Dr. David Rees

David joined Astex in 2003 to lead the chemistry team and in 2017 became CSO. He is associated with the discovery of three launched drugs, the anti-cancer agents ribociclib (Astex Novartis collaboration), erdafitinib (Astex Janssen collaboration), and the anaesthetic agent sugammadex (Organon, Merck) which has been used in over 50 million patients. In 2020 he was inducted into the RSC BMCS Hall of Fame and in 2023 received a Hero of Chemistry award from the American Chemical Society. Currently he serves on the Board of Directors of The Rosalind Franklin Institute, Parkinson’s Research Ventures, and Ashanti Development.

Opening Keynote