Great British Entrepreneur Awards recognise Cheshire healthcare CEO

Anna Maxwell, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Alderley Park-based healthcare brand, Maxwellia, has been named Innovation Entrepreneur of the Year, North West, at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

Anna Maxwell’s mission to make effective medicines more widely available was celebrated at the prestigious ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.

Anna Maxwell, a pharmacist with more than 30 years’ experience in the over-the-counter (OTC) medicines industry, is transforming healthcare by leveraging the UK’s rich back-catalogue of prescription (Rx) medicines and ‘switching’ them to launch as over-the-counter brands. Maxwellia’s growing portfolio of OTC medicines includes contraceptives, and drugs for heavy or painful menstruation.

Anna Maxwell noted:

“Initially, our focus has been on female health as this sector presented so many opportunities to make a real difference to women’s lives.

“But our wider mission is to reshape access to medicines by identifying neglected, yet high-value markets, not only in women’s health but also other consumer healthcare market sectors such as pain.

“Self-care is embedded in the 10 Year Health Plan for the NHS and improving access to existing medicines will be an incredibly important part of this shift in the way we provide healthcare.

“That’s why I am such a passionate advocate for the switching process. We take proven prescription medicines which have a robust safety profile and navigate the labyrinth of regulations and classifications to enable consumers to access via high street pharmacies. Increasing self-care options in this way takes a huge amount of pressure off the NHS.”

Maxwellia, which is based at Alderley Park Life Sciences hub in Cheshire, was born out of Anna’s desire to drive innovation and disrupt the stagnating over-the-counter medicines sector, whilst propelling the future of self-care.

As a former OTC buyer for Boots, Anna recognised the enormous potential of switching prescription medicines to over-the-counter brands. In 2013 she wrote the book on this process – Switch Dynamics: A Practical Approach to Switching Medicines for Self-Care – and founded Maxwellia.

As the Innovation Entrepreneur of the Year accolade recognises, Anna and Maxwellia are now leading the way with smarter switching and reclassifying prescription medicines for pharmacy or general sale, helping to empower people to look after themselves.