Mike Dawson

Mike has led natural product chemistry and biotransformation programmes contributing to the development of important drugs such as Epivir, Zanamavir and Abacavir. He spent the first 20 years of his career with GSK and legacy companies and subsequently was involved in the founding and leadership of two biotech companies in the antibacterial space. As cofounder and CSO of Novacta Biosystems he led the development of the anti-C. difficile drug NVB302 from concept to clinic.

Subsequently as CEO of Cantab Anti-infectives he led the discovery of the next generation polymyxin, currently undergoing clinical development as SPR206. He joined Oxford Drug Design in 2019. Mike has a first degree from the University of Cambridge and a PhD from the University of Leicester. He is an author of over 65 peer-reviewed papers and an inventor of over 20 patent families.