Dr. Steve Ruston, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Persica Pharmaceuticals, has over three decades of experience in the pharmaceutical and fine chemicals industries, with a background spanning R&D, chemical manufacturing, and site operations. He has held senior roles at companies such as SmithKline, Courtaulds, GlaxoWellcome, and Pfizer, working across the UK, USA, and Latin America. Throughout his career, he has contributed to the development and commercial success of several major drugs, including Tagamet, Zantac, Imigran, and Viagra. He has also overseen the design and operation of R&D laboratories and chemistry pilot plant facilities with a combined capital value exceeding £300 million. Before joining Persica, he served as CEO of Prolysis Ltd, a UK biotech spinout from Oxford University, which he successfully led through its growth and acquisition by a global pharmaceutical firm. Steve holds a PhD in synthetic organic chemistry from the University of Leeds.