In the ever-evolving world of biotechnology, few leaders have the vision, experience, and passion to drive transformative change. Dr. Mark Eccleston, CEO of ValiRx PLC, is one such individual. With a career spanning academia, entrepreneurship, and corporate leadership, Dr. Eccleston has dedicated his life to advancing science and improving patient outcomes. His journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, collaboration, and innovation in shaping the future of medicine.

Believe in yourself, work hard, and go for it. Don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be done.

A Journey Rooted in Passion and Purpose

Dr. Eccleston’s journey into the biotech industry was inspired by an enduring passion for science. “My love for chemistry and its potential to solve real-world problems led me to pursue a degree in the field, followed by a PhD in polymer chemistry with a specialization in drug delivery,” he recalls. Funded by SmithKline Beecham, his doctoral research was deeply collaborative and industry-oriented, sparking his interest in translational research—the process of turning scientific discoveries into practical medical solutions.

After completing his doctorate, Dr. Eccleston embarked on a traditional postdoctoral path but continued to engage extensively with industry partners. This early exposure to the intersection of academia and industry laid the foundation for his future endeavors. He co-founded two startup companies focused on drug delivery and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) applications, gaining invaluable experience in entrepreneurship and innovation.

His career took a significant turn when he became one of the first four English academics to receive an Enterprise Fellowship with the Royal Society of Edinburgh, which funded his MBA. This marked the beginning of his transition from academia to the corporate world. Dr. Eccleston first joined ValiRx, where he was responsible for the pre-clinical development of one of its assets. After two years, he then established his consultancy company, OncoLytika. and co-founded VolitionRx—a biomarker company that originated as a management buyout from ValiRx. 

After 15 years of diverse roles in the biotech industry, Dr. Eccleston returned to ValiRx as CEO, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a clear vision for the company’s future. “This journey has been rich in learning experiences,” he says. “It has taught me how to navigate challenges, identify potential pitfalls, and build a team that shares my commitment to innovation and excellence.”

The success of ValiRx is built on the passion, dedication, and creativity of our team.

Addressing the Biggest Challenge in Biotech

One of the most significant challenges facing the biotech industry today is the identification and progression of promising assets to the point where they can be licensed or partnered for clinical studies. “The success rate of getting assets to the clinic is typically 1 in 10,000,” Dr. Eccleston explains. “This is where ValiRx is positioned—constantly surveilling academic tech transfer and other biotech/pharma companies for early-stage assets.”

ValiRx’s approach is designed to minimize risks at this early stage. The company prioritizes high-quality science in areas of high unmet need, aligning its efforts with commercial opportunities in partnership with larger pharmaceutical companies. “We build strong relationships with our partners and work collaboratively to develop assets in our evaluation programs,” Dr. Eccleston notes. Even when assets are returned to their institutions, the data generated during the evaluation phase provides valuable insights, creating a win-win scenario for all parties involved.

Pioneering Innovative Approaches to Medicine

ValiRx is pioneering an innovative evaluation model to assess potential assets. The company commits to spending around £100,000 and up to 12 months to develop or confirm critical data before deciding to in-license an asset. This allows ValiRx to screen multiple orthogonal assets across a range of modalities, from small molecules to peptides, with a focus on women’s health and cancer.

One of ValiRx’s flagship programs is CLX-001, a cytolytic peptide being developed for Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), a highly aggressive and hard-to-treat form of breast cancer. “CLX-001 has ‘pan-cancer’ potential, meaning it can be applied to a range of cancers,” Dr. Eccleston explains. “We are also exploring its potential to stimulate the host immune response by releasing ‘neoantigens,’ which could amplify both the magnitude and duration of the response to treatment.”

Improving Patient Outcomes Through Innovation

ValiRx’s work is directly contributing to improving patient outcomes, particularly in areas where there are currently limited or no effective treatment options. “Triple Negative Breast Cancer and Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer are two examples of highly lethal, metastatic diseases with no effective long-term treatments,” Dr. Eccleston says. “Our goal is to develop novel therapeutics that can make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients facing these devastating conditions.”

Collaboration as a Cornerstone of Growth

Collaboration is at the heart of ValiRx’s success. Under Dr. Eccleston’s leadership, the company has initiated several partnering agreements to expand its capabilities and market reach. “We have multiple evaluation and co-marketing agreements in place with lab-on-a-chip and organoid testing companies, as well as in-vivo screening companies,” he shares. These collaborations not only enhance ValiRx’s internal drug development programs but also create new revenue streams through sales of its Patient Derived Cell (PDC) models.

Recent Breakthroughs and Future Prospects

ValiRx has achieved several key milestones recently, particularly in the formulation development of its Cytolytix program. “These breakthroughs bring flexibility for applications and streamlined preclinical testing options, which could reduce program costs and lead to new intellectual property,” Dr. Eccleston explains. Looking ahead, he is excited about emerging trends in cell therapy, immunotherapy, and Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs). “We have built capabilities within our translational Research Organization (tCRO™), Inaphaea, to service these exciting areas and leverage our cytolytic peptide assets.”

Sustainability and Ethical Innovation

Sustainability and ethical innovation are core principles at ValiRx. The company employs high-content imaging techniques and real-time kinetic monitoring using label-free platforms to maximize data density per experiment and minimize consumables and plasticware requirements. “We have also developed partnerships to advance ex-vivo drug testing, including 2D and 3D spheroid testing under hypoxia, as well as lab-on-a-chip and organoid platforms,” Dr. Eccleston says. “These efforts not only provide realistic testing options but also minimize animal-based testing.”

Collaboration is the cornerstone of innovation. Together, we can achieve what we cannot do alone.

Leading with Empathy and Vision

As a CEO, Dr. Eccleston places a strong emphasis on team motivation and alignment with the company’s mission. “ValiRx is a small team, so it’s essential that everyone is on board and motivated,” he says. “I work closely with my team to ensure they understand why their work matters and how it contributes to our overall goals. I have an open-door policy—or open Teams policy—where I encourage people to bring ideas to the table. Their input is not just valued; it’s essential to our success.”

Advice for the Next Generation of Innovators

Dr. Eccleston’s advice to aspiring biotech innovators is both inspiring and practical. “Believe in yourself, work hard, and go for it,” he says. “Don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be done. Embrace opportunities to learn new things, network, and meet smarter people. My journey has taken me from academic research to drug delivery, biomarker development, and back to drug development. Each step has taught me something valuable, and I encourage others to be open to new experiences.”

In biotech, the journey is as important as the destination. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow.