Trevor M Jones

Trevor Jones CBE
Born 19 August 1942
Wolverhampton
Institutions
  • Wellcome

Trevor M Jones, CBE FRSC FRSM FPS Hon FRCP FBPharmacolS FFPM FCPP (born on 19 August 1942) is a visiting professor at King's College London, and a former Head of R&D, at Wellcome. He continues to have a distinguished career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry as well as in academia.

He was main Board Director for Research & Development at The Wellcome Foundation Ltd (Wellcome plc).[1] During his tenure, the organisation was responsible for the development of a number of significant products. He was not only involved in the introduction of AZT at his time with the Wellcome Foundation but also its pricing in the USA/EU and liaison with the South African Government over patents.

Jones assisted the Government to attract inward investment into the UK, particularly from the Japanese pharmaceutrical companies through the "Prescribe UK" initiative (with Virginia Bottomley and David Sainsbury). He also led negotiations with the UK Government on the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) when he was head of the ABPI. His latest role is with Growing Life Sciences in Wales (WAG Fund administered by Arthurian Life Sciences Ltd).

Education

Jones attained Wolverhampton Grammar School from 1953 to 1955, followed by King’s College London (University of London, Chelsea) where he obtained a PhD degree in 1967.

Career

Jones was a postdoctoral researcher between 1967 and 1968. From 1972 until 1975, Jones was Head of Development at The Boots Co Ltd. During his time there the technical development of several new products, notably Prothiaden (antidepressant) and Froben (anti-inflammatory), a range of generic products and the technology transfer of Brufen/Nurofen (anti-inflammatory) to many overseas units, notably Upjohn, USA took place.

Jones worked for the Wellcome Foundation Ltd[2] from 1974 to 1994 and, as R&D Director oversaw over 2,500 staff covering all scientific, technical and medical specialities as well as Quality Assurance and Patents/Agreements.[3] As a member of the Board of Wellcome plc[4] from 1987 to 1994, he was intimately involved in the offering of shares by The Wellcome Trust. During his tenure the disposal of Wellcome's interests in vaccines to Medeva (Evans) and the subsequent re-integration of all aspects of biotechnology into the mainstream business took place. This included working with the biotech joint-venture Wellgen in the USA on the buy-out of the partner (Genetics Institute) share.

During his time as R&D Director, the organisation was responsible for the successful development of Zovirax (anti-herpes); Lamictal (anti-epileptic); Retrovir: AZT (anti-HIVAIDS);[5] Acrivastine (anti-histamine); Atovaquone (PCP/Malaria); Exosurf (infant respiratory distress); Mivacron and Nuromax (neuromuscular blockade); Wellferon (Hepatitis B&C); Zolmitriptan (anti migraine); plus an extensive range of over-the-counter formulations; particularly products for coughs and colds, analgesia and skin care. He also led initiatives concerned with licensing-in of new product opportunities including Centocor (Panorex), Fujisawa USA (LNMMA), Laboratoires Pierre Fabre (Navelbine).

Prior to his appointment to the Board of Wellcome plc, Jones was Director of Development and established a new Pesticides R&D operation which was included in the sale of the Wellcome hygiene business to Rhône-Poulenc. From 1994 until August 2004, Jones was Director General of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI)[6] where he directed all the industry activities: government relations on behalf of the 100 national and international pharmaceutical companies. In that capacity, Jones was a member of the UK Government, on the Pharmaceutical Industry Ministerial Strategy Working Group on Pharmaceuticals, on the Board of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) and the (IFPMA). For 12 years Jones was a member of the UK Government Regulatory Agency, The Medicines Commission; an advisor to the Cabinet Office on the Human Genome Project in 2001; a member of the Prime Minister’s Task force on the Competitiveness of the Pharmaceutical Industry (PICTF) and Chair of the Government Advisory Group on Genetics Research.[7]

He has held his current position since 2004 as a Director of Allergan Inc. at Irvine CA (USA),[8] been a member of the Board of Directors of VeronaPharma plc[9] since 2007, this being a spin-out company developing drugs for COPD, coughs and asthma. The International Clinical Research Organisation, Synexus Ltd[10] and Chairman of the CRO Simbec Research Ltd[11] and a Trustee of The UK Stem Cell Foundation.[12]

He has served on a number of other Boards as Director in the UK: NextPharma Ltd[13] since 2005 (contract manufacturer), ReNeuron plc[14] from 1998 to 2012 (stem cell therapy), in the Netherlands: BAC BV[15] (bioaffinity company), in Italy from 2004 to 2008: Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A (Pharmaceuticals),[16] in the USA: SciClone Inc (Biotech) and President of Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals Inc (Rare Diseases)[17] from 2010 to 2011.

From 2000 until 2008, he was Vice Chair of King’s College London Council.[18] He holds honorary degrees/fellowships/gold medals from seven universities, was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians and The British Pharmacological Society[19] and was elected to the French Academie Nationale de Pharmacie[20]

He has published more than 150 papers (see further reading below) in learned and professional journals and is on the editorial board of a number of learned journals. The latter are Drug Development Communications (Marcel Dekker) from 1973; the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Technology and Product Manufacture (Childwall University Press) from 1979; the International Journal of Pharmaceutics (Elsevier) from 1984; Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology (Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain) from 1985; Editions de Sante, Revue S.T. Pharma from 1986; "Advances in Pharmaceutical Sciences" Editor with Professor Ganderton, Academic Press from 1987;[21] Journal of Drug Development from 1988; Editorial Advisory Board, "Drugs and the Pharmaceutical Sciences" from 1993;[22] the Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Economics from 1994. He is a frequent guest lecturer at international pharmaceutical conferences and seminars and has appeared regularly on radio and TV on pharmaceutical and medical issues.

During the period 2003-2005, Jones was a Commissioner at the World Health Organization (WHO) on the Commission for Intellectual Property, Innovation and Public Health (CIPIH)[23]

He was a founder member and a member of the Board of the Medicines for Malaria Venture MMV.[24] Jones advised the Government of the Netherlands on Life Science as a member of the TiPharma Advisory Board.[25] He is also a member of the EU Commission IMI Scientific Advisory Board. In 2005 he was the winner of the SCRIP Life Time Achievement award for his contribution to pharmaceutical sciences and the industry[26]

Honours and distinctions

Jones has a wealth of honours and distinctions. In 1987 he was awarded a fellowship of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Other honours and distinctions, which have been awarded are:

Interests

Welsh Rugby, Golf, Gardening

Clubs and Associations

Jones is a member of The Athenaeum, Pall Mall, London; a Liveryman of the Guild of Apothecaries, London; and a Freeman of the City of London.

References

  1. ↑ Jones, Trevor: A journey of discovery (video recording): Wellcome research laboratories Beckenham 1992
  2. ↑ Jones, Trevor: A journey of discovery (videorecording): Wellcome research laboratories Beckenham 1992
  3. ↑ Jones, Trevor: A journey of discovery (videorecording): Wellcome research laboratories Beckenham 1992
  4. ↑ Jones, Trevor: A journey of discovery (video recording): Wellcome research laboratories Beckenham 1992
  5. ↑ [Garfield, Simon (1994). The End of Innocence: Britain in the Time of Aids. Faber & Faber. pp. 142, 146–147, 196, 313–314.]
  6. ↑ Current issues in clinical trials, The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, 04-04-21
  7. ↑ Dr Jones to head Genetics Research Advisory Group, ABPI 03-04-16
  8. ↑ Allergan Announces New Board Member; Professor Trevor M. Jones Appointed, Allergan 04-07-28
  9. ↑ List of Verona Pharma plc Board members
  10. ↑ Professor Trevor Jones CBE, Director & President of Synexus Scientific Advisory Board, Synexus
  11. ↑ Professor Trevor Jones CBE appointed chairman of Simbec Research 13-07-29
  12. ↑ UK Stem Cell Foundation – Our Trustees
  13. ↑ NextPharma Board member Prof Trevor Jones CBE elected to the French Academie nationale de Pharmacie, NextPharma, 06-01-13
  14. ↑ ReNeuron announces establishment of Scientific and Strategic Advisory Group and non-executive Board changes
  15. ↑ BAC Appointment…, Unilever Ventures Ltd 05-12-01
  16. ↑ Professor Trevor Jones CBE joins the Board of Sigma Tau, Sigma tau, 07-07-24
  17. ↑ Dave Lemus promoted to Chief Executive Officer of Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc, sigma-tau 13-04-29
  18. ↑ King’s College, London, New Year Honours 03-01-03
  19. ↑ British Pharmacological Society - Appointment, Chemist & Druggist 05-04-16
  20. ↑ NextPharma Board member Prof Trevor Jones CBE elected to the French Academie nationale de Pharmacie, NextPharma press release 06-01-13
  21. ↑ Advances in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Volume 7 Edited by David Ganderton, Trevor Jones and James McGinity Published 1995 Academic Press Limited, London ix + 278 pages ISBN 0 12 032307 9
  22. ↑ Oral Drug Absorption, Volume 106, ISBN 0-8247-0272-7
  23. ↑ Professor Trevor Jones, Director-General of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
  24. ↑ Medicines for Malaria Venture Board of Directors
  25. ↑ Top Institute Pharma International Scientific Review Committee Report on first meeting 06-06-01
  26. ↑ Scrip Awards, PR Newswire 06-12-09