Circassia bags ex GSK chairman

Sykes has his fingers in a lot of pies.

He is chairman of the UK Stem Cell Foundation; chairman of the WHO International Advisory Board that oversees the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and also chairs CATALYST, London's Council for the Advancement of Science and Industry; as well as sitting on the board of the Higher Education Funding Council for England; and these are only his UK affiliations.

However, Circassia holds particular interest for Sir Richard as it was borne out of Imperial Innovations, a technology transfer and commercialisation company based at Imperial College in London, where Sir Richard is also currently the rector, having moved there after he left GSK in 2002.

The newly-established immunology specialty firm has placed its initial focus on allergy therapeutics, which it develops using proprietary technology that is based on research by two professors of the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial.

It is also broadening its pipeline into other areas "where immune system control is essential".

Incidentally, Sir Richard is also a Fellow of Imperial College School of Medicine; King's College London; the Royal Society and Academy of Medical Sciences; and is a Fleming Fellow at Lincoln College Oxford.

"Having worked with many of the highly experienced management team previously, and based on my familiarity with the Circassia technology developed originally at Imperial, I believe the company's prospects are excellent.

I look forward to working with the team over the coming years to build a broad based, world-class company," said Sir Richard.

In taking up the post, Sir Richard succeeds Charles Swingland who held the post of executive chairman following the establishment of the company earlier this year, and who will remain with Circassia as deputy chairman and general counsel.