaceutical industry experience in management roles across R&D, Commercial and Business Development (BD). She spent 11 years in Licensing and Acquisition (L&A), most recently as Global Head of Scientific Licensing for Johnson & Johnson’s Pharmaceutical business, having joined Johnson & Johnson in 2005 from the Business Development group at GlaxoSmithKline. In 2009, Dr. Bolger became Vice President, Alliance Management at Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy, working with Pfizer and Elan. Dr. Bolger received her medical degree from University College Dublin. She also holds diplomas in Child Health (NUI) and in Finance and Accounting (ACCA). She is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Ireland (RAMI). Dr. Bolger has served as the sole pharma industry representative on two Irish government taskforces seeking to enhance the commercialization of IP from Irish academic centres. She is a visiting lecturer on the MSc Pharmaceutical Medicine curriculum at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.
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About Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation, Pulmocide: Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation, a venture capital subsidiary, finances technology companies focused on patient health.
Alun McCarthy
Vice President of C4X Discovery
Alun has over 30 years of pharmaceutical industry experience, including drug discovery & development, genetics and biomarker research. Alun was co-founder and CEO of both Adorial (in 2014) and of PGXIS (in 2007). Former roles at GlaxoSmithKline include Head of Translational Medicine & Genetics for Psychiatry, Director of Clinical Pharmacogenetics, and Medical Strategy Head for CV/Metabolic Diseases. Alun has managed staff on a global basis, and has significant experience of engaging with regulatory authorities in the US, Europe and Japan. He holds a BA (Biochemistry) from the University of Cambridge, and a PhD (Biochemistry) from Trinity College, Dublin.
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About C4X Discovery: C4X Discovery brings a new dimension to drug discovery. Using its unique NMR-based technique to determine 3D molecular.
Martin Watson
Vice President of C4X Discovery
Martin was one of the first employees of the Company, coming from AstraZeneca plc where he had worked for 4 years in the industrial application of NMR to drug discovery. He has a first class masters chemistry degree from the University of Birmingham and a PhD from the University of Sheffield. He has applied NMR techniques across a wide range of drug targets.
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About C4X Discovery: C4X Discovery brings a new dimension to drug discovery. Using its unique NMR-based technique to determine 3D molecular.
Victoria Kitcatt
Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of Pfizer
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About Pfizer: Pfizer provides access to safe and effective and affordable medicines and health care services.
Anthony Chow
VP IR of Juvenescence
Anthony Chow is a CFA Charter holder with broad experience as an investor. He commenced his career at ANZ Banking Group Ltd in Sydney, Australia where he worked as an analyst for four years in the corporate banking, leveraged finance and private equity teams. In 2007, Anthony moved to London to work for Jim Mellon at Burnbrae Group and Regent Pacific. Since joining, he was responsible research, direct investments, portfolio construction, risk management and facilitating trades in a wide range of financial instruments. He has worked closely with portfolio companies and respective coinvestors. He is currently the CEO of Burnbrae’s subsidiary Mann Bioinvest Limited and consultant to Juvenescence. He also sits on the board of The Diabetic Boot Company Limited, a medical device company. Anthony holds a Bachelor of Economics and Finance from The University of Sydney and a Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting from Macquarie University. He was awarded the CFA designation in 2010.
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About Agronomics, Juvenescence: Juvenescence is a biotech company that develops therapies and products to modify aging and help people live longer.
Martin Ducker
Vice President of Juvenescence
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About Juvenescence: Juvenescence is a biotech company that develops therapies and products to modify aging and help people live longer.
Jenny Laird
VP, Search & Evaluation – Neuroscience of Eli Lilly
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About Eli Lilly: Eli Lilly engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of products in pharmaceutical products business segment.
Martin Lachs
Vice President Global Project Management of ICON plc
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About ICON plc: ICON is a global provider of outsourced drug development services to biopharma, medical device, biosimilar and generic organizations.
Fred Reno
VP of Toxicology & Consultant of Spinifex Pharmaceuticals
During his over 40 years career in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, Fred has provided scientific expertise in the areas of toxicology, preclinical aspects of drug and device development, strategies for product safety evaluation, and liaison with appropriate regulatory agencies. His experience includes; organizing and directing safety evaluation programs and interfacing with contract laboratories; providing scientific opinions on toxicology aspects of potential candidate compounds for licensing; and preparation of preclinical summariesfor U.S. (IND, NDA, IDE, PMA) and foreign pharmaceutical submissions. Working together with Colleen Johnson, Fred has led the IND enabling and subsequent toxicology program for EMA401. Fred has Ph.D., Toxicology from Utah State University, M.S., Zoology from University of Nevada and B.S., Biology from University of San Francisco.
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About Spinifex Pharmaceuticals: Spinifex Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in the development of products for the treatment of pain.
Zeshan Ghory
VP of Operations & Analytics of Antidote.me
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About Antidote.me: Antidote is a digital health company that accelerates and improves medical research by combining technologies, data, and business models.
Simon Ashworth
VP, Head Safety and Pharmacovigilance of Autolus
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About Autolus, Takeda: Autolus is in T-cell programming and manufacturing technology.
Christopher Vann
Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of Autolus
Christopher Vann leads commercial activities for Autolus. An industry veteran with 30 years’ experience in both development and business roles, he joined Autolus from Hoffmann-La Roche’s Swiss headquarters, where he was latterly responsible for leading the lung cancer commercial team and general management of the Tarceva brand. He has extensive experience of global lifecycle management of oncology products as well as implementing marketing strategy at a regional and national level. This includes launching several oncology, immunology and transplant products in countries such as China, Japan, Romania, Russia, South Africa, the UK and the USA. He gained his degree in toxicology and pharmacology from the School of Pharmacy, University of London.
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About Autolus: Autolus is in T-cell programming and manufacturing technology.
Arif Shivji
Senior Vice President, Business and Corporate Development and Development Operations of Drugabilis
Dr Shivji is a co-founder of Ziarco and was previously Vice President of Development Operations and Business Development. Dr Shivji has a broad experience of drug discovery, development and commercialization and has contributed to bringing 10 commercially available products to the market, through various leadership roles in pharmaceutical sciences and global project management. Prior to Ziarco, he was in Pfizer’s Business Development group. In this role, he was responsible for in-licensing, out-licensing and research collaborations with universities, medical research institutions, governments and companies for Pfizer’s Allergy and Respiratory and Anti-Infectives businesses. Dr Shivji has a degree in Pharmacy, and a PhD in Biophysics from the University of Nottingham, under the direction of Professors’ Martyn Davies, Saul Tendler, Clive Roberts and Phil Williams. His post doctoral research was sponsored by Glaxo SmithKline (GSK) Pharmaceuticals and focussed on understanding the role and mechanism of beta amyloid deposition in Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr Shivji has authored and co-authored a number of scientific papers, abstracts and patents and regularly contributes to scientific and business development meetings. He is currently also a visiting professor at the University of Reading.
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About Drugabilis: Drugabilis specializes in solid form characterisation and formulation development for human and animal health.
Nick Child
Vice President of Stablepharma Ltd
Nick Child – Vice President & Co Founder Experienced company leader, business developer, multi-disciplined & experienced in UK & International markets, manufacturing & distribution. Initiated various start-ups, acquisitions, & funding rounds.
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About Stablepharma Ltd: An innovative Biotech, developing a wide range of reformulated thermostable and fridge free StablevaX vaccines
Alastair Macdonald
SVP, Real World and Late Phase of Syneos Health
Alastair MacDonald, Executive Director, Real World & Late Phase, has 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical development sector. Prior to joining INC, he was Global Delivery Director for Medical Evidence and Observational Research at Astra Zeneca with responsibility for the generation of evidence in both pre- and post-approval drugs required to support core clinical development programs and prepare for reimbursement.
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About Syneos Health: Syneos Health, the only fully integrated end-to-end clinical and commercial solution organization.
Valerie Morisset
Co-Founder, EVP of R&D, and CSO of Eliem Therapeutics
Valerie Morisset is the Co-Founder, EVP of R&D, and CSO at Eliem Therapeutics.
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About Eliem Therapeutics: Eliem Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing treatments for nervous system disorders.
Caroline Stockwell
VP, Head of Legal International of Intercept Pharmaceuticals
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About Intercept Pharmaceuticals: Intercept Pharmaceuticals develops small molecule drugs and therapeutics for the treatment of chronic fibrotic and metabolic diseases.
Gayle Chapman
VP Research & Development of Epsilon-3 Bio Ltd.
Gayle Chapman currently serves Epsilon-3 Bio as VP Research and Development With close to 20 years experience in the sector, Gayle has managed numerous project teams and their successful delivery of drug product candidates. Gayle’s expertise is built on experience across a diverse range of organisations, from large and small pharmaceuticals (GSK, Medimmune, UCB, Celltech) through to virtual development companies (Actigen, Catalyst) and supporting drug discovery within an academic environment.
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About Epsilon-3 Bio Ltd.: E3Bio is focused on the efficient development of first in class drug candidates stimulating safe removal of cellular debris.
Nicholas Lakin
Vice President, Advisory Services of Kinapse
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About Kinapse: Kinapse provides advisory, capability building and operational services to the life sciences industries.
