The Company
Sarum Biosciences was founded to develop novel antibacterial treatments using naturally occurring bacterial viruses – bacteriophage. The need for new antibacterial strategies is evident from the increasing incidence of so-called ‘Superbugs’ that are becoming resistant to increasing numbers of the antibiotics used to treat bacterial disease.
Sarum is re-examining the potential of natural bacterial killers, bacteriophage, as a solution to this growing problem in a number of treatment areas and is working closely with academic and commercial partners to bring new therapies to the market.
Chairman Nat Hone - Currently a non-executive director of Northern Venture Managers with 20 years in the Venture Capital industry, including GT Management (Fund of Funds) and Thompson Clive.
Chief Executive Officer and founder – Dr. David West, former CSO of Regma BioTechnologies and project leader at the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research (CAMR, now part of the Health Protection Agency at Porton Down) where he was involved in the development of vaccines for meningococcal meningitis. Dr. West left CAMR in 2000 to join a senior colleague at Regma BioTechnologies a start-up phage therapy company whose principal therapeutic target was tuberculosis. As a PhD trained molecular biologist, and with experience gained from vaccine development at CAMR and commercial phage therapy development at Regma, Dr. West has been involved in almost every aspect of the drug development process from the bench to patent strategy, negotiating regulatory requirements and company strategy and development.
Non-Executive Director – Prof. Tony Atkinson (through TMI Ltd.), Current Chairman of Morvus Technology Ltd and NanoMor Biomedical Ltd., Non-Executive Director of Biofusion Plc (AIM), Lab 21 Ltd, Exec Director of TMO Biotec Ltd. Led Enact Pharma Ltd. through reverse take-over and restructuring deals to an eventual merger with the main LSE listed company Protherics Plc in an £8 million share swap deal in June 2003 and became a Director and Non-Executive Director of Protherics until 2005.
Non-Executive Director – Dr. David Rooke is a former Head of Pharmaceutical Development for SmithKline Beecham (1988-92) and is a Director of ProTEM Services Ltd, an International Pharmaceutical Consultancy. Dr. Rooke is a specialist in drug development and manufacture, consulting with many of the major pharmaceutical companies in this capacity. Dr. Rooke has, in addition, been involved in the development of phage therapy.
Financial Controller – Geoff Merrick, has over 25 years of varied financial and accounting experience including a number of biotech companies. He is experienced in dealing with auditors such as Ernst and Young and PWC.