Neil began his career in the agricultural biotechnology industry. During his PhD, he made a series of novel potato hybrids using cell fusion techniques to try and introduce virus resistance into mainstream potato crops. These novel hybrids became one of the first genetically engineered plants to be field trialled in the UK. Neil then joined Shell Research Ltd where he produced a range of novel hybrid and transgenic plants, including the world’s first commercial transgenic Eucalyptus tree.

In 1996, he became a co-founder of the biotechnology start-up Alizyme. As Head of Research, he was responsible for in-licensing products to form the company’s R&D portfolio. At its peak, Alizyme was a FTSE 350 company with four products in clinical development. Neil subsequently moved to a Business Development role, where he out-licensed a number of Alizyme’s products to companies around the world.

When Alizyme entered administration following the global recession, Neil led the divestment process of the company’s major asset – an obesity drug called Cetilistat – which was obtained by Norgine, a private, European speciality pharmaceutical company. Neil joined Norgine for an initial 6 months to help with the integration of Cetilistat and went on to work there for almost 12 years. During this time, he helped bolster its BD team and worked on many of the company’s major product acquisitions, in-licensing deals and divestments.

Neil enjoys working with companies who are developing new, innovative medicines at the cutting edge of science and demonstrating how Boyds can help get new products successfully developed and approved for the market.

He has a BSc (1st Class Hons) in Biological Sciences from the University of East Anglia and a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology from Imperial College London.