The son of a military man, David Ebsworth was educated at Duke of York’s Royal Military School, where his A levels included German and Chemistry. At the University of Surrey, he earned a double honours degree covering both subjects, and then a PhD, looking at industrial relations in the German and UK chemical industries.

Following an interesting, successful, diverse career in pharma and biotech, David currently manages a portfolio career focused on the UK and Europe. He chairs four of the five companies with which he is involved.  Two, ActiMed and Verona Pharma, are UK companies.

Verona, a 10-year labor of love for David, took the well-trodden path to the US to raise $200 million for their Phase 3 trial of a COPD treatment now on the US market. This podcast recording predates Merck & Co’s decision in July 2025 to acquire Verona, one of the most successful biotechs in the UK, for $10 billion.

The UK R&D tax credit scheme, unparalleled in any other country, is fantastic.

The UK has certainly become a great venue for founding companies.

We (the UK) probably do not celebrate our success as much as we should.

I find the BELS Brief Clips digest incredibly useful for updating me on what is going on in the UK.

I often forward on articles of interest from BELS to my companies.