Biography:David Rees (organic chemist)

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Short description: British chemist
David Charles Rees

CChem FRSC FMedSci
DavidCharlesRees.jpg
Born1958 (age 65–66)
Alma materUniversity of Southampton (BSc), University of Cambridge (PhD)
Known forAstex
AwardsRoyal Society of Chemistry, Malcolm Campbell Award 2007[1]

Royal Society of Chemistry BMCS Hall of Fame 2020[2]

Royal Society of Chemistry BMCS Lectureship 2021/2022[3]

     Fellowships

Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry

Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (2020)
Scientific career
FieldsDrug discovery, Medicinal chemistry, Organic chemistry
InstitutionsAstex, AstraZeneca, Organon
ThesisA new approach to the synthesis of aspidosperma alkaloids using tricarbonylcyclohexadienylium iron intermediates[4]
Websiteastx.com/portfolio-item/david-rees

David Charles Rees (born 1958) CChem FRSC FMedSci is a chemist recognised internationally for his innovative use of chemistry in drug discovery.[5] He is Chief Scientific Officer of biotechnology company Astex Pharmaceuticals, which is located in Cambridge, UK.

Career

Rees joined Astex in 2003 to lead its chemistry team. He became Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) in 2017.[6]  In 2013, Astex was acquired for around USD $900 million[7] and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

Rees is associated with the discovery of three launched drugs: ribociclib (Astex-Novartis collaboration),[8] erdafitinib (Astex-Janssen collaboration)[9] as well as the anaesthetic reversal agent sugammadex (Organon, Merck),[10] which has been used in over 30 million patients in 60 countries and had global sales of US$1.2 billion in 2020.[11]

Rees has a BSc from the University of Southampton and PhD from the University of Cambridge.

Fellowships, Awards, and Academic Appointments

Rees is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). He is one of the few industrial scientists to have served as President of its Organic Division (2010-2013), and was later elected to the RSC Board of Trustees (2015-2019).[12]

Rees has held visiting professorships at three UK universities, and sits on several scientific advisory boards for not-for-profit organisations. In 2020 he was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and inducted into the RSC BMCS Hall of Fame.[13] He has over 140 publications and patents.

Rees is also a Director of Ashanti Development, a charity that promotes clean water and sanitation in Ghana.

References

  1. ↑ "BMCS Malcolm Campbell Award". https://www.rsc.org/Membership/Networking/InterestGroups/BMCS/Activities/CampbellAward.asp. 
  2. ↑ BMCS Hall of Fame, https://www.rscbmcs.org/awards/halloffame, retrieved 2021-11-01 
  3. ↑ Lectureship 20-22 - awardees, https://www.maggichurchouseevents.co.uk/bmcs/Downloads/Lectureship%2020-22%20-%20awardees.pdf, retrieved 2021-11-01 
  4. ↑ Rees, D. C. (1982). e-theses online service (Ph.D). University of Cambridge. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
  5. ↑ ""david rees - Google Scholar Citations"". https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?hl=en&user=0FZmyzQAAAAJ. 
  6. ↑ "David Rees". https://astx.com/portfolio-item/rees-david/. 
  7. ↑ "Japan's Otsuka to buy Astex Pharma for about $900 million: Nikkei". Reuters. 2013-09-04. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-astex-offer-otsuka/japans-otsuka-to-buy-astex-pharma-for-about-900-million-nikkei-idUSBRE98311D20130904. 
  8. ↑ "Cambridge-based Astex Pharmaceuticals Celebrates as Cancer Drug Receives US Marketing Approval.". https://astx.com/cambridge-based-astex-pharmaceuticals-celebrates-as-cancer-drug-receives-us-marketing-approval/. 
  9. ↑ "Astex Pharmaceuticals Celebrates as Second New Cancer Drug Receives US Marketing Approval.". https://astx.com/astex-pharmaceuticals-celebrates-as-second-new-cancer-drug-receives-us-marketing-approval/. 
  10. ↑ Bom, Anton; Bradley, Mark; Cameron, Ken; Clark, John K.; Egmond, Jan van; Feilden, Helen; MacLean, Elizabeth J.; Muir, Alan W.; Palin, Ronald (2002). "A Novel Concept of Reversing Neuromuscular Block: Chemical Encapsulation of Rocuronium Bromide by a Cyclodextrin-Based Synthetic Host". Angewandte Chemie International Edition 41 (2): 265–70. doi:10.1002/1521-3773(20020118)41:2<265::AID-ANIE265>3.0.CO;2-Q. PMID 12491405. https://doi.org/10.1002%2F1521-3773%2820020118%2941%3A2%3C265%3A%3AAID-ANIE265%3E3.0.CO%3B2-Q. 
  11. ↑ "Merck & Co., Inc. Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2018". https://s21.q4cdn.com/488056881/files/doc_financials/2018/Q4/2018-Form-10-K-(without-Exhibits)_FINAL_022719.pdf. 
  12. ↑ "The Royal Society of Chemistry - our structure". https://www.rsc.org/about-us/our-structure/. 
  13. ↑ "BMCS Hall of Fame and Medal". RSC BMCS website. https://www.rscbmcs.org/awards/halloffame/. 

Further reading

David Charles Rees. Astex website.



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