London, UK, 07 July 2015: Andrew Farquharson has been appointed Director of Technology Transfer at MRC Technology (MRCT) from 1 September. He will head up the team responsible for identifying, protecting and progressing promising life science research to improve human health.
Andrew has previously held senior Intellectual Property (IP) roles in AstraZeneca UK and USA, supporting the company’s R&D, Business Development and Government Affairs activities. Currently Andrew runs a consultancy practice, providing IP services to a range of life science and pharmaceutical clients and is appointed to the EU Commission’s Expert Group advising on the European Biotech Directive’s impact on patent law and research & development activity.
Commenting on the appointment, Dr Dave Tapolczay, Chief Executive Officer, MRC Technology said: “Andrew’s extensive experience will support our charity’s work to ensure innovative life science research reaches its full potential and benefit a wider range of people. We look forward to having him on board!”
Andrew Farquharson responded: “MRC Technology has a peerless reputation for the development and exploitation of innovative medical research. I am greatly looking forward to joining the MRCT team and using my experience to meet the challenges in ensuring that future innovations are protected and translated into meaningful new therapeutic products made available to patients.”
Further enquiries
Katie Odgaard Zyme Communications E: katie.odgaard@zymecommunications.com T: +44 (0)7787 502 947
Liezel Tipper PR and Communications Manager, MRC Technology. E: liezel.tipper@tech.mrc.ac.uk T: +44(0) 20 7391 2772
About Andrew Farquharson
Andrew Farquharson is a European Patent Attorney and holds an MSc Management of Intellectual Property Law from the University of London and a BSc (Hons) Molecular Genetics from the University of Glasgow.
Andrews’s previous appointments include:
Director, Ginger IP Consulting Ltd. August 2012 – Present Senior Patent Director, Biologics and Director External IP Affairs, AstraZeneca
2008 – July 2012, London, United Kingdom
Head of Biotechnology Patents, AstraZeneca
2002 – 2008 London, United Kingdom
Senior Patent Attorney, Neuroscience, AstraZeneca United States
2000 – 2002, Wilmington, Delaware
Patent Attorney, Astra UK Ltd.
1996 – 2000, London, United Kingdom
Patent Associate, D. Young & Co,
1993 – 1995, London, United Kingdom
Associate, Patents and Agreements, The Wellcome Foundation Ltd
1989 – 1993, London, United Kingdom
About MRC Technology
MRC Technology (www.mrctechnology.org) is an independent life science medical research charity, offering professional services to organisations within the academic, charity, biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors globally. Services include IP management and research and development for diagnostics, small molecules and therapeutic antibodies. MRC Technology bridges the gap between basic medical research and commercialisation, helping early discoveries progress to clinical application. Four of MRC Technology’s projects have led to approved drugs (Tysabri®, Actemra®, Entyvio®, Keytruda®) and the company has a strong pipeline in development.
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