David Rees (organic chemist)

Short description: British chemist

David Charles Rees

CChem FRSC FMedSci

Born| 1958 (age 67-68)
Alma mater| University of Southampton (BSc), University of Cambridge (PhD)
Known for| Astex
Awards| Royal Society of Chemistry, Malcolm Campbell Award 2007[1]

Royal Society of Chemistry BMCS Hall of Fame 2020[2]

Royal Society of Chemistry BMCS Lectureship 2021/2022[3]

Fellowships

Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry

Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (2020)
Scientific career
Fields| Drug discovery, Medicinal chemistry, Organic chemistry
Institutions| Astex, AstraZeneca, Organon
Thesis| A new approach to the synthesis of aspidosperma alkaloids using tricarbonylcyclohexadienylium iron intermediates[4]
Website| astx.com/portfolio-item/david-rees

David Charles Rees (born 1958) CChem FRSC FMedSci is a chemist recognised internationally for his innovative use of chemistry in drug discovery.[5] He is Chief Scientific Officer of biotechnology company Astex Pharmaceuticals, which is located in Cambridge, UK.

## Contents

* 1 Career
* 2 Fellowships, Awards, and Academic Appointments
* 3 References
* 4 Further reading

## Career

Rees joined Astex in 2003 to lead its chemistry team. He became Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) in 2017.[6] In 2013, Astex was acquired for around USD $900 million[7] and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

Rees is associated with the discovery of three launched drugs: ribociclib (Astex-Novartis collaboration),[8] erdafitinib (Astex-Janssen collaboration)[9] as well as the anaesthetic reversal agent sugammadex (Organon, Merck),[10] which has been used in over 30 million patients in 60 countries and had global sales of US$1.2 billion in 2020.[11]

Rees has a BSc from the University of Southampton and PhD from the University of Cambridge.

## Fellowships, Awards, and Academic Appointments

Rees is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). He is one of the few industrial scientists to have served as President of its Organic Division (2010-2013), and was later elected to the RSC Board of Trustees (2015-2019).[12]

Rees has held visiting professorships at three UK universities, and sits on several scientific advisory boards for not-for-profit organisations. In 2020 he was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and inducted into the RSC BMCS Hall of Fame.[13] He has over 140 publications and patents.

Rees is also a Director of Ashanti Development, a charity that promotes clean water and sanitation in Ghana.

## References

1. ↑ "BMCS Malcolm Campbell Award". https://www.rsc.org/Membership/Networking/InterestGroups/BMCS/Activities/CampbellAward.asp.
2. ↑ BMCS Hall of Fame, https://www.rscbmcs.org/awards/halloffame, retrieved 2021-11-01
3. ↑ Lectureship 20-22 - awardees, https://www.maggichurchouseevents.co.uk/bmcs/Downloads/Lectureship 20-22 - awardees.pdf, retrieved 2021-11-01
4. ↑ Rees, D. C. (1982). e-theses online service (Ph.D). University of Cambridge. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
5. ↑ ""david rees - Google Scholar Citations"". https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?hl=en&user=0FZmyzQAAAAJ.
6. ↑ "David Rees". https://astx.com/portfolio-item/rees-david/.
7. ↑ "Japan's Otsuka to buy Astex Pharma for about $900 million: Nikkei". Reuters. 2013-09-04. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-astex-offer-otsuka/japans-otsuka-to-buy-astex-pharma-for-about-900-million-nikkei-idUSBRE98311D20130904.
8. ↑ "Cambridge-based Astex Pharmaceuticals Celebrates as Cancer Drug Receives US Marketing Approval.". https://astx.com/cambridge-based-astex-pharmaceuticals-celebrates-as-cancer-drug-receives-us-marketing-approval/.
9. ↑ "Astex Pharmaceuticals Celebrates as Second New Cancer Drug Receives US Marketing Approval.". https://astx.com/astex-pharmaceuticals-celebrates-as-second-new-cancer-drug-receives-us-marketing-approval/.
10. ↑ Bom, Anton; Bradley, Mark; Cameron, Ken; Clark, John K.; Egmond, Jan van; Feilden, Helen; MacLean, Elizabeth J.; Muir, Alan W.; Palin, Ronald (2002). "A Novel Concept of Reversing Neuromuscular Block: Chemical Encapsulation of Rocuronium Bromide by a Cyclodextrin-Based Synthetic Host". Angewandte Chemie International Edition 41 (2): 265–70. doi:10.1002/1521-3773(20020118)41:2<265::AID-ANIE265>3.0.CO;2-Q. PMID 12491405. https://doi.org/10.1002/1521-3773(20020118)41:2<265::AID-ANIE265>3.0.CO;2-Q.
11. ↑ "Merck & Co., Inc. Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2018". https://s21.q4cdn.com/488056881/files/doc_financials/2018/Q4/2018-Form-10-K-(without-Exhibits)_FINAL_022719.pdf.
12. ↑ "The Royal Society of Chemistry - our structure". https://www.rsc.org/about-us/our-structure/.
13. ↑ "BMCS Hall of Fame and Medal". RSC BMCS website. https://www.rscbmcs.org/awards/halloffame/.

## Further reading

David Charles Rees. Astex website.

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