David Rees (organic chemist)
{{short description|British chemist}}
{{Infobox scientist
| honorific_suffix ={{post-nominals|country=GBR|CChem|FRSC|FMedSci|size=100%}}
| name = David Charles Rees
| image = DavidCharlesRees.jpg
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1958}}
| fields = Drug discovery, Medicinal chemistry, Organic chemistry
| workplaces = Astex, AstraZeneca, Organon
| alma_mater = University of Southampton (BSc), University of Cambridge (PhD)
| known_for = Astex
| awards = Royal Society of Chemistry, Malcolm Campbell Award 2007{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsc.org/Membership/Networking/InterestGroups/BMCS/Activities/CampbellAward.asp|title=BMCS Malcolm Campbell Award|access-date=2019-04-30}}
Royal Society of Chemistry BMCS Hall of Fame 2020{{Citation |title=BMCS Hall of Fame | url=https://www.rscbmcs.org/awards/halloffame|access-date=2021-11-01}}
Royal Society of Chemistry BMCS Lectureship 2021/2022{{Citation | title=Lectureship 20-22 - awardees | url=https://www.maggichurchouseevents.co.uk/bmcs/Downloads/Lectureship%2020-22%20-%20awardees.pdf | access-date=2021-11-01}}
{{spaces|5|em}}Fellowships
Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry
Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (2020)
| thesis_title = A new approach to the synthesis of aspidosperma alkaloids using tricarbonylcyclohexadienylium iron intermediates{{Cite thesis|url=https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.331758|title=e-theses online service|year=1982|publisher=University of Cambridge|access-date=2019-04-30|type=Ph.D|last1=Rees|first1=D. C.}}
| website = {{URL|https://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.{{Cite web|title="david rees - Google Scholar Citations"|url=https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?hl=en&user=0FZmyzQAAAAJ|access-date=2019-04-24}} He is Chief Scientific Officer of biotechnology company Astex Pharmaceuticals, which is located in Cambridge, UK.
Career
Rees joined Astex in 2003 to lead its chemistry team. He became Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) in 2017.{{Cite web|title=David Rees|url=https://astx.com/portfolio-item/rees-david/|url-status=live|website=Astex website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712232026/https://astx.com/portfolio-item/rees-david/ |archive-date=2020-07-12 }} In 2013, Astex was acquired for around USD $900 million{{Cite news|date=2013-09-04|title=Japan's Otsuka to buy Astex Pharma for about $900 million: Nikkei|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-astex-offer-otsuka/japans-otsuka-to-buy-astex-pharma-for-about-900-million-nikkei-idUSBRE98311D20130904|access-date=14 April 2021}} 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),{{Cite news|last=|first=|title=Cambridge-based Astex Pharmaceuticals Celebrates as Cancer Drug Receives US Marketing Approval.|url=https://astx.com/cambridge-based-astex-pharmaceuticals-celebrates-as-cancer-drug-receives-us-marketing-approval/}} erdafitinib (Astex-Janssen collaboration){{Cite news|title=Astex Pharmaceuticals Celebrates as Second New Cancer Drug Receives US Marketing Approval.|url=https://astx.com/astex-pharmaceuticals-celebrates-as-second-new-cancer-drug-receives-us-marketing-approval/}} as well as the anaesthetic reversal agent sugammadex (Organon, Merck),{{Cite journal|last=Bom, Anton; Bradley, Mark; Cameron, Ken; Clark, John K.; Egmond, Jan van; Feilden, Helen; MacLean, Elizabeth J.; Muir, Alan W.; Palin, Ronald|date=2002|title=A Novel Concept of Reversing Neuromuscular Block: Chemical Encapsulation of Rocuronium Bromide by a Cyclodextrin-Based Synthetic Host|url=https://doi.org/10.1002%2F1521-3773%2820020118%2941%3A2%3C265%3A%3AAID-ANIE265%3E3.0.CO%3B2-Q|journal=Angewandte Chemie International Edition|volume=41|issue=2|pages=265–70|doi=10.1002/1521-3773(20020118)41:2<265::AID-ANIE265>3.0.CO;2-Q|pmid=12491405}} which has been used in over 30 million patients in 60 countries and had global sales of US$1.2 billion in 2020.{{Cite web|title=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|url=https://s21.q4cdn.com/488056881/files/doc_financials/2018/Q4/2018-Form-10-K-(without-Exhibits)_FINAL_022719.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330075028/https://s21.q4cdn.com/488056881/files/doc_financials/2018/Q4/2018-Form-10-K-(without-Exhibits)_FINAL_022719.pdf |archive-date=2019-03-30 }}
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).{{Cite web|title=The Royal Society of Chemistry - our structure|url=https://www.rsc.org/about-us/our-structure/|url-status=live|access-date=24 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903215407/http://www.rsc.org/about-us/our-structure/ |archive-date=2014-09-03 }}
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 [https://www.rscbmcs.org/ RSC BMCS] Hall of Fame.{{Cite news|title=BMCS Hall of Fame and Medal|work=RSC BMCS website|url=https://www.rscbmcs.org/awards/halloffame/|access-date=26 May 2021}} 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
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
[https://astx.com/portfolio-item/david-rees David Charles Rees. Astex website.]
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