About Us

Accelerating Drug Development Through Innovation & Lean Clinical Development

Our mission is to speed up the development of new medicines for the improvement of patient lives by combining rapid early clinical testing with an unrivalled knowledge of how dosage forms work in the body.

What Sets Us Apart

Lean Clinical Development

Our proprietary lean framework integrates formulation development, GMP manufacture & complete clinical testing in one cohesive strategy. By eliminating unnecessary steps and employing rapid feedback loops, we significantly shorten development timelines while maintaining the highest quality standards.

Deep Scientific Expertise

With decades of collective experience, our team has successfully navigated complex formulation and clinical pathways. We combine cutting-edge R&D with real-world clinical insights, ensuring robust, evidence-based solutions that align with current regulatory requirements and industry best practices.

Integrated, End-to-End Solutions

With our in house capabilities, we bridge the gap between product concept, early formulations and phase I trials, offering flexible, tailored solutions that adapt to your specific pipeline goals. This brings the advantage of single point contracting and means that product knowledge and expertise maintained throughout the entire project.

From Small to Large

We are trusted by the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world and valued by the smallest. Over decades we have forged relationships and partnerships of expertise across the globe.

Core Values

Our History

Our History

For over 25 years, BDD has provided expertise in early phase formulation development, gmp manufacture and clinical research for the pharmaceutical industry. Through conducting these evaluative clinical studies, BDD Scientists have gained a industry leading 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.

At BDD

We believe in making clinical development faster, smarter, and more cost-effective—without compromising patient safety or scientific rigor. By pushing the boundaries of lean methodology and innovative formulation, we aim to redefine the drug development landscape and improve global health outcomes.

Partner with Us

If you’re looking to streamline your development pipeline, reduce operational inefficiencies, and get life-changing treatments to patients sooner, let’s connect. Contact us today to learn how BDD’s Lean Clinical Development approach can support your next breakthrough.

Our Management Team

Dr Carol Thomson

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

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

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

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.

Dr. Nilesh Patil

Dr. Nilesh Patil

Director of Pharmaceutical Development

Dr. Nilesh Patil is a Director of Pharmaceutical Development at BDD Pharma Ltd. With over 15 years of experience in pharmaceutical product development, he specializes in oral solid and topical formulations for Rx, OTC, and self-care products across international markets. Nilesh has a strong background in Quality by Design (QbD) and has successfully led teams in innovative product development, GMP manufacturing, and regulatory submissions. He holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Pune University and has contributed to several publications in drug delivery systems.

Our Board of Directors

Joanne Kelly

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

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

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

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.

Claire Madden Smith

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

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

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.

Why BDD

Experienced Team

BDD has over 25 years of success conducting early-phase confirmatory clinical trials.

Founded and Led by Science

Established in 1999 by scientists, BDD has consistently placed great science at the forefront of everything we do.

Proven Reliability and Track Record

BDD has a superb track record of reliability, supporting clients from formulation through to the clinic, with hundreds of satisfied partners.

Faster

BDD’s Lean Clinical Development™ approach significantly accelerates traditional development pathways.

Industry-Leading Recruitment

For decades, BDD has built a robust and effective database of volunteers and patients, achieving an industry-leading 80.2% screening-to-enrolment rate. With BDD, your study starts on time.