Contract Services

Apex Molecular plans expansion following rebrand

One of the UK’s fastest growing specialist contract research organisations has today unveiled a new name and brand. Apex Molecular, formerly YProtech, is a provider of synthetic chemistry services and operates from a base at Alderley Park in Cheshire.
 
The rise of contract research organisations (CROs) is a marked trend in drug discovery, with Apex Molecular an exemplar of the type of specialists that pharma and biotech companies are increasingly contracting with to deliver elements of the development process.
 
The name change to Apex Molecular reflects the company’s top position in providing  highest quality synthetic chemistry services for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and applied chemistry clients.
 
Dr Tony Flinn, Executive Chairman of Apex Molecular, said: “Our progress has been driven by the tenacity and flexibility we show in projects for clients, the insight within our team and the strong emphasis we place on communication during the chemistry process. We do not operate at arms’ length from our customers. We believe our approach sets us apart and we look forward to introducing Apex Molecular to new and existing clients during 2019.”
 
Apex Molecular  is based at Alderley Park and boasts a management team experienced in the chemicals and life science sectors. Its board includes Dr Peter Jackson, formerly Vice President of Avecia’s Pharmaceutical Products business and CEO of Reaxa Ltd, who has a wealth of experience in the forming, funding, development of technology start-ups. Dr Tony Flinn, who has previously set up, grew and successfully exited a similar CRO business. Dr Thomas Screen serves as Operations Director and Dr Stuart Brown as Commercial Director.
 
Dr Tony Flinn added. “We are on target to double in size over the next three years. Since our launch we’ve extended and matured our offer. The structural changes in pharma are fundamental – there are lots of opportunities for agile businesses like ours. The big picture is of demographic trends driving demand for drug discovery, as the population ages, and new opportunities in areas such as personalised medicine. Ultimately, this demand for better health outcomes leads to the design of new medicines and we are there to enable our customers’ ideas.”
 
“A further driver is our environment – Alderley Park is the home of life science in the North West of England. The presence of so many leading scientists and biotech companies in one cluster encourages us to continually push ourselves.”
 
The business has been backed by several investors including Catapult Ventures, through their Greater Manchester & Cheshire Life Sciences Fund, and provided with backing through the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund through FW Capital Debt Finance.