Redx names former Bayer exec as chairman

Redx Pharma has appointed Dr Frank Armstrong as non-executive chairman.

Dr Armstrong has decades of experience in the pharma industry, including spells as executive VP and head of worldwide product development at Bayer and head of medical science and innovation at Merck Serono.

More recently he has worked as an independent consultant for pharma and biotech companies as well as serving on several company boards and these include current chairman positions at CardioRentis, Summit PLC and Xceleron.

He will now help guide Redx as it advances its research efforts into infectious diseases and cancer.

Dr Peter Jackson, co-founder and director at Redx, said: “[Frank's] pharma business experience and clinical insight will make a valuable contribution to our plans for further growth and he is extremely well networked internationally.”

To date this growth includes the creation of a research centre at AstraZeneca's (AZ) former site in Alderley Park, Cheshire in the UK.

Redx is also working with AZ and this week announced the two companies had signed a collaboration to research the genetic drivers of tumour growth.