Our Team

Dr. Denise Scots-Knight is a co-founder of Mereo. Under her leadership, Mereo focuses on developing and commercializing innovative therapeutics for rare conditions.

With over 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, Denise has held pivotal roles in venture capital, research and development and executive leadership. Prior to founding Mereo, she served as Managing Partner at Phase4 Partners (Nomura Phase4 Ventures, a venture capital firm investing globally in biotechnology companies). Before Nomura, Denise was at Rothschild Asset Management and her earlier career includes senior positions at Amersham and Fisons.

She has served on the boards of several U.S. and European biotech companies, including Idenix Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Merck) and Albireo Pharma (acquired by Ipsen), and also as a Trustee at the British Heart Foundation for nine years.

Since March 2019, Denise has been a member of the board of directors at Elanco Animal Health Incorporated.

Denise holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Birmingham and was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Berkeley, California.

Christine Fox was appointed in January 2021, and brings more than two decades of financial expertise to the role, overseeing the Company's financial operations, planning, and reporting.

Before joining Mereo, Christine was the Group Financial Controller and Treasurer at Travelport Worldwide Ltd., where she managed global financial operations. Her career also includes over a decade at KPMG in the U.S. and Switzerland, where she held positions of increasing responsibility, focusing on large multinational clients across various industries, including pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Christine holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Butler University.

Charles Sermon is a co-founder of Mereo. With over 25 years’ experience in biopharmaceuticals, he oversees all legal, risk, compliance and corporate governance matters for the Company.

Charles began his career as a lawyer at Freshfields in London, specialising in corporate finance. In 1998 he joined the global financial services group Nomura, where he worked for the life science investment team, investing in biotechnology companies in the U.S. and Europe. Prior to joining Mereo in 2015, Charles was part of Phase4 Partners’ MBO from Nomura.

Charles is currently a trustee of the Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity, a U.K.-based charity supporting families who have a child aged 0-18 with a life threatening or terminal illness. He formerly sat on the board of the Mayor of London’s Digital, Creative, Science and Technology (DCST) Working Group, as part of the London Enterprise Panel, between 2013 and 2016.

Charles holds an LLB (Hons) from the University of Hull, U.K.

Dr. John Lewicki brings more than 35 years of experience in biotechnology and drug development. He plays a central role in guiding the Company’s scientific strategy and pipeline advancement.

Prior to joining Mereo, John held leadership roles at OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, serving as President, CEO, and a board member, following earlier tenures as Senior Vice President of R&D. Earlier in his career, John served as Vice President of Research at Scios Inc, where he was part of the team that co‑discovered human B-type natriuretic peptide, later commercialized as a treatment for acute congestive heart failure.

He has co‑authored over 80 scientific publications and is an inventor on more than 30 issued U.S. patents, reflecting his sustained contributions to biomedical science.

John earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego.

Dr. Jackie Parkin leads clinical development at Mereo, driving advancement of key assets including a potential therapy for Alpha‑1 Antitrypsin Deficiency-associated Lung Disease (AATD‑LD).

With over 20 years of experience in pharma and biotech, Jackie has held senior clinical development roles at GlaxoSmithKline, leading programs in immuno‑inflammatory and infectious diseases, including the first new therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus in over 50 years. 

Earlier in her career as a physician, she was Clinical Senior Lecturer in Immunology at St. Bartholomew’s and the Royal London Hospital. There, Jackie combined clinical care with research, with a focus on HIV. She also set up family clinics and Primary Immunodeficiency Services.

Jackie earned a Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of London and has published widely.

Since joining Mereo in 2018, Wills Hughes-Wilson has been instrumental in leading the Company's patient access and commercialization strategies across its portfolio.

Prior to Mereo, Wills served as Chief Patient Access Officer and Senior Vice President of Patient Access & External Affairs at Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi), where she was responsible for the company's go-to-market approach across a broad orphan drug portfolio, including successful first-in-class haemophilia product launches. Before Sobi, she held the position of Vice President of Health & Market Access Policy at Genzyme Corporation, focusing on securing market availability for orphan drugs and advanced therapies.

Wills has been actively involved in rare disease policy, serving as Industry Coordinator on the European Commission’s Committee of Experts on Rare Diseases and as Industry Lead on the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) Working Group with Interested Parties.

Wills is a Non-Executive Director of Vaso Dynamics. 

Wills holds an honors degree in Law and Politics from the University of Durham, U.K.

Dr. Ogün Sazova leads the strategic development of a high-performing medical affairs function to support the launch and commercialization of a potential therapy for osteogenesis imperfecta in Europe.

With over 20 years of experience, Ogün has held senior leadership roles at BioMarin, Napp Pharmaceuticals, and AstraZeneca, where he led global medical strategies, evidence generation, and stakeholder engagement across rare diseases, immunology, and cardiovascular therapy areas. He has successfully built and transformed medical affairs organizations, led integrated evidence planning, and contributed to major product launches across multiple therapy areas. His career spans Turkey, Germany, Belgium, and the U.K., bringing a rich international perspective to his work.

Ogün graduated from Istanbul University's Faculty of Medicine.

Bharti Navsariwala provides regulatory leadership across all assets in the portfolio.

With over 35 years’ experience of developing and executing global regulatory affairs strategies, leading to a track record of successful regulatory approvals and product launches, Bharti has held pivotal regulatory roles in GSK, Takeda Millenium, and Menarini Stemline, with a focus on oncology products including rare cancers and other rare diseases. She has been active in working with key trade associations and rare disease organizations as industry representative on various working groups, including EFPIA, EuropaBio, EUCOPE, NORD, BIA, and other multi-stakeholder groups, such as Cancer Drug Development Forum.

Bharti is also a Fellow of The Organisation for Professionals in Regulatory Affairs (TOPRA) and has acted as trusted partner representing the industry in key discussions with EMA and MHRA on various policy topics.

Bharti holds a BSc (Hons) in Life Sciences from the University of Westminster, London. She also has a Diploma in Regulatory Affairs from the University of Cardiff.

Bo Kara has a career spanning over three decades in biopharmaceutical innovation and is responsible for scientific and operational excellence in Chemistry Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) at Mereo.

His expertise encompasses biologics, small molecules, and advanced modalities, with a focus on scientific and operational excellence in CMC strategy. Bo has played a pivotal role in shaping CMC development pathways for high-impact therapeutics, including rare disease and oncology assets. Prior to his current role, Bo held senior leadership positions with Evox Therapeutics, GSK, Fujifilm Biotechnologies and AstraZeneca, consistently driving portfolio value.

Bo is inventor on multiple patents in the field of biopharmaceutics and protein expression. He provides CMC advice for the New Agents Committee at Cancer Research U.K. and was a board member of the U.K. Regenerative Medicine Board.

Bo holds advanced degrees in pharmaceutical sciences.

Bal Lally plays a pivotal role in the evolution of Mereo, fostering a positive workplace culture, implementing effective HR policies, and driving organizational growth through innovative people strategies.

Bal joined Mereo in 2020, with a background of over two decades of experience in senior HR management, with a proven track record in leading talent management initiatives, driving cost efficiencies through organizational restructuring, and implementing strategic HR programs that align people and business objectives. Her career spans multiple industries, including healthcare, banking, financial consultancy, and telecommunications.

Bal is MCIPD-qualified and holds a BA in Business Studies and an MA in Human Resource Management.

Dr. Denise Scots-Knight is a co-founder of Mereo. Under her leadership, Mereo focuses on developing and commercializing innovative therapeutics for rare conditions.

With over 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, Denise has held pivotal roles in venture capital, research and development and executive leadership. Prior to founding Mereo, she served as Managing Partner at Phase4 Partners (Nomura Phase4 Ventures, a venture capital firm investing globally in biotechnology companies). Before Nomura, Denise was at Rothschild Asset Management and her earlier career includes senior positions at Amersham and Fisons.

She has served on the boards of several U.S. and European biotech companies, including Idenix Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Merck) and Albireo Pharma (acquired by Ipsen), and also as a Trustee at the British Heart Foundation for nine years.

Since March 2019, Denise has been a member of the board of directors at Elanco Animal Health Incorporated.

Denise holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Birmingham and was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Berkeley, California.

Mr. Michael Wyzga has served on our Board since April 2019 following the closing of the OncoMed merger, and served as a director of OncoMed from October 2013 until the closing of the Merger. Mr. Wyzga is currently the President of MSW Consulting Inc., a strategic consulting group focused in the life sciences area. From December 2011 until November 2013, Mr. Wyzga served as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Radius Health, Inc. Prior to that, Mr. Wyzga served in various senior management positions at Genzyme Corporation, including as Chief Financial Officer from July 1999 until November 2011. 

Mr. Wyzga is currently Chairman of the board of directors of GenSight Biologics S.A. and Lead Independent Director of X4 Biologics. Mr. Wyzga previously served as a member of the boards of directors of Adagio Therapeutics, LogicBio, Exact Sciences Corporation, Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Altus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and as a member of the supervisory board of Prosensa Holding B.V. He received an MBA. from Providence College and a B.S. from Suffolk University.

Dr. Jeremy Bender is currently the Chief Executive Officer and President of DayOne Biopharmaceuticals. Prior to joining DayOne, Dr. Bender was Vice President of Corporate Development at Gilead Sciences, a pharmaceutical company, from March 2018 to September 2020. Prior to that, he was Chief Operating Officer of Tizona Therapeutics from July 2015 to March 2018 and Chief Business Officer of Sutro Biopharma, a biotechnology company specializing in cancer and autoimmune therapeutics, from October 2012 to July 2015. Prior to joining Sutro Biopharma, he was Vice President of Corporate Development at Allos Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on cancer treatments, from January 2006 to September 2012.

Dr. Bender began his career in the life sciences practice at Boston Consulting Group, a management consulting company. Dr. Bender holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Stanford University, a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Colorado, and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Dr. Anders Ekblom has extensive experience as an executive and leader with broad business knowledge from senior roles in the biopharmaceutical industry, with global experience delivering products, projects, productivity and change management.

He is currently Chairman/Non-Executive Board member of several biotech companies. During two decades at AstraZeneca, he was a member of global executive teams including Executive VP Global Medicines Development, Global Head Clinical Development, Global Therapy Area Head, Global Head Science and Technology Integration, and CEO AstraZeneca AB Sweden.

Dr. Ekblom is also a board-certified M.D. (Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care), Ph.D., D.D.S., an Associate Professor at Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, and a fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences.

Dr. Pierre Jacquet is currently Managing Director and Vice Chairman of L.E.K. Consulting’s Global Healthcare practice. He has served in a variety of leadership roles over 20 years at L.E.K., including Global Head, Healthcare Practice, Global Leadership Team, the Americas management committee, and various partner operating committees. Prior to joining L.E.K. in 2001, Dr. Jacquet was trained as a surgical resident at University of Liège, Belgium and served as a Fellow at the Washington Cancer Institute, where he authored over 40 publications and presentations.

In addition to serving on Mereo’s Board of Directors, Dr. Jacquet is a Director of Exact Sciences, on the Advisory Board of Life Science Cares, and previously served as a Director of Osprey Pharmaceuticals. He earned a MBA from the Darden Graduate School at the University of Virginia, graduated Magna Cum Laude in Medicine from the University of Liège in Belgium and was awarded a Summa Cum Laude Doctor of Philosophy in biomedical sciences from the University of Liège in Belgium.

Dr. Deepa Pakianathan is a Managing Member at Delphi Ventures and leads all of the firm’s biotechnology investment activities. She joined the Mereo Board subsequent to the merger with OncoMed Pharmaceuticals. She currently serves on the boards of Theravance Biopharma, Inc. and Karyopharm Therapeutics, Inc. and previously served on a number of boards, including Calithera Biosciences.

Dr. Pakianathan joined Delphi in 2001 to build and lead the firm’s biotechnology investment practice. Prior to joining Delphi, Deepa was a Vice President in the healthcare group at J.P. Morgan. Prior to that, she was a biotechnology research analyst at Genesis Merchant Group.

She worked as a postdoctoral scientist in the Immunology Department at Genentech Corporation from 1993 to 1997. Deepa received her Ph.D. and M.S. from Wake Forest University and her M.Sc. and B.Sc. from the University of Bombay.

Mr. Justin Roberts is a Partner at Rubric Capital Management LP, a role he has held since the formation of the company in 2016. Before Rubric, he spent seven years at Point72 Asset Management. Mr. Roberts has also held roles at ZS Associates, Moore Capital Management, and began his career at Lehman Brothers as an investment banker in their M&A practice.

Mr. Roberts graduated with honors from Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Daniel Shames has served as President of Daniel A. Shames Consulting, providing regulatory services to over 100 biotechnology and pharmaceutical clients. Prior to starting his consultancy, Dr. Shames spent 12 years at the FDA, during which time he was involved in the safety and efficacy review of hundreds of drugs. Most recently, Dr. Shames served as Deputy Director, Office of Drug Evaluation III from 2006 to 2008, while also serving as Director of the Division of Gastroenterology and Inborn Error Products. Prior to that, he was Director of Reproductive and Urologic Drugs from 2001 to 2006. Before joining the FDA, Dr. Shames founded Carolina Urocorp, operated a private medical practice, and was as Major in the United States Army Medical Corps.

Dr. Shames received his undergraduate degree from Brandeis University, his M.D. from Georgetown University School of Medicine, and did his urology residency at the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Marc Yoskowitz is Chief Executive Officer of Evozyne, Inc. Previously, he served as EVP and Chief Strategy Officer, Life Sciences at Tempus, Inc. Mr. Yoskowitz has also served as Chief Business Officer, Pfizer Essential Health, leading a range of corporate initiatives within the Pfizer portfolio, as SVP, Strategy and Corporate Development at Hospira, and was a member of the Executive Committee. Earlier in his career, Mr. Yoskowitz led business development at a specialty pharmaceutical company, spent eight years at McKinsey & Company where he was an Associate Principal, and began his career as an M&A lawyer at Davis, Polk and Wardwell in New York.

Mr. Yoskowitz received a bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis and holds a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.

Dr. Annalisa Jenkins served as president and CEO of Dimension Therapeutics, a leading NASDAQ listed gene therapy company that was acquired by Ultragenyx in November 2017. Prior leadership roles have included the head of global research and development at Merck Serono and SVP, Global Development at Bristol Myers-Squibb. Dr. Jenkins is a board member and advisor to a number of public and private health and life science companies globally.

Dr. Jenkins graduated with a degree in medicine from St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in the University of London and served as a Surgeon Lieutenant Commander in the British Royal Navy.