Simon Campbell is an innovative medicinal chemist who has made notable contributions to the pharmaceutical industry. Beginning his career in academia in North and South America, Simon next moved to Pfizer at Sandwich in the United Kingdom where over 26 years he was directly involved in the discovery of three of the world’s best-selling prescription drugs.

Two of the drugs that he invented, doxazosin and amplodipine, are treatments for high blood pressure — with both considered ‘best in class’ with respect to therapeutic profile. Simon also played a leading role in the discovery of sildenafil, more commonly known as Viagra. All three continue to be highly successful commercial drugs.

Since his retirement from Pfizer in 1998, Simon has been President of the Royal Society of Chemistry (from 2004 to 2006) and acts as a scientific consultant to industry, charities and governments around the world. He received honorary Doctor of Science degrees from Birmingham, Kent and St Andrews. Simon received a CBE for services to science in 2006 and a knighthood for services to chemistry in the 2015 New Year Honours list.