Medicxi’s Grainger joins Centessa as chief innovation officer

David Grainger became chief innovation officer of Medicxi-backed Centessa Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:CNTA), a newly created role in which he will manage the umbrella company’s scientific and research activities and work directly with the scientific leadership teams at each of Centessa’s 10 asset-centric companies. Grainger, who has advised Centessa since its launch in February, was co-founder and chief scientific adviser at Medicxi, where he will continue to serve in a consulting capacity. Over the course of his career, Grainger has co-founded 28 biotechnology companies.

Drayton Virkler joined  Certara Inc. (NASDAQ:CERT) as chief commercial officer, a newly created role at the biosimulation software company. Virkler joins from IQVia Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV), where he held various roles for 10 years, most recently as VP and global head of sales for the real-world solutions global business unit...