Paul Drayson

Paul Drayson transitioned from a successful biotech entrepreneur and racing driver to a distinguished political figure, holding key ministerial positions and contributing significantly to UK science and innovation policy. After co-founding PowderJect Pharmaceuticals Plc in 1993 and serving as its Chairman and CEO, Paul Drayson led the company to become Europe’s largest producer of flu vaccine, specializing in vaccine production and developing a needle-free injection system from its origins as an Oxford University spin-out. His leadership culminated in the successful sale of PowderJect Pharmaceuticals to Chiron Corporation in 2003 for £542 million. Earlier in his career, Drayson completed his PhD in engineering at Aston University in 1985, and in 1987, became Managing Director of The Lambourn Food Company Limited, orchestrating a management buyout in 1989 before its sale in 1991.

The same year, he founded Genisys Development Limited, a consultancy focused on new product development. From 2001 to 2002, he was also elected chairman of the U.K. BioIndustry Association, further solidifying his standing in the biotech sector. Drayson transitioned into prominent public service roles, appointed to the House of Lords in 2004 and becoming a Member of the Science and Technology Committee.

This venture led to the spin-out of Sensyne Health plc, a clinical AI company, where Drayson initially served as CEO. Sensyne Health leveraged NHS data to provide critical clinical insights to the pharmaceutical industry, forming data-sharing agreements with multiple NHS trusts before he departed from his CEO role in April 2022. Presently, Drayson serves as a Science Entrepreneur in Residence at Magdalen College, Oxford, and a Supernumerary Fellow at St. John’s College, Oxford.

He is also a co-founder and Trustee of the Drayson Foundation, a non-profit organization, and a Member of Her Majesty’s Privy Council, reflecting his ongoing commitment to scientific advancement and public service.