From molecule to medicine: the process behind patient-ready treatments 5.8.2026 | Ipsen “We need to make sure that it’s scalable, safe, and reproducible—so that every patient gets the same medicine every time.” As a CMC lead focused on new asset development, Ian Fox works at the intersection of research and application—taking promising molecules and turning them into real-world treatments. He explains his work as “a kind of bridge between early research identification of a target area and making the end product a sustainable, controlled, safe, quality product that can meet a patient’s needs.” Ian supports the push from medicinal chemistry into clinical development, translating discovery into consistent, high-quality products. That means evaluating manufacturing processes early, making sure they are viable not just in theory but in scale. “It has to be always the same quality, the same dose, the same perfect medicine every time,” he says. Ian did not begin in development. His journey started in commercial manufacturing, then he saw an opportunity to move closer to impact. “The move into pharmaceutical development gives me the opportunity to reach more patients and change their lives.” That shift required growth. He “climbed the ladder” and completed a master’s focused on innovative manufacturing. Ipsen’s structure allowed him to move across teams, expand his technical scope, and step into a role where science connects directly to patients. He believes the future lies in better tools and deeper collaboration. “With advancements in AI, we might reduce the risk or the level of testing we have to execute—through more effective modeling,” he says. “Tools like this will aid scientists and let us focus more on the work itself.” In the end, for Ian, everything comes together through collaboration. “If we can’t collaborate, the product doesn’t make it to market. By working together, we work towards delivering the same results for every patient every time.” https://www.ipsen.com/stories/science/from-molecule-to-medicine-the-process-behind-patient-ready-treatments