Chris Murray joined Astex from Protherics (previously Proteus Molecular Design), a UK-based biotechnology company, where he led the developmental team working on virtual screening docking codes. He became leader of the Molecular Design group and played a key role in the design of the Factor Xa lead compound that was subsequently licensed to Eli Lilly. Dr Murray obtained his degree and doctorate in Chemistry from the University of Cambridge, UK, and subsequently worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Indiana University, Bloomington, USA before beginning his industrial career.