Overview
Pleco has set out to develop a safe and efficient product that is designed to detoxify the cancer-promoting micro-environment. This novel treatment is deployed to boost existing therapies and its effect is achieved through a carefully optimised combination of chemical compounds. Thus Pleco introduces a novel category of cancer medicines with a First-in-Class product that addresses the root of cancer, not just the tumour itself.
The first treatments are aimed at Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML), a relatively rare blood cancer, and Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC), an aggressive subtype of lung cancer. Both diseases carry a poor prognosis.
Ivo Timmermans MD MBA, Chief Executive Officer
Ivo worked for pharmaceutical and biotech companies for twenty five years, and was involved in the strategic development of medicines and various product launches. He held senior medical director positions including Global Medical Director of Rhein Biotech, and Chief Medical Officer of Clinigen Group Plc. Ivo was Chief Executive Officer and business developer of four start-up companies in the Netherlands and was non-executive director of Phico Therapeutics in Cambridge, UK. His specialities include oncology, immunology, viral diseases, and vaccines. Ivo holds a medical degree (MD) from Nijmegen University in the Netherlands and a Master of Business Administration degree (MBA) from Henley Management College in Henley-on-Thames, UK.
Rudi Jansen, Chief Business Officer
Rudi has a strong track record for boosting sales and profit growth running major international companies in the pharmaceutical sector. He has extensive experience in US, European, South American and Asian business cultures. His international pharmaceutical experience covers a period of thirty-five years and includes OTC, generics, unlicensed medicine and patented medicines. Rudi is an experienced fundraiser and is well acquainted with industry academia collaboration models. He is co-founder and director of Obvius Pharma, a company specialised in developing niche hospital products.
Dan Gelvan PhD, Chief Scientific Officer
Dan is an experienced management, strategy and business development specialist for biomedical companies, with extensive industry experience including major corporate, venture capital and start-up companies in Israel en Europe. Also, he is an entrepreneur and an inventor of medical devices, holding five patents and patent applications. Dan holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem (Thesis: The role of free radicals and metal ions in adriamycin activity) and an M.Sc. in human nutrition from the University of London. He taught at leading universities in Israel and the US for over fifteen years and serves as Expert Evaluator for the European Commission under Horizon 2020 and Eurostars with over ten years’ experience on three different expert panels.
Gerben de Rijk LLM, Chief Legal Officer
Gerben is a lawyer holding degrees from the Universities of Utrecht (general and corporate law) and Amsterdam (tax law) and started his career as corporate lawyer at AMEV, a life insurance company. He later switched to become Marketing Manager Product Management at the Fortis Retail Bank. After setting up a successful real estate agency in France, he returned to the Netherlands to work in the pharmaceutical industry. Recently, Gerben has been Manager Legal and Regulatory Affairs and Responsible Person for Orly Pharma, an international wholesale company specialised in non-licensed medicines.
Debra Ainge PhD MIOD, Non-Executive Director
Debra has over 20 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry in both large and small to mid-size companies and held global positions in Research & Development, Speciality Pharmaceuticals and Pharmaceutical Services Organisations. Most recently Debra worked as Chief Operating Officer in Parexel Informatics and Clinigen PLC. Prior to this, she oversaw several major acquisitions including Idis, Link and Quantum Pharma. Debra commenced her career at AstraZeneca where she performed various R&D roles and was involved in the development of multiple NCEs in Respiratory, Oncology, CNS and GI. She is a certified member of the Institute of Directors and holds a degree and PhD from Newcastle University, and completed post-doctoral studies at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland).
Gerard van Leijenhorst MD, Non-Executive Director
Gerard has worked within the pharmaceutical industry for 30 years, holding several senior medical and clinical research positions. He spent the last 24 years of his career with MSD (Merck & Co) as Medical Director for the Netherlands, later for the Middle East & Africa, and as Executive Director Clinical Research with responsibilities for Scandinavia, Baltics, Austria, Switzerland and finally for Belgium and the Netherlands. Gerard holds a medical degree (MD) from the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Callum Meikle, Non-Executive Director
Callum is founder and Managing Director of gofastforward, a management, leadership and development consultancy. Since 1994, the gofastforward team has designed and delivered strategic leadership development solutions to a wide variety of clients from Energy to Healthcare, from local SME to global corporate and from Public to Private Sector. An honours graduate in Technology and Business Administration, Callum is an experienced Executive Coach working with business leaders on performance, productivity and the management of change. Additional activities include a recently completed second term as Board Member and Chair of the Finance & Operations Committee in Scotland’s national dance company, Scottish Ballet. Callum is also owner of an olive farm in Andalucía, Spain.
Brenda Reynolds, Non-Executive Director
Brenda Reynolds is a life science entrepreneur and investor. She is currently CEO of Adiga Life Sciences Ltd and Chairman of Calchan Holdings. She is also a Non-Executive Director of University of Birmingham Enterprise and MicrobesNG. She was previously a founder of both Convergence Pharmaceuticals Ltd and prior to that of PowderMed Ltd. In addition to spinning out and running Biotech companies, Brenda has extensive experience in organisational change and global project management in the pharma sector. She provides advice and support through BQR Consulting Ltd. and is a Toxicologist, Chartered Director and Fellow of the Institute of Directors.