- Dr John Lucas named Chief Executive Officer
- Clarissa Sowemimo-Coker named Chief Operating Officer in addition to role as General Counsel
Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies (“OCT”), the UK-based pharmaceutical firm researching the potential of cannabinoids for treating a range of acute and chronic conditions, is today announcing changes to the company’s leadership team. The board of directors has named Dr John Lucas as Chief Executive, and Clarissa Sowemimo-Coker as Chief Operating Officer of OCT. The board believe that these changes will help to position OCT for future growth and development at an exciting time for the business.
OCT is specialising in the development of cannabinoid-based prescription drugs for the £44.5bn pain market. It has had an exclusive research partnership with Oxford University since 2017, and is initially targeting indications in serious pain conditions with two drug candidates, with pre-clinical studies currently underway.
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Dr John Lucas joined OCT in August 2018 in the role of Chief Commercial Officer. He is well placed to take on the position as Chief Executive Officer, with a detailed knowledge of all aspects of the company’s business, and having been a key architect behind OCT’s strategy and development over the past three years. He has over twenty years of experience in the biotechnology industry, and before joining OCT held senior roles at Cizzle Biotechnology, Silence Therapeutics and Ilika plc. As a qualified US patent attorney, he also has expertise on commercial and IP matters across healthcare.
Clarissa Sowemimo-Coker is expanding her role to include serving as the Chief Operating Officer of OCT. She has been a key part of the leadership team since joining in December 2018 as General Counsel, a role she retains. As Chief Operating Officer, Ms Sowemimo-Coker will oversee operational issues, as well as being closely involved on the company’s strategic goals. She has responsibility for legal, compliance, D&I, people, culture and public relations. A qualified solicitor, she has previously held roles as senior in-house counsel in corporations including Hutchison 3G UK Ltd and Virgin Media Ltd.
Dr John Lucas, Chief Executive Officer of OCT said “OCT continues to make enormous strides, combining the medical potential of cannabinoids with the scientific rigour of pharmaceutical R&D to develop an exciting drug candidate pipeline. I am delighted to be leading the team as our drug development programme takes the next steps forward, enabling OCT to deliver real therapeutic solutions for patients.”
Clarissa Sowemimo-Coker, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel said “I look forward to helping John and the wider team build the business’s position as a global leader in the development of prescription medicines from cannabinoids for patients with significant unmet medical needs. It has been an exciting journey over the past three years, and the coming phase looks set to be a period of further development and progress for the business.”
Neil Mahapatra, founder and Chairman of OCT said "Strengthening the leadership of our business is always a top priority, and this change in roles reflects the growing breadth and scope of OCT, helping to position the business for the future. Both John and Clarissa share a deep passion for our mission and a keen understanding of what must be done to achieve our ambitions. Their insight, and knowledge of the industry will be invaluable as we shape the path forward for OCT.”