Improving the world
one smart polymer at a time
Tozaro® is developing a novel suite of reagents to help transform the development and manufacture of viral vectors in cell and gene therapy. Operating at the intersection of chemistry and biology, Tozaro’s smart polymers are evolving existing analytical and purification processes to realize a future where advanced therapies are accessible to all.
Our vision is a future where smart polymers enable innovation and transform life
Our Mission
To deploy smart polymer reagents that transform the development and manufacture of viral vectors and deliver impactful solutions to the cell and gene therapy market.
Our Values
We innovate with purpose
Our focus is to drive innovation to impact real world processes and to deliver meaningful change.
We collaborate to understand, learn & improve
Open collaboration allows us to rapidly evolve through sharing ideas, combining knowledge and operating as a collective.
We deliver excellence
We are committed to quality, exciting our customers in everything that we do.
The Leadership Team
Guy Leaver
Interim CEO and Board Member
Guy is an experienced finance professional with a diverse background in technology leading international manufacturing organisations across medical devices, specialist electronics and speciality chemicals. Guy has developed a strong skillset in business operations and management, successfully guided businesses through various financial undertakings including fund raising, M&A transactions and exits via trade sale or IPO, while holding key positions in organisations such as Neoss, e2v technologies plc and CIBA Specialty Chemicals (formerly Allied Colloids Group Plc).
Alan Thomson
Chief Scientific Officer
Alan has over 20 years of experience in healthcare, specialising in diagnostics at Axis-Shield, Unilever, Unipath and Alere (formerly Inverness Medical) during his career. His roles have involved managing fundamental research, technical scouting, product launch and manufacturing, and on-market support for a number of diagnostic products. Alan has extensive experience of all aspects of the product launch cycle, including taking the Alere HeartCheck product from the patent stage as an inventor to full market launch with CE Marking and ISO Accreditation.
Brian Burke
Chief Commercial Officer
Dr Brian Burke has an extensive background in building successful business through technology translation and strategic partnering, focusing particularly on the application of technologies such as gene editing and next generation sequencing. Working in different sized businesses including Horizon Discovery and Sigma Aldrich, Dr Burke has led across multiple functions including sales, corporate development, strategy, and product management.
Jesse Shearin
Chief Operating Officer
Jesse is a highly accomplished operations leader, with extensive experience in Operational Excellence strategy development and deployment with large multinational chemical companies, including PPG Industries and Sherwin-Williams. He has coached projects at all levels from the shop floor to the executive suite in a variety of environments.
The Board
Mike Evans
Non-Executive Chair
Dr. Mike Evans is a seasoned Chair / Non-Executive with a successful track record in Life Science and In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD). Mike was formerly CEO of Oxford Gene Technology (OGT) for 13 years, where he led the company’s transformation from a licensing-led business model to a highly successful genomic products business before its sale to Sysmex Corporation in 2017. Before joining OGT, Mike held a number of senior positions at GE Healthcare/Amersham Biosciences, and Ascot plc.
Mark Payton
Mercia Asset Management
Dr Mark Payton has extensive private investment and scale-up experience. Since co-founding Mercia he has led the sales of Hybrid Systems (to Myotec) to create PsiOxus Therapeutics Ltd, Warwick Effect Polymers Ltd (to Polytherics Ltd) to create Abzena plc and led the founding investment in Allinea Software Ltd (sold to ARM). Prior to Mercia, Mark played a leading role within Oxford University Innovation (“OUI”, the technology transfer operation of the University of Oxford), spinning out BioAnalab (sold to Millipore), Oxford Immunotec (listed on NASDAQ), Oxitec (sold to Intrexon) and Natural Motion (sold to Zynga).
Elizabeth Klein
Calculus Capital Management
Elizabeth joined Calculus Capital in 2022 and has over 20 years’ experience in Life Science investing. Elizabeth joined Calculus from Klein-Edmonds Associates, which she founded in 2015 to support and advise stakeholders in the UK’s Life Sciences industry. Her career spans equity research and investment analysis, and her client base included – amongst others – Radnor Capital Partners, Grant Thornton, and the Bio-Industry Association. She has a BSc in Applied Biology, an MA in History of Medicine, and an MBA. Elizabeth’s role is to source and execute new deals, as well as advising several Calculus’ portfolio companies.
Michele Pedrocchi
Non-Executive Director
Michele Pedrocchi is an experienced international Life Science Executive, as Non-Executive Director. He has previously spent 27 years at Roche Diagnostics in various senior roles including Global Head of Strategy and Business Development for the Diagnostics division. Michele has built over 25 years of international management expertise in healthcare within corporate strategy, commercial and business development. He brings significant knowledge of diverse business segments including fully regulated healthcare products, life science, precision medicine and digital health products.