MANAGEMENT TEAM
The Otago team are highly experienced industry experts from the Life Science and Specialist Biopharmaceutical sector who have been involved in the commercialization of Orphan Drugs and specialist medicines across Europe and the Middle East.
SANJEEV POONI
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Sanjeev has a Masters in Genetics & Biotechnology and entered the pharmaceutical industry in 1991.
He has over 27 year’s experience in working in the Life Science sector in a career, which has held positions in sales, marketing, senior management and board responsibility with major Blue-Chip Life Science companies and Specialist Biopharmaceutical companies.
Between 2002 and 2004, Sanjeev was involved in the expansion of Nycomed into United Kingdom France, Germany, Italy and Spain. This Pan-European strategy was driven by the injection of Euros 400 Million for a controlling interest from Nordic Capital Fund V, DLJ Merchant Banking and The Blackstone Group. In 2011, Nycomed was acquired by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company for $9.6 Billion.
Between 2008 and 2016, he was also responsible for setting up Azanta A/S in Europe, Nordic Countries and Middle East. Azanta A/S was a privately owned specialist company set up by senior executives from Genmab. During this time, he worked on the commercialization of a lead Orphan Drug used in radiotherapy in Head and Neck cancers across Europe and Middle East.
Expertise:
His expertise had been in setting up life science companies in the Europe such as:
-Trinity Chiesi
-Ethical Generics (Bayer’s generic arm)
-Nycomed UK
-Azanta A/S
Previous Roles:
Previous roles held by Sanjeev include;
– Regional Business Manager – Bayer Pharmaceuticals
– Business Unit Director – Boehringer Ingelheim
– Operations Director -Nycomed (now Takeda)
– Managing Director (UK & Nordics) – Azanta A/S
KAY DRAKE
SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR
Kay has over 20 year’s experience in the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Industry having held Senior and Executive level positions across Marketing, Market Access and Sales.
Expertise:
Kay has consulted with several Biotech organizations to develop their European Market Entry strategy for rare and Orphan disease assets. This has resulted a positive opinion, product reimbursement with a supporting marketing strategy for entry and development of a European infrastructure to drive the launch capability across the key markets.
Specific areas of expertise:
- Sales and Marketing strategies for rare disease and Orphan Drugs
- Market Access
- EMEA and Global experience across following therapeutic areas:
- Orphan and rare disease
- Urology
- Anti-infective
- Transplantation
- Pain
- Dermatology
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases
- Vaccines
Previous Roles:
Previous roles held by Kay include:
– VP Global Marketing, Becton Dickinson
– SVP EMEA Marketing & Market Access, Astellas
– Global Brand Director, PowderJect Plc
NEIL EDWARDS
REGULATORY DIRECTOR
Neil has over 18 years experience in European Regulatory Affairs . Extensive experience in working with non-EU focused companies to optimally adapt their drug development and regulatory strategies to address EU regulatory expectations.
Expertise:
Specific areas of expertise are:
-Drug development and regulatory strategy
-Conduct of consultation and negotiation meetings with EMEA and national EU regulatory authorities.
-Regulatory due diligence to facilitate effective in-licensing and partnering agreements.
-Regulatory dossier compilation and submission management (Clinical Trial Approval, Marketing Authorisation including eCTD, Orphan
-Drug Application and Paediatric Investigation Plan)
-Areas of specific therapeutic expertise include cardiovascular, oncology, gastrointestinal, anti-infective and respiratory diseases, plus OTC medicines
Previous Roles:
Previous roles held by Neil include;
-European Regulatory Affairs Manager – Bayer Pharma
-Director Drug Development – Parexel
-International Director for Regulatory Affairs – Nycomed UK Limited
RICHARD DAVEY
SUPPLY CHAIN & LOGISTICS
Richard has over 20 years experience in different manufacturing and supply chain roles.
Expertise:
Specific areas of expertise are:
-Establishing and managing storage and distribution networks
-Commercial aspects of supply chain management
-Contract responsible person (RP) and GDP audits
Previous Roles:
Previous roles held by Rechard include;
-Supply Manager – Boots PLC
-Head of Logistics/Supply – Paterson Zochinis
-Supply Chain Manager – Altana Pharma
-Supply Chain Manager – IPC Pharma
SIMON GWYNN
DIRECTOR MARKET ACCESS
Simon has close to 30 years’ experience of working in the specialist pharmaceutical sector having held positons in sales, clinical research, product management and market development.
Simon specialises in developing consultancy solutions for payer engagement and market access, integrated care and product support programme development as well as strategy implementation within the healthcare and NHS environments.
He is also a Lead Assessor for the NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) i4i programme, responsible for reviewing and recommending funding applications for the development of innovative healthcare technologies.
Expertise:
Specific areas of expertise are:
- Development of market access strategy
- Orphan drug adoption
- Integrated care pathway development
- Clinical behavior change programmes
- Consensus development
- Pricing policy development
- Engagement with clinical and payer audiences
Previous Roles:
Previous roles held by Simon include;
- Head of Market Development (Novo Nordisk)
- Product Manager (Novo Nordisk)