Guiding Innovation in Vaccine Development
Bilex Pharma is led by a diverse team of distinguished scientists, industry veterans, and healthcare experts united by a shared commitment to advancing global health through vaccine innovation. Our leadership combines extensive experience in immunology, virology, clinical development, and pharmaceutical operations to drive our mission forward.
Executive Leadership
Dr. Andras Ottlik
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Dr. Andras Ottlik is the visionary founder and CEO of Bilex Pharma, bringing over 30 years of entrepreneurial leadership and business acumen to the company. Despite not holding a medical degree, Dr. Ottlik recognized the critical need for innovation in vaccine development and assembled a world-class team of scientists to realize this vision. His background in technology venture capital and experience scaling multiple successful healthcare startups provided the foundation for Bilex Pharma’s unique approach combining scientific excellence with operational efficiency. His strategic vision, commitment to global health, and ability to bridge the worlds of science and business have been instrumental in Bilex Pharma’s growth into a leading UK biotechnology company.
Dr. Eleanor Harrington
Chief Scientific Officer
Dr. Harrington leads Bilex Pharma’s scientific strategy and research initiatives. A renowned immunologist with over 150 peer-reviewed publications, she previously headed the Vaccine Immunology Department at Oxford University. Her groundbreaking work on T-cell responses to viral antigens has fundamentally influenced modern vaccine design. At Bilex, Dr. Harrington was one of the first scientists recruited by Dr. Ottlik to help realize his vision, and now directs our scientific programs while fostering a culture of innovation and excellence across our research teams. She holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Immunology from Oxford University, completed postdoctoral research at Imperial College London, and has received numerous awards for her contributions to immunology.
Dr. Sophia Chen
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Chen oversees all clinical development programs and medical affairs at Bilex Pharma. Board-certified in infectious diseases, she brings extensive experience in designing and executing complex global clinical trials. Before joining Bilex, Dr. Chen served as Global Clinical Director at Moderna and previously held senior positions at the Wellcome Trust and the World Health Organization. Her expertise in regulatory strategy and clinical trial design has been instrumental in accelerating our vaccine candidates through the development pipeline. Dr. Chen received her medical degree from University College London and her MPH from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Martin Davies
Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Davies brings over 20 years of financial leadership experience in the life sciences sector to Bilex Pharma. Prior to joining our team, he served as CFO at Oxford Biomedica and held senior finance positions at AstraZeneca. His expertise in financial strategy, investor relations, and capital raising has been crucial to Bilex’s growth and operational expansion. Mr. Davies holds an MBA from London Business School and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Dr. Priya Sharma
Chief Technology Officer
Dr. Sharma leads Bilex Pharma’s technology strategy and digital transformation initiatives. With a background spanning bioinformatics, computational biology, and AI applications in drug discovery, she drives innovation across our research and development pipeline. Before joining Bilex, Dr. Sharma was the Director of Digital Sciences at Pfizer’s vaccine division and previously founded a successful biotechnology startup focused on AI-driven drug discovery. She holds a Ph.D. in Computational Biology from the University of Manchester and an MSc in Computer Science from Imperial College London.
Senior Leadership
Dr. Thomas Reynolds
Vice President, Research and Development
Dr. Reynolds directs Bilex Pharma’s R&D portfolio, overseeing the transition of vaccine candidates from discovery through preclinical development. His background in structural biology and vaccine adjuvant design has been instrumental in developing our proprietary delivery platforms. Previously, he led vaccine research teams at the Francis Crick Institute and later at Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Reynolds holds a Ph.D. in Structural Biology from King’s College London.
Dr. Victoria Afolabi
Vice President, Clinical Operations
Dr. Afolabi brings extensive experience in global clinical trial management to Bilex Pharma. She oversees the planning and execution of our clinical studies worldwide, ensuring they meet the highest standards of scientific rigor and ethical conduct. Her previous experience includes senior roles at Novavax and the UK Vaccines Network. Dr. Afolabi received her medical degree from the University of Edinburgh and specialized in public health with an MSc from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Dr. Robert McKinnon
Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance
Dr. McKinnon leads Bilex Pharma’s regulatory strategy and quality assurance programs. With over 20 years of experience navigating complex regulatory environments, he has successfully guided multiple vaccine candidates through approval processes across global markets. Before joining Bilex, he held senior regulatory positions at Sanofi Pasteur and the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Dr. McKinnon holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Nottingham.
Sarah Williams
Vice President, Manufacturing and Operations
Ms. Williams oversees Bilex Pharma’s manufacturing operations, supply chain, and facilities management. Her expertise in biopharmaceutical production and operational excellence has been crucial in scaling our manufacturing capabilities. Prior to joining Bilex, she served as Head of Operations at Lonza Biologics and Director of Manufacturing at Baxter BioScience. Ms. Williams holds an MSc in Biochemical Engineering from University College London and an MBA from Warwick Business School.
Dr. Michael Chen
Vice President, Business Development and Partnerships
Dr. Chen leads Bilex Pharma’s external collaboration initiatives, licensing activities, and strategic partnerships. His background spans both science and business, allowing him to effectively bridge these domains in establishing valuable collaborations. Before joining Bilex, he served as Senior Director of Business Development at MedImmune and held positions at Deloitte’s Life Sciences Advisory practice. Dr. Chen holds a Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Cambridge and an MBA from INSEAD.
Catherine Hughes
Vice President, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs
Ms. Hughes directs Bilex Pharma’s communications strategy, investor relations, and public affairs. With extensive experience in healthcare communications and policy, she has been instrumental in building Bilex’s reputation as a leader in vaccine innovation. Prior to joining our team, she served as Head of Communications at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and held senior roles at Weber Shandwick’s healthcare practice. Ms. Hughes holds an MA in Communications from the University of Leeds.
Scientific Advisory Board
Bilex Pharma benefits from the guidance of a distinguished Scientific Advisory Board comprising world-renowned experts in immunology, virology, epidemiology, and public health. These advisors provide strategic input on our research priorities, technological approaches, and clinical development programs.
Professor Sir Alan Barrington, FRS
Chair, Scientific Advisory Board Former Director, Jenner Institute, University of Oxford
Professor Maria González-Rodríguez, MD, Ph.D.
Director, Institute for Global Health, University College London
Professor David Tanaka, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Molecular Virology, Imperial College London
Professor Emerita Helen Stewart, Ph.D.
Former Chief Scientist, Public Health England
Professor Jonathan Murray, MD, Ph.D.
Director, Infectious Diseases Research Centre, University of Edinburgh
Our leadership team’s diverse expertise and shared commitment to excellence drive Bilex Pharma’s mission to develop innovative vaccines that protect communities worldwide. Together, we are working to shape a healthier future through scientific innovation and global collaboration.