New CEO Appointed to Take Diagnostics Startup LEX to the Next Level

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LEX Diagnostics, a molecular point-of-care diagnostics startup spun out of TTP, has announced the appointment of Ed Farrell as its new CEO. With a career spanning 25 years in the life sciences industry, Farrell most recently served as COO of Klay Biotech and President/COO of Quotient Ltd, where he led the development and commercialisation of its MosaiQ platform.

His appointment comes at a time when the company is looking to revolutionise diagnostics with a step change in speed, sensitivity and cost. LEX is developing a 5-minute multiplex PCR test to quickly detect infectious diseases including SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19), Influenza, Strep A, and RSV.

Farrell succeeds Dr Andrew Baker-Campbell, who becomes chair of the business. Baker-Campbell had been CEO since the company’s founding in February 2020, and is credited with curating the business out of TTP and demonstrating the success of its technology under the TTP aegis.

Speaking on his appointment, Farrell said: “I’m thrilled to join the talented team at LEX and to work toward launching our 5-minute multiple PCR test. Our goal is to rapidly bring our innovative thermocycling technology to the healthcare market, improving patient care worldwide and opening the door to syndromic testing by bringing the necessary clinical insights to healthcare providers within minutes.”

Dr Baker-Campbell added: “Ed brings an abundance of operational experience from his successful career spanning the diagnostics and medtech industry. We are confident he will drive the translation of our technology into a commercial product.”

LEX was founded as an independent company within the TTP Group with the aim of developing and manufacturing a true PCR diagnostic at a price low enough to replace antigen tests in clinical settings. With Farrell at the helm, the company looks forward to a critical phase of growth as it strives to achieve its mission of widening access to molecular diagnostics and reducing the burden of infectious disease on the world.