Gary Muirhead BSc FIMLS Chief Executive Officer
Gary graduated in Applied Biology from Cardiff University in 1979 and then trained and was employed as a Clinical Biochemist at the University Hospital of Wales and Surrey County Hospital through to 1986. Gary then joined Roche as a Team Leader and Senior Scientist, Pharmacokinetics/Drug Metabolism. In 1993 Gary joined the Pfizer Clinical Pharmacology group in Sandwich and held positions of increasing responsibility over the subsequent 14 years. As well as managing the Clinical Pharmacologists and providing strategic leadership in the GI, GU/Sex Health and Anti-viral therapeutic areas, Gary was also the Global Clinical Pharmacology lead for a number of successful drugs including Viagra, Celsentry®, and Geodon®. Gary also acted as Early Clinical Leader for a number of GU/Sex Health projects during this period. In 2006 Gary was appointed Sandwich Site Head for Clinical Research Operations and successfully built a group responsible for the operational delivery of exploratory development, clinical pharmacology and clinical technology clinical studies. In June 2009 Gary was appointed to the position of Vice President, Clinical Affairs Site Head for Specialty Care in Sandwich. In this position Gary managed the clinicians, statisticians and clinical pharmacologists, ensuring the provision of quality resources to the Asset Teams. Gary is now Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ixchelsis Ltd a Pfizer Sandwich Start-up focusing on developing drugs in Men’s Health indications.
Dr. Ian Osterloh BSc MSc MBBS MRCP Chief Medical Officer
Ian Osterloh graduated with first class honours in chemistry from Bristol University, subsequently studied medicine at Guy’s Hospital, London, and then undertook various hospital posts in the UK National Health Service, obtaining MRCP in 1985. In 1986 he joined the Research Division of Pfizer (Sandwich) and undertook various roles including Head of Clinical Regulatory Affairs and Head of Phase I Units. Fascinated by the experimental compound UK-92,480 (sildenafil) he stepped down from the latter role in order to design the Phase II studies in the new indication of erectile dysfunction (ED). He led the clinical team which designed and executed the Phase II/III trials for sildenafil for ED and subsequently the global candidate team seeing the product through to regulatory approval in the USA and Europe. He supported the investigation of sildenafil for other indications before taking up a new role in the Pain Therapeutic Area. In 2007 he left Pfizer and set up his own consultancy company. He has contributed to a number of products in development for several pharmaceutical companies including the role of Consulting Chief Medical Officer to Preglem up and until the European approval of ulipristal acetate for pre-operative treatment of fibroids.
Dr Karl Gibson CChem FRSC Chief Technology Officer
Following a degree and PhD at the Unviersity of Cambridge he joined Merck Research Laboratories’ Neuroscience Research Centre as a medicinal chemist working on a variety of CNS drug discovery projects. After five years Karl moved to Pfizer Global Research at Sandwich. Karl held a variety of roles of increasing seniority within Pfizer as a medicinal chemist and Research Project Leader for endocrinology within the Genito-Urinary Therapeutic Area and latterly as Research Fellow, leading the exploratory research chemistry group for the Pain Therapeutic Area. Karl has been a passionate drughunter throughout his career and in 2011, left Pfizer to seek funding for Ixchelsis Ltd and to establish Sandexis LLP, a medicinal chemistry partnership.
Liz Littlewood BSc. PMP Chief Operating Officer
Liz graduated in Applied Biological Sciences from Sheffield Hallam University in 1995. In 1996 Liz joined the Pfizer Animal Health Group in Sandwich as a team leader in in vitro pharmacology, working across multiple therapeutic areas. Liz held positions of increasing responsibility over the subsequent 11 years, as Project Leader, Head of In vitro Sciences and Lead Discovery. Liz contributed to scientific and business strategy as a member of the Discovery Management Committee and played a major role in the PAH academic and industry strategic alliances. Liz then took up a role as Research Program Manager within Pfizer R&D at Sandwich with responsibility for the planning and operational progression and budgetary management of all R&D projects within the Pain portfolio; from idea through to Proof-of-Concept. Latterly, Liz was appointed as Scientific Development Officer, with a diverse remit, working with the Chief Scientific Officers and Head of the Sandwich site to align the financial and scientific needs of the organization and shape the R&D portfolio at Sandwich. Liz has 18 years leadership experience in the Pharmaceutical Industry. Since 2011 Liz has been Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Ixchelsis Limited.