Who We Are

BDD combines drug delivery expertise and clinical capabilities to accelerate product development pipelines, enable life cycle management and create new value-added products.

We uniquely combine onsite CRO and investigative site activities to offer our clients a comprehensive integrated solution for conducting early phase clinical trials.

Rapid parallel clinical testing with BDD SWIFT significantly reduces the time from product concept to clinical success.

Recognising that one size does not fit all we specialise in providing responsive, flexible, and innovative solutions for drug delivery and clinical trials to our clients

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BDD aims to be the most respected science-based and IP focussed integrated pharmaceutical development centre trusted with the sectors most demanding drug delivery challenges.

Our History

BDD Pharma Ltd. began in 2000 as Bio-Images Research Ltd. a spin-out company from Strathclyde University led by key experts in drug delivery Prof. Howard Stevens and Prof. Clive Wilson.

For more than 20 years, BDD has provided expertise in early phase clinical research for the pharmaceutical industry using gamma scintigraphic imaging techniques. Gamma scintigraphic studies enable the visualisation of formulation behaviour in man and are a powerful tool in product development. Through conducting these evaluative clinical studies, BDD Scientists have gained a unique understanding of how pharmaceutical products work in vivo.

In 2010, we founded sister company Drug Delivery International (DDI) Ltd, to develop our patented controlled release technology OralogiK™ and offer formulation development services to our clients. In 2017, DDi and Bio-images Research came together as BDD Pharma Ltd to offer our clients combined formulation development and clinical services.

Our experience of biopharmaceutics is what drives our science and sets us apart from our competitors. We understand the complexities of drug development and have created an integrated clinical and manufacturing service enabling rapid in vivo evaluation of novel products saving our clients considerable time and expense during product development.

BDD continue to invest in future technologies and research (particularly in the modified release field) to ensure we offer our clients solutions to their challenges as well as providing the patients of tomorrow with enhanced treatments to improve quality of life.

Our Management Team

Dr Carol Thomson

Chief Executive Officer

Carol was co-founder and COO of Drug Delivery International Ltd for three years prior to becoming CEO of BDD Pharma. With more than 20 years’ experience of management in the sciences sector, Carol has developed strong operational management and leadership skills and has led the growth of BDD as an integrated development and clinical trials company, including two successful funding rounds. Carol has a degree in Genetics from the University of Glasgow and a PhD from the University of Sheffield.

Laura Gow

Chief Operating Officer

Laura has been with BDD for over 12 years and has more than 15 years experience in the pharmaceutical sector. She has extensive expertise in GMP manufacturing and clinical trial management. Laura is responsible for business operations across the clinical and development divisions of BDD, leading our expert teams to deliver on BDD’s vision and strategy. Laura has an MChem from Heriot Watt University.

Catherine Ross

Financial Controller

Catherine is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and brings a wealth of experience having managed company finances, teams and projects over the last 35 years. She has experience in the Professional, Public and Private Sector allowing best practice to be used to drive performance at all levels within the business. She supports ongoing financial reporting, business planning and budgeting ensuring compliance with HMRC and Financial Regulations.

Dr Fiona MacDougall

Director of Biopharmaceutics

Fiona is Director of Biopharmaceutics at BDD. A registered pharmacist, she has more than 20 years’ experience in formulation development, with a focus on controlled release and chronotherapeutics. Fiona has extensive expertise in vivo evaluation of novel formulations. Through her work in this area, she has gained an in depth understanding of how different formulations will perform in man which she uses to guide intelligent formulation design. Fiona has a PhD and degree in Pharmacy from the University of Strathclyde.

Calum Stevens

Commercial Director

Calum Stevens is Commercial Director and has been with BDD Pharma for more than 12 years. Responsibilities include strategizing and implementing sales and marketing campaigns, managing the company branding and facilitating client acquisition. Calum has previous experience with successfully running & founding his own company, Lomond Marine. Externally Calum sits on the board at Carers Link as a Non-Executive Director and as Chairman of Communications Subgroup. He is also a member of the Management Committee of the Loch Lomond Rescue Boat. Calum studied Marine Biology at the University of Aberdeen.

Our success is built upon solid scientific ability, strengthened by shared values across the company. Our commitment to our clients is at the forefront of everything we do.

Our Board of Directors

Joanne Kelly

Chair

Joanne Kelley has a long and extensive experience of global commercial and general management in the pharmaceutical industry and has led a range of transactions including M&A, technology licensing and collaboration arrangements. Previously in her role as Vice President of Business Development, Head of Transactions at AstraZeneca, Jo was responsible for a number of transformational deals and has received a number of awards recognising her deal making achievements. As well as her position as Chair of BDD, Jo is a non- executive Director for The University of Manchester Innovation Factory, a Director of Alderley Park Ventures and a Business Development consultant for UK lifescience companies.

Carol Thomson

CEO

Dr Carol Thomson has had a varied career in management in the science sector and developed strong operational management and leadership skills at Thomson Reuters, where she managed the Pharmaceutical Patents Business Unit of the World Patents Index. Following this, Carol spent three years at the University of Strathclyde in a Research Business Development role and subsequently as Research Policy Manager. Carol has a degree in Genetics and PhD from the University of Sheffield.

Howard Stevens

Non-Executive Director

Professor Howard Stevens is a registered pharmacist whose career spans four decades of management of industrial research and development in the UK and Europe in large multinationals and small drug delivery companies. He has been involved in the formation of several successful spin-out businesses and served as the Pfizer Professor of Drug Delivery at the University of Strathclyde from 1998-2009. He has an extensive scientific and patent publication record, is a fellow of the RPSGB, RSC and APSGB and served as Chairman of the APSGB in 2001.

Laura Gow

Chief Operating Officer

Claire Madden Smith

Non-Executive Director

Claire has more than 20 years experience in the pharmaceutical sector, Claire was an Executive Director at Molecular Profiles Ltd and served as Senior Vice President at Juniper Pharma Services Ltd at the time of its sale to Catalent for $140m in 2018.

As a senior executive, Claire has proven success in delivering growth, building from a small spin out to an organisation with over 200 employees. She currently acts as an independent consultant to the investment community and to pharmaceutical companies, providing support on growth, investment strategies and due diligence.

James Keeling

Chief Financial Officer

James Keeling is an experienced Chief Financial Officer with an extensive track record in leading financial & investment strategy, governance, and transformational change programs. James has combined his research background gained at GSK and Wellcome with his financial strategic expertise championing SME’s sustainable growth by challenging existing processes and developing innovative commercial proposals. He has extensive international experience having held senior positions with GSK, BT and latterly as the CFO at Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst driving the development of the R&D ecosystem for start-up and growth companies with sector knowledge in Pharmaceuticals, Biotech, TMT and Property. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (FCMA), Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), a member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (MCSI) and is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors.

Glenn Crocker MBE

Non-Executive Director

Glenn Crocker is an experienced CEO, company founder, non-executive director and investor in the life sciences sector.
He was founding CEO of BioCity Group from mid-2003, becoming Executive Chairman at the start of 2019. In April 2021 BioCity was acquired by Trinity Investment Management and a new company, We Are Pioneer Group Ltd (WAPG) was created, of which Glenn is a director. He has a DPhil in Immunology from Oxford University and qualified as a chartered accountant with EY, working with biotech companies in Palo Alto, California and Cambridge, UK, where he headed up the UK Biotech practice for EY.
Glenn runs the Ventures arm of BioCity Group (now WAPG) and has co-founded, invested in and exited many successful life science companies.
He is a non-executive director of BioAscent Discovery, Alderley Park Ventures and the UK Science Parks Association and a governor of Trent College.
In 2014 Glenn received an MBE for services to the biotechnology industry.

Ask our Experts

World Class Drug Delivery Company

Clinical site

Glasgow Royal Infirmary
84 Castle St
Glasgow
G4 0SF, UK

+44 (0)141 552 8791

Formulation site

Bio-City Scotland
Bo’ness Road
Chapelhall, Newhouse
ML1 5UH, UK

+44 (0)141 404 9540

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