Procarta Biosystems Ltd, the UK-based privately held company focussing on novel approaches to counter antibiotic resistance, is pleased to announce the appointment of John Hodgson to the Board of Directors. John will provide expert advice on business strategy and scientific delivery of the company’s objectives, using his significant track record in overseeing the research and development strategies of global pharmaceutical companies and his in-depth understanding of the needs of the anti-infectives industry.
John’s career in the pharmaceutical industry began in 1975 as a microbiologist at Beecham Pharmaceuticals, leading to a relationship that lasted 22 years and which culminated as Director of Microbiology at SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals in the USA. In 1998 John moved to Hoechst Marion Roussel in France as Head of the Infectious Disease Group. John has over 25 years experience of management in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, and has many accomplishments in drug discovery, development and production. He has over 15 years experience in evaluating business opportunities, and in 2004 was founder, Chief Scientific Officer, and Board Member of Novexel, an anti-infective company spun-out from Sanofi-Aventis.
Professor Mervyn Bibb, interim chairman of the board and scientific co-founder commented:
“On behalf of the Board I am pleased to welcome John to Procarta. We are extremely fortunate to have someone with John’s knowledge and expertise to help guide the company forward during this very exciting time in its development. Since the initial seed funding from Rainbow and Iceni Seed Funds was announced just five months ago, Procarta has already taken significant steps forward in developing its core technology and I have no doubt that John’s experience and reputation will prove invaluable to Procarta as we continue to make good progress.”
John Hodgson added: “I am delighted to be joining the board of Procarta as the Company translates its innovative technologies into drug candidates to combat antibiotic resistance. I am looking forward to working closely with an excellent team committed to delivering novel anti-infective therapeutic options.”
About Procarta Biosytems Limited
Procarta Biosytems Limited is a company formed by The John Innes Centre, Plant Bioscience Limited (PBL) and the founding scientists Dr Michael McArthur and Professor Mervyn Bibb. It has received £320 000 funding from Iceni Seedcorn fund and the Rainbow Seed Fund and began operations in July 2007. It is currently headquartered in the Norwich Bioincubator. (www.procartabio.com)
In July 20008, Procarta received a Proof of Concept grant from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), which is specifically designed to help companies define their market and assess their customers’ needs. Procarta anticipates that the research will aid in making informed choices about which infections to target first and hence contribute to the future success of the company.
About PBL
PLB is an IP management and technology development company, investing in emerging technology across the life sciences. PBL was formed in 1994, by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation and the John Innes Centre who both wanted the results of their public- and charity- funded research to be professionally managed through proactive commercialization for ultimate public benefit. The Company is now jointly and equally owned by The John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, and – since 2004 - the BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, www.bbsrc.ac.uk). PBL brings together innovative technologies from public research sources worldwide, invests in building intellectual property protection and technology development, commercialised through licensing and new venture formation. (www.pbltechnology.com)
About the John Innes Centre
The John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK is an independent, world-leading research centre in plant and microbial sciences with over 800 staff. JIC is based on Norwich Research Park and carries out high quality fundamental, strategic and applied research to understand how plants and microbes work at the molecular, cellular and genetic levels. The JIC also trains scientists and students, collaborates with many other research laboratories and communicates its science to end-users and the general public. The JIC is grant-aided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. (www.jic.ac.uk).
About Rainbow Seed Fund
The £10m Rainbow Seed Fund was established in 2001 with funding from the Office of Science and Innovation to commercialise scientific research in a leading group of the UK publicly funded institutions, its partners. The Fund, which is independently managed by Midven Ltd, made its first investment in 2002, and currently has a portfolio of 18 companies with one exit to date.
The Fund invests at the earliest stages of a technology’s development, and helps to turn an idea into a business by actively identifying and supporting experienced management and facilitating additional co investment. Rainbow’s partners spend over £1 billion on research and development every year giving the Fund privileged access to high quality investment propositions at the earliest stage.
About Iceni
The Iceni Seedcorn Fund was established following a successful bid by a regional consortium of universities and institutes to the Department of Trade and Industry’s University Challenge Fund and invests in the commercialisation of research results arising in partner academic institutions in the Eastern region of the UK such as the University of East Anglia, the John Innes Centre, the Institute of Food Research, the Sainsbury Laboratory, PBL and the University of Essex, through either the creation of new ventures or through licensing.
