Dr. Manuela La Montagna

Dr. Manuela La Montagna joins ApconiX’s Safety Science Group as a Senior Scientist, authoring Target Safety Assessments with Dr. Helen Garside. Her expertise in drug discovery, oncology, and safety mechanistics strengthens ApconiX’s carcinogenicity assessments. Manuela earned her BSc in General and Applied Biology from the University of Naples Federico II and her MSc in Molecular Biology from VU University of Amsterdam. She completed her PhD at Cancer Research UK Institute in Manchester, researching AMPKα in non-small cell lung cancer using CRISPR-engineered models and RNA-Seq analysis. At Redx Pharma, she progressed from early oncology and fibrosis drug discovery to translational work on late-stage clinical projects, developing a mitochondrial toxicity assay and leading biomarker strategies. 

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Maria Dominguez

Maria Dominguez joins ApconiX as Head of DMPK, bringing 20+ years of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics expertise. Maria will work with Dr Richard Knight to develop ApconiX’s DMPK capabilities, helping clients optimize compounds for clinical development. Her career spans over pharmaceutical companies like Janssen, Merck and Almirall and biotechs such as Exscientia (now Recursion), and progressed from bioanalyst to Vice President of Preclinical Development, building and leading multidisciplinary teams across the UK and US. At Janssen, she managed DMPK strategy for 20+ discovery projects across infectious disease, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology. She values company culture and collaborative consultancy experiences that benefit employees, clients, and the organisation alike. 

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Anna Westlind-Johnsson

Dr Anna Westlind-Johnsson joins ApconiX as a Project Toxicologist in Regulatory Toxicology within the Toxicology and DMPK Consultancy Team. With more than 15 years of experience at AstraZeneca, Anna delivers toxicology support to clients' drug projects, provides strategic and pragmatic advice, plans and executes toxicology programs, and supports health authority interactions. She has contributed to multiple health authority interactions in several territories including FDA, EMA, MHRA and PMDA. Her experience also includes senior roles at Swedish health authorities, giving her a unique perspective on benefit-risk assessment. 

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Stephen Kirk

Stephen Kirk joins ApconiX as a Consultant in Nonclinical Safety and Regulatory Strategy, bringing thirty years of expertise in drug development. Stephen provides design, oversight, and interpretation of nonclinical safety studies, along with regulatory documentation support including CTD Module 2, IND, CTA, and PIP/PSP authoring. An immunologist by training, Stephen has held senior roles at Covance (Labcorp), KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Allergy Therapeutics, and Scendea, specializing in immunotoxicology and regulatory submissions. He served as Interim Global Lead of Immunology/Immunotoxicology at Covance and earned a postgraduate certificate in Biopharmaceutical Drug Development from the University of Leeds. At ApconiX.

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Brandon Coke

PhD

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Yvonne Will

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Andrew Fleetwood

PhD

Andrew Fleetwood joins our Toxicology and DMPK Consultancy Team as a Toxicology specialist, working closely with Dr Richard Knight to support clients in late-stage medicine development. He brings extensive expertise in non-clinical regulatory toxicology, including preparation of regulatory submissions, responses to health authority questions, and post-authorisation activities. His background leading non-clinical regulatory strategy at Pfizer strengthens ApconiX’s capabilities in regulatory compliance, risk assessment, and late-phase development strategy. Andrew also adds specialist knowledge in impurities and extractables and leachables, helping clients plan qualification strategies and manage manufacturing and packaging risks.

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Andreas Hartmann

PhD

Andreas Hartmann joined the Toxicology and DMPK Consultancy Team as an associate non-clinical safety specialist, advising project teams, defining toxicology strategies, and supporting regulatory interactions. He brings extensive leadership experience from his past role, where he led global preclinical safety teams delivering non-clinical programmes from target identification through post-marketing across multiple therapeutic areas and drug modalities. His background in genetic toxicology, impurities safety, and complex regulatory submissions significantly strengthens our non-clinical safety offering. Andreas also adds strong regulatory and industry-facing expertise, including engagement with regulators on high-profile safety topics.

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Simone Stahl

PhD

Dr Simone Stahl is joining the Safety Science Group as a Principal Scientist, supporting the Safety Sciences portfolio, streamlining processes, and mentoring junior team members. With nearly 19 years at AstraZeneca, Simone brings extensive expertise in tumour immunology, mechanistic and molecular toxicology, ADME sciences, and in vitro model development. She has contributed to liver toxicity screening, drug transporter research, discovery toxicology, and the development of novel tools across a wide range of drug modalities. Simone is excited to bring her deep industry experience to ApconiX and strengthen SSG’s expert toxicologist-led Target Safety Assessment and mechanistic toxicity services.

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