Vectura CSO awarded West Technology Entrepreneur of the Year
13 Oct 2003
Vectura CSO awarded West Technology Entrepreneur of the Year
Vectura Limited (Vectura) today announced that Professor John Staniforth, its Chief Scientific Officer, is the recipient of the West Technology Entrepreneur of the Year award. Vectura is a speciality pharmaceutical company developing enhanced-performance products based on innovative drug delivery technology.
John Staniforth is one of the founding scientists of Vectura and is the inventor behind over 30 patents covering Vectura's technologies and products. The award was sponsored by Deloitte and the Western Daily Press. Contestants for the award were judged on the basis of their vision and energy applied to driving their technologies forward.Laurence Hedditch, Deloitte's technology partner for the South West said, "John is one of the few scientists to achieve industrial and business success, combining technical excellence with entrepreneurial flair, benefiting our region in terms of both employment and £17 million of investment."
John Staniforth was Professor of Pharmaceutical Technology at the University of Bath and is the author of over 100 research articles in the fields of particle engineering and drug delivery. He has created and developed five drug delivery systems that are marketed or close to marketing by international pharmaceutical companies. Earlier in 2003, he was presented with the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences AstraZeneca award for industrial achievement.
In a separate announcement, Vectura was ranked 19th in the latest Deloitte Technology Fast 50 for the South, South West and West, reflecting Vectura's rapid rate of growth. Deloitte's Technology Fast 50 programme seeks out those companies that have shown impressive growth rates in the telecommunications, hardware, software and biotechnology sectors over the last three years.
Vectura (www.vectura.com) was founded by Merlin Biosciences in 1997 and has already established itself as a leading European provider of innovative inhaler formulations for pulmonary drug delivery. The company is developing a portfolio of enhanced-performance pharmaceutical products based on its patent-protected drug delivery technology platforms. Vectura is targeting specific product development opportunities in the areas of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sexual dysfunction, epilepsy, cystic fibrosis and asthma. The company has development collaborations with GSK, Chiesi, Arakis, Zambon and Ranbaxy. Its main shareholders are Merlin funds, ISIS funds, its management and the University of Bath.
For further information please contact:
Vectura Limited
Peter Virley
Tel: +44 (0)1249 667700
Fax: +44 (0)1249 667701
Email: enquiries@vectura.com
Financial Dynamics
David Yates / Lucy Briggs
Tel: + 44 (0) 207 269 7242
