Strategic & Advisory 

Independent scientific and strategic advice for founders, leadership teams, boards and investors, with particular depth in oncology.

Led personally by Dr Lee Finlan, F-MAC combines molecular oncology expertise, senior European Medical Affairs leadership and commercial experience. I help clients evaluate development opportunities, prepare for investor discussions and make better-informed decisions at each stage of growth.

How I can help

Scientific advisory and board support

I welcome scientific advisory board (SAB) appointments, advisory support to boards and executive teams, and suitable non-executive director roles. I add most value where oncology science, clinical development and European strategy are central to the business. For emerging companies, this can mean ongoing support as founders refine strategy, engage investors and build the capabilities for their next stage.

Scientific and clinical due diligence

Independent assessment for investors and leadership teams reviewing companies, assets and development milestones. I examine the strength of the scientific rationale, data quality, competitive differentiation and development feasibility, including what early data can realistically support, the limits of cross-trial comparisons, and which uncertainties later studies must resolve.

Formats include expert discussions, focused asset reviews, written assessments and scientific briefings.

Scientific and clinical development strategy

I help leadership teams assess scientific rationale, biomarker strategy, patient selection and clinical evidence against the wider treatment landscape. That includes efficacy, durability and tolerability; endpoints and comparators; and treatment sequencing. The aim is to connect the evidence with decisions on programme priorities and next-stage development.

European strategy and development readiness

European expansion raises questions about investigator engagement, trial feasibility, diagnostic pathways and the medical capabilities a company needs. Drawing on European field medical leadership and clinical trial support, I help teams understand investigator perspectives, identify practical barriers and decide where extra preparation or capability matters most. This is particularly relevant for US and global biotechs building a European presence before establishing a permanent medical organisation.

Investor pitch preparation

A strong pitch links the science to a clear clinical need, a credible development plan and a commercial opportunity. I help founders:

• Define the proposition: unmet need, target patient population and likely place in treatment
• Explain the mechanism and evidence clearly to both specialist and generalist investors
• Test differentiation against competing programmes and current standard of care
• Rehearse tough investor questions on clinical relevance, biomarkers, development risk and execution
• Show what funding will enable and which key uncertainties the next milestones will resolve

Experience behind the advice

I am Dr Lee Finlan, BSc (Hons), PhD, founder and principal consultant of F-MAC. My background combines a PhD in cancer research and molecular biology from the University of Dundee with more than 17 years of industry Medical Affairs experience.

I previously held European Medical Lead and Senior Director roles at Mirati Therapeutics and Halozyme Therapeutics, leading European field medical teams and contributing to global medical strategy. Through F-MAC, my consultancy work includes Revolution Medicines, Tango Therapeutics and Biomea Fusion. My work spans Phase I–III development, investigator engagement, clinical trial support and pre-launch preparation.

Areas of particular expertise

• Solid tumours: pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer
• Targets and biomarkers: RAS/KRAS, PRMT5/MTAP, biomarker-led oncology development
• Haematology-oncology: AML, menin and FLT3 programmes, plus experience in myeloma, MDS and other haematological malignancies
• European medical strategy: investigator relationships, field medical leadership, clinical development support

Working together

All advisory work is led personally by me. Engagements can be a focused review, a defined project or ongoing support, with scope, confidentiality and potential conflicts agreed at the outset.

Whether you are preparing an investor presentation, assessing an oncology programme, planning European development or looking for additional expertise on your board, I’d welcome a conversation.

Discuss an advisory opportunity  - lfinlan@f-mac.co.uk