Strategic Leadership in Drug Development
Doctor in Pharmacology with 35 years of expertise in clinical and preclinical drug development across the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
Career Milestones:
1989 – 1991 · Wasserman-Chiesi
1991 – 1998 · Almirall
1998 – 2008 · Laboratorios Salvat
2009 – 2011 · Uriach – PalauPharma
2011 – 2025 · Sanifit Therapeutics
Participated in over 20 drug developments. For the last 13 years, working at Sanifit Therapeutics, directing a small and efficacious team who brought SNF472, a first in class vascular calcification inhibitor, from preclinical to Phase 3 trials. This work involved MOA characterization, non-clinical regulatory package (IND) and support its clinical development till NDA. To assist the biotech in two fronts, financial and scientific, presenting the project to the board of directors and investors, as well as to KOLs and at scientific events.
Brought an integrative and strategic vision of pharmacology, toxicology, safety, ADME and regulatory into clinical developments. Involved in five Phase 1, five Phase 2, and one Phase 3 clinical trials. The collaboration with Sanifit (integrated into Vifor and then CSL since Q4 2021) was based on coordinating a team of international researchers, focus on the scientific development of the investigational drugs for the assigned projects, and move the projects from drug discovery to first in human trials.
Our Services
Key Achievements & Contributions
Participated in over 20 research projects across multiple therapeutic areas, contributing to the successful market approval of four molecules — Cetraxal®, Eberconazole (Ebernet®), Ebastine (Evastin, Kestine, Ebastel, Aleva, Ebatrol®), and Almotriptan (Axert, Almotrex, Amignul, Almogran®).
Led preclinical development programs from candidate selection to Phase 2/PoC, and advanced SNF472 into Phase 3 trials, directing multidisciplinary teams and international collaborators with a strong focus on efficiency and strategic impact.
Worked in diverse therapeutic areas, from CNS (5-HT1A modulators), vascular diseases (PDE4/5 inhibitors), inflammation and pain (COX-2 inhibitors), muscle function (muscarinic antagonists), to allergy (H4 antagonists) and groundbreaking work on vascular calcification with the anti-calcification agent SNF472.
From 2011 to 2025, as Chief Scientific Officer at Sanifit Therapeutics (now part of CSL), defining the scientific strategy, guided projects from discovery to clinical application, and coordinated global research teams — culminating in SNF472’s advance to Phase 3 trials for calciphylaxis.
Other Experience and Professional Memberships
Teaching in Postgraduate Courses
Universidad Francisco de Vitoria: 2022 – 2023
Institut Químic de Sarrià: 2023 – 2025
PhD Supervision
Title: Development of new indications for
SNF472 in the treatment of vascular calcification-related diseases
Author: Marc Blasco
