Clinical Network Services (CNS), an Australian-based CRO offering integrated development services in phase I and II trials, has appointed ex-Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) toxicologist Dr. Douglas Francis senior regulatory toxicologist for the company’s BioDesk product development planning and regulatory affairs service.

He will provide advice and assistance to international and Australian/New Zealand biotechnology companies in toxicology, pharmacology and drug optimization to support conduct of clinical trials and drug registration in key global markets.

Francis is a U.K./European registered toxicologist and a member of the U.S. Society of Toxicology, the American College of Toxicology, the British Toxicology Society and the Roundtable of Toxicology Consultants.

Most recently, he offered regulatory toxicology services to small and medium pharmaceutical and biotech clients in Australia, Europe and the U.S. through his own consultancy, DF Pre-clinical Services. Previously, he was vice president of drug development for Australian biotech Phylogica, and drug development manager at Pharmaxis.