Frazier adds experience to life sciences team

MENLO PARK, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Frazier Healthcare Partners announced that Scott Byrd, Ian Mills, B.M., B.Ch., D.M., and Gordon McMurray, Ph.D. have joined the Life Sciences team as Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) consultants.

They were previously the management team at Frazier portfolio company Outpost Medicine and have recently formed Pioneer Therapeutics, a Frazier-founded search company focused on identifying, in-licensing and developing high-quality therapeutic candidates.

Mr. Byrd has over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Acacia Pharma Group plc. Previously, he was Chief Executive Officer at Outpost Medicine. Prior to Outpost, Mr. Byrd was President and Chief Operating Officer of Acacia Pharma, Inc. From 2009 until its acquisition by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals for $1.4 billion in 2014, he was Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Cadence Pharmaceuticals, another Frazier portfolio company. At Cadence, Mr. Byrd built the company’s commercial and supply-chain infrastructure and led the launch of OFIRMEV, a market-leading non-opioid injectable analgesic. Earlier in his career, he served in a variety of roles of increasing responsibility at Eli Lilly and Company, including sales, marketing, development, manufacturing, and strategic planning.

Dr. Mills has over 18 years of experience in pharmaceutical development. He was previously Chief Medical Officer at Outpost Medicine. Prior to Outpost, he was at Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Europe, where he was Head of Clinical Development. Prior to Mitsubishi, he was with Pfizer for more than 15 years in a variety of clinical and development leadership roles, including six years as Clinical Head of Genitourinary and Women’s Health, and most recently as Vice President and Global Clinical Head for the Innovative Pharma Business. Dr. Mills has provided leadership to numerous projects across multiple therapeutic areas spanning Phases 1-4, including submission of five products for approval in major markets, and two FDA approvals.

Dr. McMurray has over 18 years of drug discovery and development experience. He was previously co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Outpost Medicine. Prior to Outpost, he held several senior roles across multiple therapeutic areas at Pfizer Global R&D, leading multiple disciplines, teams and projects across Neuroscience, Pain, Sensory Disorders, Genitourinary and Urology indications. Prior to Pfizer, Dr. McMurray was a Lecturer in Pharmacology and a Laboratory Head in the Department of Pharmacology at Oxford University, where he was also a member of the Oxford Continence Group.

“We are thrilled to continue to work with Scott, Ian, and Gordon,” said Dan Estes, Managing Partner on the Frazier Life Sciences team. “We believe their collective experience in pharmaceutical companies, as well as venture-backed companies, will be very helpful in their new roles as EIRs in identifying, creating, and operating innovative new companies.”