Arecor Therapeutics plc announced the appointment of Dr. Manjit Rahelu as Chief Business Officer, with immediate effect. Manjit is an accomplished strategic deal maker, with a strong scientific background and over 25 years of technical, commercial and financial experience across large and mid-sized pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. He brings extensive business development experience in product focused clinical-stage licensing and M&A and, as a member of Arecor's Executive team, will shape and oversee the Group's business and corporate development strategy.

Most recently, Manjit founded and served as Partner for Alcheme Advisors, supporting early-stage businesses on a variety of business development, strategy and optimisation projects. Prior to this, he held the role of Chief Business Officer and Chief Operating Officer at Calchan, a UK biotechnology company focussed on the development of novel molecules targeting pain and inflammation. Here, he oversaw the shaping and implementing of the organisation's strategy, processes, and infrastructure, as well as leading business development efforts.

Manjit also served as Vice President Business Development at Convergence Pharmaceuticals, where, as a member of the leadership team, he helped to shape the company's growth strategy, with primary responsibility for leading business development initiatives to commercialise its chronic pain assets. He played a pivotal role in cementing the sale of Convergence to Biogen for £675 million in 2015. Earlier in his career, he held positions with increasing responsibilities at a variety of life science companies including Sanofi, Allergy Therapeutics and UCB.

Manjit holds a BSc Hons in Biochemistry from the University of Sussex and a PhD in Immunology from the University of Birmingham.