Meet David Kendall, Chief Scientific Officer, PharmNovo
As PharmNovo advances into phase II clinical studies with drug candidate PN6047, Chief Scientific Officer David Kendall plays a crucial role in the company’s success. With three decades of expertise bridging academia and industry, his visionary leadership and groundbreaking ideas are instrumental.
David Kendall's academic journey, including a pharmacy degree and a PhD in Neuropharmacology, reflects his exceptional credentials. His early industrial pharmacology experience, coupled with academic tenures at esteemed institutions like the Universities of Texas and Leicester, positions him as a leader in his field.
Until August 2015, he was a Professor of Pharmacology and former Head of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Nottingham Medical School.
In 2010, David Kendall joined PharmNovo, and five years later he assumed the role of Chief Scientific Officer.
“I met and worked alongside Dr Bengt von Mentzer when we were both postdoctoral researchers at the University of Leicester. When he told me that he was setting up PharmNovo, I thought that it was a very exciting venture with a strong underlying pharmacological basis and I was delighted to use my resources at the University of Nottingham to move things forward”, says David Kendall.
Under David Kendall's guidance, PharmNovo has built long-standing collaborations with scientists at the University of Bristol (UK), the University of Pecz (HU), the University of Michigan, Washington University and several other leading research centres, as well as an international network of leading pain experts and advisors.
“Drug discovery is a multifactorial business demanding expert input from a wide range of scientists with specialist skills. Collaborations between academic groups and industry blend cutting-edge technology with pharma experience and know-how and are essential in staying at the forefront of neuropathic pain research and development.”
David Kendall has during his years at PharmNovo played a pivotal role in guiding and overseeing PharmNovo’s scientific and research endeavours.
“My background is in basic pharmacology, researching the mechanisms of action of drugs acting on the nervous system, but my passion is applying such knowledge to the invention of practical medicines. By introducing the concept of biased signalling to the study of novel delta opioid receptor agonists, we have developed PN6047 which has the potential to deliver significant benefit to neuropathic pain sufferers with none of the unwanted effects of existing, less sophisticated, therapies. “
Entering clinical phase II proof-of-concept studies, David Kendall's mission is to ensure that the trials are designed to generate robust data to support the drug's safety and efficacy.
Meet David Kendall, Chief Scientific Officer, PharmNovo
As PharmNovo advances into phase II clinical studies with drug candidate PN6047, Chief Scientific Officer David Kendall plays a crucial role in the company’s success. With three decades of expertise bridging academia and industry, his visionary leadership and groundbreaking ideas are instrumental.
David Kendall's academic journey, including a pharmacy degree and a PhD in Neuropharmacology, reflects his exceptional credentials. His early industrial pharmacology experience, coupled with academic tenures at esteemed institutions like the Universities of Texas and Leicester, positions him as a leader in his field.
Until August 2015, he was a Professor of Pharmacology and former Head of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Nottingham Medical School.
In 2010, David Kendall joined PharmNovo, and five years later he assumed the role of Chief Scientific Officer.
“I met and worked alongside Dr Bengt von Mentzer when we were both postdoctoral researchers at the University of Leicester. When he told me that he was setting up PharmNovo, I thought that it was a very exciting venture with a strong underlying pharmacological basis and I was delighted to use my resources at the University of Nottingham to move things forward”, says David Kendall.
Under David Kendall's guidance, PharmNovo has built long-standing collaborations with scientists at the University of Bristol (UK), the University of Pecz (HU), the University of Michigan, Washington University and several other leading research centres, as well as an international network of leading pain experts and advisors.
“Drug discovery is a multifactorial business demanding expert input from a wide range of scientists with specialist skills. Collaborations between academic groups and industry blend cutting-edge technology with pharma experience and know-how and are essential in staying at the forefront of neuropathic pain research and development.”
David Kendall has during his years at PharmNovo played a pivotal role in guiding and overseeing PharmNovo’s scientific and research endeavours.
“My background is in basic pharmacology, researching the mechanisms of action of drugs acting on the nervous system, but my passion is applying such knowledge to the invention of practical medicines. By introducing the concept of biased signalling to the study of novel delta opioid receptor agonists, we have developed PN6047 which has the potential to deliver significant benefit to neuropathic pain sufferers with none of the unwanted effects of existing, less sophisticated, therapies. “
Entering clinical phase II proof-of-concept studies, David Kendall's mission is to ensure that the trials are designed to generate robust data to support the drug's safety and efficacy.
Latest news
View all
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:
Read more
CTA submission 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 submitted in Spain. The full title of the application 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.” Based on a strategic company decision, PharmNovo has submitted the CTA, in the first instance, to the Spanish Health Authorities only. Submission to the Czech Republic and Poland, the two other countries in which the trial will be conducted, is planned to take place following approval in Spain, which is expected by October 2025. Subject to additional investment, patient enrolment is expected to start by Quarter 1 2026.
Read more
PharmNovo at the LSX World Congress in London
Take the opportunity to listen to Per von Mentzer, CEO, presenting PN6047 at the LSX World Congress in April 2025 in London. PharmNovo is redefining pain management with PN6047, a first-in-class Delta Opioid Receptor Agonist (DORA), safer, non-addictive solution for neuropathic pain. Unlike traditional opioids, PN6047 eliminates concerns of side effects, abuse potential, and tolerance. With a proven safety profile from Phase I trials and a market projected to exceed EUR 13 billion by 2033, PN6047 is set to be a game-changer.
Read more
Positive FDA feedback for PN6047
PharmNovo has received positive and constructive feedback from the FDA for its lead drug candidate, PN6047, a selective delta opioid receptor agonist aimed at treating peripheral neuropathy with allodynia. Following a successful pre-IND meeting in January 2025, the FDA provided valuable guidance on the Phase IIa study design and had no critical comments on the CMC or non-clinical data. This paves the way for IND submission by the end of 2025 and a Phase IIa clinical trial application in Europe (Spain, Poland, Czech Republic) by Q3 2025.
Read more