Medicines Discovery Catapult bolsters executive team

Cheshire-based Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC) has expanded its executive team with the appointment of Dr Francesca Sadler as chief commercial officer and Dr Mike Strange as its first managing director.

Francesca brings over 20 years of experience in commercialising scientific services and will lead MDC’s communications, commercial and business development teams, focusing on enhancing the organisation’s external reputation and commercial activities. 

She said: “Innovation is at the heart of MDC’s ethos; supporting the nation’s most innovative entrepreneurs to make game-changing drug discovery breakthroughs. 

“I am looking forward to working with MDC’s talented team to co-develop and deliver an ambitious FY25/26 and beyond, which builds on the strong momentum MDC has developed to date.”

Meanwhile Mike, who joins in February, will be responsible for driving MDC’s organisational leadership and business strategy, using his extensive experience in global health and industry collaborations at GSK and LifeArc.

He added: “I have seen MDC’s ambition, values and skills first-hand, and join the team at an exciting time for the sector. 

“I am delighted to help build on the successes delivered so far, as we venture into the years ahead, working with and for the drug discovery community to provide impact for patients.”

With these appointments, MDC, which has helped over 300 companies secure over £1.2 billion in R&D investment, continues to strengthen its impact in life sciences, supporting drug discovery innovators and driving investment in the sector.

Professor Chris Molloy, chief executive officer of Medicines Discovery Catapult, added: “I warmly welcome Francesca and Mike to MDC, bolstering our executive team with their deep-rooted expertise and an ambition for helping our sector. 

“We look forward to working together at the frontier of drug R&D and to making every move count for our nation’s entrepreneurial scientists.”

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