Burston establishes IXL

Published: 27-Sep-2001


The former founder of Ashbourne Pharmaceuticals, Dr Dallas Burston, has just set up a new company, IXL Pharma, which is based in purpose-built facilities in Brixworth, near Northampton, employing 13 people.

The company has exclusive UK distribution rights to two Bristol-Myers Squibb products, Buspar (buspirone) and Velosef (cephradine), which are promoted mainly through wholesalers or directly to hospitals. Dr Burston retained the rights to these products, which he owned under Ashbourne Pharmaceuticals, following the sale of the company last year.

The company is in ongoing talks with a US company for sole distribution rights to its product in the UK.

Dr Burston has brought on board an experienced team, including general manager Paul Gibbons with 25 years in the pharmaceutical industry, development director Calvin Ross whose previous companies include Baxter Healthcare and Bioglan, and project manager Clive Booles with over 30 years experience in aerosol technology.

The state-of-the-art development laboratory, which currently has seven technicians, will be used to develop aerosol delivery products, as well as products for sub-lingual, nasal and lung delivery.

Dr Burston, who also sold another company — Bartholomew Rhodes — to Galen in June 1999, provided the initial £1.5m (US$2.1m) funding to set up IXL Pharma.

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