Anthony P D Ford

Ph.D.

Roles in PharmNovo: Business advisor and Director of the board.

Born: 1965.

Education: Ph.D. Trained in neuropharmacology and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Nottingham (UK).

Other current appointments: Chief executive officer, Curasen Inc.

Work experience: Co-founded Afferent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in 2009 and served as its Chief Scientific Officer until it’s take over by Merck in 2016. Dr. Ford has more than 20 years of research and development experience at Roche (where he served as Vice President) Syntex and Afferent, having led the progression of several novel drug candidates into early clinical development, focused particularly in the areas of pain and genitourinary therapeutics. He was also responsible for the development of AF-219, a selective P2X3 antagonist for the treatment of pathologic cough.

Holdings: None.

Member of:

Business advisors

Board of directors

Latest news

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January 30, 2026

Welcome on Board

As the company prepares for the next phase of clinical development, the new Board composition strengthens our strategic capabilities ahead of Phase II development of our lead candidate, PN6047.

November 26, 2025

Endowed Chair awarded

We are delighted to share that Professor Amynah Pradhan has been awarded a prestigious Endowed Chair at Washington University, where she now serves as the Russell D. and Mary B. Shelden Professor of Anesthesiology.

October 8, 2025

CTA approval for PN6047

PharmNovo AB is pleased to announce that the clinical trial application (CTA) for a Phase IIa proof of concept (PoC) study investigating the safety and efficacy of lead candidate PN6047 in patients with neuropathic pain has been approved in Spain. The full title of the study is: “Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Cross-Over Trial of the Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of PN6047 HCl in Peripheral Neuropathic Pain Characterized by Mechanical Allodynia.”

July 8, 2025

Breaking new ground in pain management

Breaking new ground in pain management In the latest episode of BioBizBuzz, PharmNovo CEO Per von Mentzer sits down with host Mike Ward to discuss how we’re tackling one of modern medicine’s most urgent challenges: finding effective, non-addictive treatments for chronic and neuropathic pain. The conversation highlights the development of our lead candidate PN6047, a selective delta-opioid receptor agonist designed to deliver strong pain relief without the addiction risks or sedation associated with traditional opioids. Per shares insights into the scientific rationale, clinical potential, and why neuropathic pain—often caused by nerve damage from conditions like diabetes or chemotherapy—demands new thinking. For anyone interested in neuroscience, biotech innovation, or the future of pain management, this episode offers a glimpse into what could become a paradigm shift in treatment. Listen to the full episode here: