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March 1, 2016 Press Releases

Acquisition of Genetic Analysis Company

C4X Discovery Holdings plc

(“C4XD”, “C4X Discovery” or the “Company”)

Adorial Limited augments C4X Discovery’s drug discovery engine


1 March, 2016 – C4X Discovery Holdings plc (AIM: C4XD), an innovative drug discovery and development company, today announces the acquisition of Adorial Limited together with its subsidiaries (“Adorial”), a privately held drug discovery company with a proprietary genetic technology platform for the identification of novel drug targets (“the Acquisition”).

Adorial’s key genetic technology, Taxonomy3®, was originally co-developed with academic experts from the universities of Oxford and Lille, with funding support from Innovate UK. Taxonomy3® is a revolutionary and highly sensitive mathematical tool that has the potential to increase the probability of small molecule drug-development success. Adorial has used Taxonomy3® in partnership with several of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, including Takeda and UCB Pharma, and has identified multiple new targets in rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson’s disease and ophthalmology.

By performing highly sensitive in silico mining and analysis of publicly available DNA databases, Taxonomy3® is able to identify previously unknown linkages and interactions between genes and biological pathways in a broad range of diseases. This enables the discovery of targets that cause disease, rather than those that are simply associated with its symptoms, thereby providing the best starting point for drug discovery, biomarker identification and patient stratification, and ultimately improving the chances of clinical success.

Dr Alun McCarthy and Dr Olivier Delrieu, the founders of Adorial, will both join the Company with immediate effect.

The total consideration payable is approximately £1.7 million which will be satisfied by the issue of 1,508,207 new ordinary shares (the “Consideration Shares”) at a price of 106p, being a 3 per cent premium to the closing mid-market price of a C4XD share on 29th February 2016, and £72,000 cash. The Acquisition is conditional only on Admission of the Consideration Shares to trading on AIM becoming effective (“Admission”). Application has been made for Admission and it is expected that this will occur on 2nd March 2016. All Consideration Shares are subject to lock-in agreements of between 6 and 12 months.

Dr Clive Dix, Executive Chairman of C4X Discovery, commented on the acquisition: “With Adorial, we now not only have the ability to create the best-in-class molecules against any known therapeutic target using C4XD’s approach to ligand-based drug discovery, but also the ability to identify our own highly relevant and unique targets using Taxonomy3®. Combining Taxonomy3® with C4X Discovery’s existing platform will fuel our small molecule drug discovery and development pipeline, as well as help us to progress towards our goal of becoming the world’s leading engine for the discovery of novel small molecule drugs.”

“We welcome Dr Alun McCarthy and Dr Olivier Delrieu to the C4XD team, both of whom have distinguished backgrounds in pharmaceutical Research and Development. They bring with them an existing list of high quality targets with genetic validation that have a much improved chance of clinical success.”

Dr Alun McCarthy, CEO of Adorial, commented on the acquisition: “We are delighted to join C4X Discovery and integrate with its innovative chemistry technology. The combination of Adorial’s ability to identify novel drug targets with C4X’s ability to rapidly generate molecules against these targets creates an extremely powerful drug discovery engine”.

Total Voting Rights

Subsequent to the issuance of the Consideration Shares, the Company will have 32,496,757 Ordinary Shares in issue. The Company does not hold any shares in treasury. Accordingly, following admission of the Consideration Shares, the total number of Ordinary Shares and voting rights in the Company is 32,496,757. This figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the share capital of the Company under the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the UK Financial Conduct Authority.

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January 10, 2023

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December 15, 2022

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February 1, 2022

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January 18, 2022

Result of AGM

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December 21, 2021

Dr Catherine Tralau-Stewart Appointed as C4XD’s Chief Scientific Officer

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C4X Discovery Holdings PLC
Manchester One
53 Portland Street
Manchester
M1 3LD

Catherine Tralau-Stewart PhD
Chief Scientific Officer
Cathy joined C4XD in January 2022 with more than 20 years of senior academic and industry leadership experience. She has an in-depth knowledge of drug discovery and translation of early research innovation into robust drug discovery programmes. Previously she was Senior Director, Alliances, for Takeda Pharmaceuticals, responsible for the strategic development and management of academic alliances for Takeda for the US, Australia, Japan and Europe. Cathy started her career at GSK before moving into academia where she held senior leadership roles building drug discovery portfolios through to Phase III clinical studies, at Imperial College London, University of California San Francisco and Stanford University-Takeda Alliance. Cathy has a BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences (Biochemistry/Pharmacology) and a PhD (Clinical Sciences) University College Hospital Medical School, National Medical Laser Centre, Dept. of Surgery and ICRF (CRUK). She has published more than 25 publications and is the inventor of three granted patents and is a non-inventor contributor of many more. Cathy received the President’s award of Fellow Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC), is International Meeting Chair 2022 & Previous Invited Board Director Society of Laboratory Screening & Automation (SLAS), Fellow of SLAS, Member of British Pharmacological Society, and acted as advisor to academic entrepreneurship & commercialization programmes including Stanford SPARK, UCSF, UCLA, UCSD, UC Davis and the NIH.
Catherine Tralau-Stewart PhD
Chief Scientific Officer
Cathy joined C4XD in January 2022 with more than 20 years of senior academic and industry leadership experience. She has an in-depth knowledge of drug discovery and translation of early research innovation into robust drug discovery programmes. Previously she was Senior Director, Alliances, for Takeda Pharmaceuticals, responsible for the strategic development and management of academic alliances for Takeda for the US, Australia, Japan and Europe. Cathy started her career at GSK before moving into academia where she held senior leadership roles building drug discovery portfolios through to Phase III clinical studies, at Imperial College London, University of California San Francisco and Stanford University-Takeda Alliance. Cathy has a BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences (Biochemistry/Pharmacology) and a PhD (Clinical Sciences) University College Hospital Medical School, National Medical Laser Centre, Dept. of Surgery and ICRF (CRUK). She has published more than 25 publications and is the inventor of three granted patents and is a non-inventor contributor of many more. Cathy received the President’s award of Fellow Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC), is International Meeting Chair 2022 & Previous Invited Board Director Society of Laboratory Screening & Automation (SLAS), Fellow of SLAS, Member of British Pharmacological Society, and acted as advisor to academic entrepreneurship & commercialization programmes including Stanford SPARK, UCSF, UCLA, UCSD, UC Davis and the NIH.
Emma Blaney PhD
Chief Operating Officer
Emma oversees the day-to-day operations of the business with responsibility for defining and implementing operations strategy, structure, and processes. As a trained medicinal chemist, Emma joined C4XD in 2014 as a Senior Programme Manager and has gained more than 18 years’ experience working on Drug Discovery programmes within the Pharmaceutical sector. She brings extensive project management experience to the Executive Team with a particular focus on outsourcing management and collaborations. Previously she was a Section Head at Peakdale Molecular leading multiple projects for pharmaceuticals clients and a Medicinal Chemistry Team Leader at GSK within the Neurology and Gastrointestinal Department. Emma has a PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from the University of Leeds, and a first-class Chemistry and Pharmacology degree from the University of Liverpool.
Emma Blaney
Chief Operating Officer
Emma oversees the day-to-day operations of the business with responsibility for defining and implementing operations strategy, structure, and processes. As a trained medicinal chemist, Emma joined C4XD in 2014 as a Senior Programme Manager and has gained more than 18 years’ experience working on Drug Discovery programmes within the Pharmaceutical sector. She brings extensive project management experience to the Executive Team with a particular focus on outsourcing management and collaborations. Previously she was a Section Head at Peakdale Molecular leading multiple projects for pharmaceuticals clients and a Medicinal Chemistry Team Leader at GSK within the Neurology and Gastrointestinal Department. Emma has a PhD in synthetic organic chemistry from the University of Leeds, and a first-class chemistry and pharmacology degree from the University of Liverpool.
Bhavna Hunjan
Chief Business Officer
Bhavna has spent almost 15 years in commercial and corporate roles, first as an investment banker at Lehman Brothers and Nomura International and then in corporate strategy at PwC and Cancer Research UK. In 2016, she was hired by C4XD to incept and establish a new team focused on business development, deal structuring and execution, commercial intelligence, financing, and strategic planning / M&A. Since then, Bhavna has led this team to execute a series of successful licensing deals and strategic partnerships, as well as driving business growth and capital raising as part of the Executive Management team. Bhavna has a first class Masters degree in Biochemistry from the University of Oxford. She was awarded a Rising Star in the Movers & Shakers in BioBusiness 2017, and also voted one of the 30 Rising Leaders in Life Sciences 2020 by In Vivo.
Bhavna Hanjan
Chief Business Officer
Bhavna has spent almost 15 years in commercial and corporate roles, first as an investment banker at Lehman Brothers and Nomura International and then in corporate strategy at PwC and Cancer Research UK. In 2016, she was hired by C4X Discovery to incept and establish a new team focused on business development, deal structuring and execution, commercial intelligence, financing, and strategic planning / M&A. Since then, Bhavna has led this team to execute a series of successful licensing deals and strategic partnerships, as well as driving business growth and capital raising as part of the Executive Management team. Bhavna has a first class Masters degree in Biochemistry from the University of Oxford. She was awarded a Rising Star in the Movers & Shakers in BioBusiness 2017, and also voted one of the 30 Rising Leaders in Life Sciences 2020 by In Vivo.
Simon Harford
Non-Executive Director
Simon’s career spans more than 30 years with significant financial and investor relations expertise in global pharmaceutical companies. Simon is currently CFO at Albireo Pharma Inc., a NASDAQ-listed biotech company where he has raised more than $200 million in equity financing and was previously CFO of Parexel International Inc., a global clinical research organisation, which was acquired by private equity in 2017. Prior to this, Simon held various financial leadership roles at GSK, including SVP Finance, Global Pharmaceuticals. During his tenure, he was responsible for finance in all pharmaceutical markets globally and was a member of the Global Pharmaceutical Operations Committee. Simon also held key financial management roles at Eli Lilly and Company over two decades including Vice President and Controller, CFO and Executive Director Finance for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and led the global investor relations function as Executive Director of Investor Relations. He also received the Lilly, Chairman’s Ovation Award 2004 for outstanding achievement to Lilly. Simon has an MBA from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.
Simon Harford
Non-Executive Director
Simon’s career expands more than 30 years with significant financial and investor relations expertise in global pharmaceutical companies. Simon is currently CFO at Albireo Pharma Inc., a NASDAQ-listed biotech company where he has raised more than $200 million in equity financing and was previously CFO of Parexel International Inc., a global clinical research organisation, which was acquired by private equity in 2017. Prior to this, Simon held various financial leadership roles at GSK, including SVP Finance, Global Pharmaceuticals. During his tenure, he was responsible for finance in all pharmaceutical markets globally and was a member of the Global Pharmaceutical Operations Committee. Simon also held key financial management roles at Eli Lilly and Company over two decades including Vice President and Controller, CFO and Executive Director Finance for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and led the global investor relations function as Executive Director of Investor Relations. He also received the Lilly, Chairman’s Ovation Award 2004 for outstanding achievement to Lilly. Simon has an MBA from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.
Natalie Walter
Non-Executive Director
Natalie is a corporate finance lawyer with more than 20 years of experience advising on international equity capital markets transactions in the healthcare sector. Natalie is currently General Counsel to Oxford Biomedica plc, a FTSE 250 gene and cell therapy company. Prior to joining Oxford Biomedica, Natalie was an Equity Partner at Covington & Burling LLP advising Boards on a range of strategic, transactional and general corporate finance matters, with particular expertise in advising on deals in the life sciences sector. Prior to this, Natalie had been an Equity Partner at Morrison & Foerster LLP and had spent part of her career as a Director and Legal Counsel on the ECM desk at Lehman Brothers. Natalie was a Board member of RSA (Holdings) Limited until March 2020.
Natalie Walter
Non-Executive Director
Natalie is a corporate finance lawyer with more than 20 years of experience advising on international equity capital markets transactions in the healthcare sector. Natalie is currently General Counsel to Oxford Biomedica plc, a FTSE 250 gene and cell therapy company. Prior to joining Oxford Biomedica, Natalie was an Equity Partner at Covington & Burling LLP advising Boards on a range of strategic, transactional and general corporate finance matters, with particular expertise in advising on deals in the life sciences sector. Prior to this, Natalie had been an Equity Partner at Morrison & Foerster LLP and had spent part of her career as a Director and Legal Counsel on the ECM desk at Lehman Brothers. Natalie was a Board member of RSA (Holdings) Limited until March 2020.
Alex Stevenson PhD
Non-Executive Director
Alex began his career as a microbiologist, working in research for a number of years before joining an NYSE-quoted drug development company. He subsequently moved into pharmaceutical and healthcare investment and has fulfilled a number of board-level investment and operational management roles. He was a Director and shareholder in Aquarius Equity from 2008, where he was responsible for identifying new investments and developing and implementing scientific strategies both pre and post-investment. These included Tissue Regenix Group plc, C4X Discovery Holdings plc and Brabant Pharma (subsequently sold to Zogenix, Inc.). Alex joined the Board of C4XD as a Non-Executive Director following Aquarius’ investment in the Company. Prior to joining Aquarius, Alex worked for IP Group plc, where he specialised in life sciences investments identifying, developing and advising a number of companies in its portfolio, some of which went on to list on AIM. He joined IP Group following its acquisition of Techtran Group Limited in 2005 and Alex is a Co-Founder of 4D pharma plc and has served as Chief Scientific Officer since 2014.
Alex Stevenson PhD
Non-Executive Director
Alex began his career as a microbiologist, working in research for a number of years before joining an NYSE-quoted drug development company. He subsequently moved into pharmaceutical and healthcare investment and has fulfilled a number of board-level investment and operational management roles. He was a Director and shareholder in Aquarius Equity from 2008, where he was responsible for identifying new investments and developing and implementing scientific strategies both pre and post-investment. These included Tissue Regenix Group plc, C4X Discovery Holdings plc and Brabant Pharma (subsequently sold to Zogenix, Inc.). Alex joined the Board of C4XD as a Non-Executive Director following Aquarius’ investment in the Company. Prior to joining Aquarius, Alex worked for IP Group plc, where he specialised in life sciences investments identifying, developing and advising a number of companies in its portfolio, some of which went on to list on AIM. He joined IP Group following its acquisition of Techtran Group Limited in 2005 and Alex is a Co-Founder of 4D pharma plc and has served as Chief Scientific Officer since 2014.
Chief Financial Officer
Brad Hoy
Brad has more than 20 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and has held a number of senior financial and general management positions in both the UK and the US. Previously, Brad was Chief Financial Officer of Plethora Solutions Holdings plc, an AIM-listed specialty pharmaceutical company, Chief Executive Officer of Xcellsyz Limited, a UK venture capital-backed life science company, and Senior Director of Geron Corporation’s stem cell-focused UK subsidiary. Brad was formerly a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Directors for e-Therapeutics plc.
Brad Hoy
Chief Financial Officer
Brad has more than 20 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and has held a number of senior financial and general management positions in both the UK and the US. Previously, Brad was Chief Financial Officer of Plethora Solutions Holdings plc, an AIM-listed specialty pharmaceutical company, Chief Executive Officer of Xcellsyz Limited, a UK venture capital-backed life science company, and Senior Director of Geron Corporation’s stem cell-focused UK subsidiary. Brad was formerly a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Directors for e-Therapeutics plc.
Chief Scientific Officer
Craig Fox PhD
Craig is an experienced biologist and NIH funded Principal Investigator who has worked on and managed many Drug Discovery and development projects over more than 20 years in the industry, from initial target selection right through to investigating clinical efficacy and safety in Phase 2 patient studies. Craig joined C4XD as Head of Biology in June 2015 before becoming Chief Scientific Officer in October later that year. Prior to joining C4XD, Craig was Director of Respiratory Research at Pulmagen Therapeutics, a clinical stage company spun out of Argenta in 2010. At Pulmagen, Craig managed several of its collaborations and partnerships, including those with AstraZeneca, Chiesi, Domantis, Dr Reddy’s, Skyepharma and Teijin Pharma. Craig was part of the Etiologics team that merged with Argenta Discovery in 2004 and prior to this he worked for Bayer as a Research Scientist. Craig has a PhD in Respiratory Medicine from Birmingham University and a first-class Biochemistry degree from the University of Surrey.
Craig Fox PhD
Chief Scientific Officer
Craig is an experienced biologist and NIH funded Principal Investigator who has worked on and managed many Drug Discovery and development projects over more than 20 years in the industry, from initial target selection right through to investigating clinical efficacy and safety in Phase 2 patient studies. Craig joined C4XD as Head of Biology in June 2015 before becoming Chief Scientific Officer in October later that year. Prior to joining C4XD, Craig was Director of Respiratory Research at Pulmagen Therapeutics, a clinical stage company spun out of Argenta in 2010. At Pulmagen, Craig managed several of its collaborations and partnerships, including those with AstraZeneca, Chiesi, Domantis, Dr Reddy’s, Skyepharma and Teijin Pharma. Craig was part of the Etiologics team that merged with Argenta Discovery in 2004 and prior to this he worked for Bayer as a Research Scientist. Craig has a PhD in Respiratory Medicine from Birmingham University and a first-class Biochemistry degree from the University of Surrey.
Clive Dix BSc PhD HonFBPhS
Chief Executive Officer
Clive has more than 30 years’ experience through senior pharmaceutical industry positions and a degree and PhD in Pharmacology. His expertise includes an in-depth understanding of Drug Discovery and development, a broad knowledge of the science and commercial landscape across therapeutic areas and solid experience of the pharmaceutical business and finance community supporting the sector. Clive was Co-Founder and CEO of Convergence Pharmaceuticals Ltd, acquired by Biogen, and Co-Founder and CEO of PowderMed Ltd, acquired by Pfizer. Previously, he was SVP, Research and Development and a Board member of PowderJect Pharmaceuticals plc, acquired by Chiron Vaccines. Clive began his career in industry at Ciba-Geigy and GlaxoWellcome. Clive is currently a Non‑Executive Board member of the Medicines Discovery Catapult and on the Board of PHTA, the University of Birmingham’s flagship research facility. He was Chairman of the BioIndustry Association and interim Chair of the UK Vaccines taskforce who oversaw the supply of one of the most successful COVID-19 vaccine rollout programmes in the world.
Clive Dix PhD
Chief Executive Officer
Clive has more than 30 years’ experience in life science research, with over 20 years in senior pharmaceutical industry positions and a degree and PhD in Pharmacology. His expertise includes an in-depth understanding of all facets of Drug Discovery and development, a broad knowledge of the science and commercial landscape of a variety of therapeutic areas and solid experience of the pharmaceutical business and finance community supporting the sector. Clive was Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Convergence Pharmaceuticals Ltd, which was acquired by Biogen in January 2015. Clive was previously Co-Founder and Chief Executive of PowderMed Ltd, a vaccines development company acquired by Pfizer in November 2006. Before that he was Senior Vice President, Research and Development and a Board member of PowderJect Pharmaceuticals plc until its acquisition by Chiron Vaccines in 2003. Clive began his career in industry at Ciba-Geigy and then GlaxoWellcome, where he left as UK Research Director in 2001. Clive, a recent past Chairman of the BioIndustry Association, is currently Non-Executive Chairman of Centauri Ltd and a Non‑Executive Board member of the Medicines Discovery Catapult. Clive was appointed Deputy Chair of the UK Vaccines taskforce in June 2020, the group set up by the Government to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and In December 2020, he stepped up to the role of Interim Chairman to oversee the supply of one of the most successful vaccine rollout programmes in the world.
Eva-Lotta Allan
Non-Executive Chairman
Eva‐Lotta has more than 30 years' experience in the healthcare industry. During this time, she has been a senior executive and Board member at both public and private companies. Most recently, Eva‐Lotta was Chief Business Officer (and previously a Board member) at Immunocore, where she held full responsibility for all aspects of business development and played an instrumental role in the $320 million fundraising in 2015. Prior to this, Eva‐Lotta served as Chief Business Officer and member of the Executive Committee and Euronext IPO team for Ablynx NV, as well as senior positions at Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Ltd, Oxford Asymmetry International plc, Oxford Glycosciences and Amersham International. Eva-Lotta currently serves as Chair of Draupnir Bio, Non-Executive Director and member of the Corporate Governance Committee and the R&D Sub-Committee of Oslo listed company, Targovax ASA, and is a Non-Executive Director and member of the Nomination and Remuneration commission of Almirall, and Non-Executive Director of Crescendo Biologics and Aleta Biotherapeutics. Eva-Lotta was a Board member of the UK BioIndustry Association (BIA).
Eva-Lotta Allan
Non-Executive Chairman
Eva‐Lotta has more than 30 years' experience in the healthcare industry. During this time, she has been a senior executive and Board member at both public and private companies. Most recently, Eva‐Lotta was Chief Business Officer (and previously a Board member) at Immunocore, where she held full responsibility for all aspects of business development and played an instrumental role in the $320 million fundraising in 2015. Prior to this, Eva‐Lotta served as Chief Business Officer and member of the Executive Committee and Euronext IPO team for Ablynx NV, as well as senior positions at Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Ltd, Oxford Asymmetry International plc, Oxford Glycosciences and Amersham International. Eva-Lotta currently serves as Chair of Draupnir Bio, Non-Executive Director and member of the Corporate Governance Committee and the R&D Sub-Committee of Oslo listed company, Targovax ASA, and is a Non-Executive Director and member of the Nomination and Remuneration commission of Almirall, and Non-Executive Director of Crescendo Biologics and Aleta Biotherapeutics. Eva-Lotta was a Board member of the UK BioIndustry Association (BIA).
Mario Polywka DPhil
Non-Executive Director
Mario has more than 20 years’ experience in leadership roles across the biotech industry with strong operational, commercial, strategic and drug discovery expertise. He was Chief Operating Officer of Evotec SE for 12 years, where he was involved with transactions worth more than $1.0 billion within Evotec and Oxford Asymmetry International, prior to becoming a Member of the Evotec Supervisory Board. Previously he was CEO and Chairman of Glycoform Limited, Chairman of Nanotether Discovery Sciences, and CEO of Southampton Polypeptides Limited. Mario holds a number of Non-Executive Board Director positions in biotech companies including Exscientia, Forge, Blacksmith Medicines and Orbit Discovery. Mario studied chemistry at Oxford University, where he also completed a DPhil with Professor Steve Davies and a postdoc with the late Professor Sir Jack Baldwin. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and has published a number of papers in leading publications.
Mario Polywka DPhil
Non-Executive Director
Mario has more than 20 years’ experience in leadership roles across the biotech industry with strong operational, commercial, strategic and drug discovery expertise. He was Chief Operating Officer of Evotec SE for 12 years, where he was involved with transactions worth more than $1.0 billion within Evotec and Oxford Asymmetry International, prior to becoming a Member of the Evotec Supervisory Board. Previously he was CEO and Chairman of Glycoform Limited, Chairman of Nanotether Discovery Sciences, and CEO of Southampton Polypeptides Limited. Mario holds a number of Non-Executive Board Director positions in biotech companies including Exscientia, Forge, Blacksmith Medicines and Orbit Discovery. Mario studied chemistry at Oxford University, where he also completed a DPhil with Professor Steve Davies and a postdoc with the late Professor Sir Jack Baldwin. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and has published a number of papers in leading publications.
Clare Murray PhD
SVP Drug Discovery
Clare, a trained pharmacologist, joined C4XD in 2015 as Project Manager to lead the preclinical development activities for the Orexin-1 receptor antagonist project now licensed to Indivior. She leads the Biology and Taxonomy3 teams at C4XD and, as Senior VP Drug Discovery, is jointly managing the C4XD research and development pipeline with Dr. Nick Ray. Clare has over 30 years’ experience in Drug Discovery and Development having worked in the Respiratory and Inflammation, Oncology and Emerging Innovations disease areas in AstraZeneca before joining C4XD. As Associate Director and Project Leader at AstraZeneca she provided leadership of cross-functional small molecule and biological drug discovery projects and supported development projects up to Phase 2 clinical studies. Clare was also involved in establishing the AstraZeneca Open Innovation platform and in managing academic industry partnerships. Clare has published more than 20 scientific papers, has a PhD in Neuropharmacology and a first-class Biochemistry degree from the University of Kent.
Clare Murray PhD
SVP Drug Discovery
Clare, a trained pharmacologist, joined C4XD in 2015 as Project Manager to lead the preclinical development activities for the Orexin-1 receptor antagonist project now licensed to Indivior. She leads the Biology and Taxonomy3 teams at C4XD and, as Senior VP Drug Discovery, is jointly managing the C4XD research and development pipeline with Dr. Nick Ray. Clare has over 30 years’ experience in Drug Discovery and Development having worked in the Respiratory and Inflammation, Oncology and Emerging Innovations disease areas in AstraZeneca before joining C4XD. As Associate Director and Project Leader at AstraZeneca she provided leadership of cross-functional small molecule and biological drug discovery projects and supported development projects up to Phase 2 clinical studies. Clare was also involved in establishing the AstraZeneca Open Innovation platform and in managing academic industry partnerships. Clare has published more than 20 scientific papers, has a PhD in Neuropharmacology and a first-class Biochemistry degree from the University of Kent.
Nick Ray PhD
Chief Scientific Officer
Nick oversees the C4XD Drug Discovery portfolio from target selection through to pre-clinical candidate generation and partnering alongside Dr. Clare Murray, SVP Drug Discovery. Nick also leads the medicinal chemistry, structural analysis and computational chemistry/cheminformatics teams and together, with our CTO Dr Charles Blundell, is leading the continued development of our conformational analysis technology, 4Sight. Nick joined C4XD in 2016 and has more than 30 years’ experience leading key programmes at large multi-national companies including Rhône-Poulenc, Celltech and Argenta/Charles River, in the therapeutic areas of oncology, respiratory diseases, inflammation, CNS, pain and metabolic diseases. Eight of these programmes have progressed into the clinic to date. As head of the chemistry department at Charles River’s Harlow U.K. site, Nick was responsible for more than 70 chemists, fostering both the importance of strong medicinal and synthetic chemistry skills and championing professional development for his team, winning the Royal Society of Chemistry Retrosynthesis competition in 2015. He is a named inventor on over 75 patents and patent applications and has published 21 papers and presentation abstracts. Nick holds a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Birmingham, UK.
Nick Ray PhD
Chief Scientific Officer
Nick oversees the C4XD Drug Discovery portfolio from target selection through to pre-clinical candidate generation and partnering alongside Dr. Clare Murray, SVP Drug Discovery. Nick also leads the medicinal chemistry, structural analysis and computational chemistry/cheminformatics teams and together, with our CTO Dr Charles Blundell, is leading the continued development of our conformational analysis technology, 4Sight. Nick joined C4XD in 2016 and has more than 30 years’ experience leading key programmes at large multi-national companies including Rhône-Poulenc, Celltech and Argenta/Charles River, in the therapeutic areas of oncology, respiratory diseases, inflammation, CNS, pain and metabolic diseases. Eight of these programmes have progressed into the clinic to date. As head of the chemistry department at Charles River’s Harlow U.K. site, Nick was responsible for more than 70 chemists, fostering both the importance of strong medicinal and synthetic chemistry skills and championing professional development for his team, winning the Royal Society of Chemistry Retrosynthesis competition in 2015. He is a named inventor on over 75 patents and patent applications and has published 21 papers and presentation abstracts. Nick holds a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Birmingham, UK.

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