Maxwell Kirkby

Max Kirkby spent 35 years in the Pharma industry within various Multi-national Pharma companies, recently moving into semi-retirement whilst also setting up the consultancy firm; Huang and Kirkby Medical Consulting Company with his partner.

Max is an experienced drug development leader with significant experience gained through leading global cross-function drug development asset teams, development functions and R&D organisations .During his development career Max brought to market a number of new medicines across multiple therapy areas. Within oncology he has led teams through approvals with US FDA, EMA, PMDA and NMPA including assets with companion diagnostic registration requirements.

Max has lived and worked in UK, USA, Sweden and China and managed development teams globally and R&D organisations in China and Japan. He is an engaging leader who puts a strong emphasis on high-performing teams, individual development, cross functional working and good governance to drive successful drug development.

Max has more than 13 years experience living and working in China in both global and local leadership roles and is passionate about the importance of including China and other Asian countries like Japan and S Korea in global development from an early stage. This enables both the diversity of expertise from these important countries to be harnessed within the global development strategy as well as ensure their patients can access new treatment options at the same time as those in the US and Europe.