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December 17, 2018 Press Releases

C4XD and Horizon Discovery enter exclusive partnership

C4X Discovery Holdings plc

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

C4XD and Horizon Discovery enter exclusive partnership to develop next-generation synthetic lethality targets in oncology identified by Horizon’s CRISPR-Cas9 technology


17 December 2018 – C4X Discovery Holdings plc (AIM: C4XD), a pioneering drug discovery company, today announces that it has entered into an exclusive target discovery partnership with Horizon Discovery Group plc (“Horizon”, AIM: HZD), a global leader in the application of gene editing and gene modulation technologies. The partnership aims to validate novel synthetic lethal oncology targets that have been identified by Horizon’s cutting-edge CRISPR-Cas9 technology leading to the generation of potential new drugs for patients with limited effective treatments such as colorectal and lung cancer.

C4XD aims to apply its proprietary 4D shape-based chemistry technology (Conformetrix) to discover drug candidates directed against these high value, novel, synthetic lethality targets and out-license them to clinical development partners. This discovery partnership bolsters C4XD’s oncology pipeline, a high priority therapeutic area for the company.

The therapeutic concept of harnessing synthetic lethality in cancer with tumour-specific mutations has been demonstrated with the recent approval of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors Lynparza® Zejula® and Rubraca®. These drugs are effective in indications that are poorly served by immunotherapy drugs, such as checkpoint inhibitors, and have become an established treatment in ovarian cancer. They work by targeting a specific DNA repair pathway that cancer cells, with mutations such as BRCA, become over-reliant on. Inhibiting this critical DNA repair pathway causes the tumour cells to self-destruct, resulting in the terminology ‘synthetic lethality’. The pharmaceutical industry is now rushing to fill its clinical pipelines with investigational drugs, identified by empirical research, that might produce similar efficacy in cancers where PARP inhibitors are not effective.

However, recent advancements in the gene-editing tool, CRISPR-Cas9, has enabled systematic ‘functional genomic’ screening to identify novel synthetic lethal genes in cancer cells with specific mutations. Horizon has utilised its target discovery platform to conduct high quality CRISPR gene knock-out studies across multiple cancer cell lines, screening around ~3000 genes suitable as the basis for small molecule drug targets. This cutting-edge approach has identified a shortlist of ~20 novel, high value synthetic lethal genes following a secondary screen to further validate them as targets. The partnership has been established to complete the target validation package for these novel targets, leading to the initiation of drug discovery programmes by C4XD should it exercise its options on a target-by-target basis. C4XD will provide the funding for the work plan and Horizon will receive a share of all future revenues C4XD receives should any drug discovery programmes emerging from the partnership be out-licensed for clinical development.

Dr Craig Fox, Chief Scientific Officer of C4XD, said: “PARP inhibitors are transforming the treatment of ovarian cancer, particularly in patients with BRCA mutations and so identifying the next generation of synthetic lethality drug targets is a key priority to develop new therapies for cancers patients who are not responsive to current treatments. This partnership with Horizon gives C4XD access to a comprehensive proprietary CRISPR screening dataset that has selected the most promising novel drug targets in colon and lung cancer. We look forward to working with the highly experienced team at Horizon to complete the target validation package for these novel genes and initiate drug discovery programmes to generate high value pre-clinical licensable assets for partnering.”

Dr Jon Moore, Horizon’s Chief Scientific Officer added: “Drugging the cancer genome now requires new synthetic lethal therapies that can exploit the vulnerabilities in patient’s tumours that are created by mutations in undruggable cancer driver genes. Horizon’s internal research program has used powerful CRISPR technology to open a new window into how cancer cells are wired and has identified a cohort of novel targets. We are delighted to have secured this collaboration with C4X Discovery, which applies a powerful drug discovery engine to the first-in-class opportunities for transformational medicines represented by the targets Horizon has found and allows Horizon to share in the upside.”

Contact Information

C4X Discovery Holdings plc

Mo Noonan, Communications+44 (0)7876 444 977

Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited (NOMAD and Broker) +44 (0)20 7886 2500

Freddy Crossley, Emma Earl (Corporate Finance)
Rupert Dearden (Corporate Broking)

Consilium Strategic Communications

Mary-Jane Elliott, Chris Gardner, Matthew Neal +44 (0)203 709 5700

About C4X Discovery

C4X Discovery (C4XD) aims to create the world’s most productive Drug Discovery engine by using cutting-edge technologies and expertise to efficiently deliver best-in-class small-molecule medicines to clinical partners for the benefit of patients. The Company’s business model focuses on replenishing big pharma discovery pipelines and driving returns through revenue generating pre-clinical licensing deals. In 2018, C4XD successfully out-licensed a pre-clinical programme in addictive disorders to Indivior in a deal worth up to $294m.

C4XD has a state-of-the-art suite of proprietary technologies across the Drug Discovery process and accesses further innovative capabilities and expertise through its growing network of partners. The Company is actively advancing its diverse pre-clinical discovery portfolio which is focused on inflammation, neurodegeneration and oncology (including immuno-oncology). Opportunities to maximise value from the portfolio are proactively driven by C4XD’s commercial division. The Company is led by a highly experienced management team and Board who have delivered significant value creation within the healthcare sector.

For additional information please go to:www.c4xdiscovery.com

About Horizon Discovery Group plc

Horizon Discovery Group plc (LSE: HZD) (“Horizon”) is a world leader in gene editing and gene modulation technologies. Horizon designs and engineers cells using its translational genomics platform, a highly precise and flexible suite of DNA editing tools (rAAV, ZFN, CRISPR and Transposon) and, following the acquisition of Dharmacon, Inc., its functional genomics platform comprising gene knockdown (RNAi) and gene expression (cDNA, ORF) tools, for research and clinical applications that advance human health. Horizon’s platforms and capabilities enable researchers to alter almost any gene or modulate its function in human or mammalian cell lines.

Horizon offers an extensive range of catalogue products and related research services to support a greater understanding of the function of genes across all species and the genetic drivers of human disease and the development of personalized molecular, cell and gene therapies. These have been adopted by over 10,000 academic, drug discovery, drug manufacturing and clinical diagnostics customers around the globe, as well as in the Company’s own R&D pipeline.

Horizon is headquartered in Cambridge, UK, and is listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market under the ticker “HZD.”  www.horizondiscovery.com

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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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