Persica Pharmaceuticals Appoints New Leadership Team

Dr. Edward Littler named Executive Chairman, David Watson appointed CEO as company advances treatment for chronic low back pain

Mar. 23, 2026 at 7:48am

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Persica Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a treatment for chronic low back pain (cLBP), has appointed Dr. Edward Littler as Executive Chairman and David Watson as Chief Executive Officer. They succeed Steve Ruston, who is retiring after 13 years at the company. These leadership changes come at a critical point for Persica, following positive Phase 1b clinical data for its lead candidate PP353, a targeted intradiscal therapy for cLBP associated with Modic changes.

Why it matters

Chronic low back pain is a debilitating condition that affects millions worldwide, with limited effective treatment options beyond symptom management. Persica's PP353 therapy aims to address the underlying cause of cLBP by directly targeting suspected disc infections, potentially offering a disease-modifying, opioid-sparing treatment. The new leadership team brings deep expertise in drug development that will be crucial as Persica advances PP353 towards late-stage trials and commercialization.

The details

PP353 is a patented, targeted intradiscal injection that is delivered directly to the site of infection. The Phase 1b trial showed PP353 significantly reduced pain, improved patient function, and reduced painkiller use, including opioids. The data was published in The Lancet's eClinicalMedicine and presented at the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) 2026 Annual Meeting.

  • Persica Pharmaceuticals was founded in 2013.
  • The Phase 1b clinical trial for PP353 was completed in early 2026.
  • The leadership changes announced on March 23, 2026.

The players

Persica Pharmaceuticals

A clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a transformative treatment for chronic low back pain.

Dr. Edward Littler

An expert microbiologist and seasoned biotechnology executive who previously served as CEO of ReViral Ltd.

David Watson

An accomplished biotechnology leader with over 35 years of experience driving growth and innovation across the life sciences sector.

Steve Ruston

The founder of Persica Pharmaceuticals who is retiring after 13 years at the company.

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What they’re saying

“I'm delighted to be joining Persica at this pivotal moment in the company's development. The Phase 1b data provide compelling proof-of-concept that directly targeting the underlying infection in the disc can deliver meaningful and durable improvements for a significant group of patients with chronic Low Back Pain - and offer an opioid-sparing treatment.”

— Dr. Edward Littler, Executive Chairman, Persica Pharmaceuticals

“Chronic Low Back Pain affects millions of people worldwide who remain poorly served by existing therapies that primarily manage symptoms without addressing the underlying cause. We now have an opportunity to further investigate the disease-modifying potential of PP353 in later-stage trials and to change the way chronic Low Back Pain is treated.”

— David Watson, Chief Executive Officer, Persica Pharmaceuticals

“It has been a great privilege to have led Persica in the development of PP353. Having reached this pivotal point, I have decided the time has come to hand over the reins to someone who can see our product to market and make our dream of improving the lives of many cLBP patients a reality.”

— Steve Ruston, Board Member, Persica Pharmaceuticals

What’s next

Persica Pharmaceuticals plans to further investigate the disease-modifying potential of PP353 in later-stage clinical trials as the company works to bring this innovative treatment to market.

The takeaway

Persica's new leadership team brings deep expertise in drug development that will be crucial as the company advances its novel, targeted therapy for chronic low back pain, a debilitating condition that affects millions worldwide and remains poorly served by existing treatments.