Emma’s extensive and varied pharmaceutical career has given her a strong grounding by which to evaluate and communicate the scientific merits and the competitive and commercial potential of platform technologies and pharmaceutical assets. She can advise on strategic positioning of assets and has experience of delivering biological and/or pharmacological validation data to support AI-led technologies. Such insight is essential to biotech leadership teams looking to raise funds for their growth. This applies equally when raising funds through investment rounds or non-dilutive capital sourcing via strategic partnership and/or innovation grants. Venture capital fund managers also have a requirement to engage in due diligence to evaluate the teams and technologies in which they are looking to invest. It is critical to apply scientific rigor when evaluating the robustness of technology and the strategy proposed for its advancement. Emma’s key expertise in the area is exemplified in the highlights below:

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• Delivery of a drug discovery strategy for series A fundraise: Autoimmune disease

  • Delivery of proof of concept data to illustrate the power of platform technology

  • Exemplification of novel targets to illustrate potential and future value.

  • Articulation of a compelling narrative to illustrate the multiple applications, potential impact and value of the platform to a business audience

  • Effective investor engagement and delivery of materials for scientific due diligence requests

  • Design of a series A research strategy to achieve candidate selection point (CSP), with accompanying milestones, budget and recruitment plan.

 

• Strategic and biological due diligence for an investment fund: Oncology asset

  • Evaluation of proprietary data with recommendations for future development

  • Strategic and clinical positioning of asset with recommendations for additional studies to illustrate key biology and maximize potential asset value

 

• Pharmacological due diligence for a strategic in-licensing opportunity: Respiratory disease asset

  • Evaluation of cellular pharmacology and biology data vs internal pipeline assets

  • Provision of a Go/No Go decision given based on properties of molecule

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• Scientific justification for business development: reviewing and proposing initiatives across multiple therapeutic areas

  • Identification of potential strategic partners and opportunities, based on company goals, capabilities and future directions

  • Strategic partner engagement: understanding the needs of potential partners and explaining how the platform(s) and assets on offer can address them

  • Preparation of research collaboration proposals with budgets, resourcing and timelines

  • Identification of indication expansion opportunities and new therapeutic areas

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• Scientific leadership at board level: Delivery of drug discovery​ strategy

  • Strategic goals, detailed plans and progress reporting

  • Corporate research goal setting for drug discovery with appropriate KPIs.

  • Effective communication with a mixed business and/or multi-disciplinary audiences