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.
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NIDA funds studies
The US National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) has funded a project investigating the drug candidate PN6047, a novel and highly selective Delta Opioid Receptor Agonist (DORA), represents a unique approach to addressing this medical challenge.
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Phase IIa studies with WCT
Following the successful completion of our phase I study, we are pleased to announce our collaboration with WCT, Worldwide Clinical Trials, as the phase IIa study of our drug candidate PN6047. This partnership underscores our commitment to developing solutions for neuropathic pain. In the upcoming phase IIa study, PharmNovo will investigate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of their drug candidate PN6047 for individuals affected by neuropathic pain and experiencing Mechanical Allodynia. This distressing symptom, caused by nerve injury, often disrupts daily life and sleep. PN6047 offers a targeted approach to alleviate this condition, aiming to improve the overall pain experience. Insights on its efficacy will aid in designing subsequent phase IIb/III studies.
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Meet Jesper Kjerulff, Chief operations officer and Global project lead
In the pharmaceutical development arena, experts like Jesper Kjerulff stand out. As Global project lead and Chief operations officer (COO) of PharmNovo, Jesper Kjerulff is instrumental in propelling the company's groundbreaking project, PN6047, and advancing the field of neuropathic pain management.
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Phase I study completed for PN6047
In August 2022, PharmNovo initiated the First-In-Human, (FIH), clinical study for the company’s drug candidate PN6047, aimed at evaluating its safety and tolerability. By August 2023, the study was completed, involving 104 subjects across 13 cohorts, which included both Single Ascending Dose (SAD) and Multiple Ascending Dose (MAD) cohorts. Each cohort consisted of 8 subjects, with 6 receiving active treatment and 2 receiving placebo.
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