Nigel Cooke

I am a medicinal chemist by training with a global career spanning the UK, USA, and Switzerland at Novartis Research, where I contributed to innovative programs across Autoimmune, Transplantation & Immunology (ATI) and Oncology. Over my research tenure, I played key roles in multidisciplinary teams that generated more than fifteen clinical development compounds, including three marketed medicines—Gilenya (fingolimod for relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis), Mayzent (siponimod for secondary progressive multiple sclerosis), and Joenja (leniolisib for activated PI3Kδ syndrome)—as well as the Phase III asset darovasertib for metastatic uveal melanoma.

From 2000–2014 (ATI) and 2014–2018 (Oncology), I served on the Global Research Leadership Teams, gaining broad strategic and scientific exposure across biologics modalities such as monoclonal antibodies, antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs), and cell and gene therapies. I also led numerous external opportunity assessments and collaboration initiatives, including those in radioligand therapy and ADC technology platforms.

Between 2019 and 2023, I served as Due Diligence Head for Oncology and Rare Diseases, overseeing the scientific and technical assessment of in licensing opportunities and M&A activities. These evaluations covered assets from Phase I through regulatory submission, spanning modalities including therapeutic antibodies, ADCs, gene and cell therapies, and small molecule therapeutics.

In 2024, I founded NGC Pharma Consulting GmbH in the Basel region, where I now provide strategic advisory and preclinical R&D consulting services to biotech start ups and mid sized pharmaceutical clients.