Dessi McEntee, MS, DABT
Fractional Chief Development Officer
A toxicologist's depth and an investor's instincts.
Bringing me on as a Fractional Chief Development Officer means early-stage biotechs gain embedded, senior development leadership and execution across the full arc of your program — from early discovery decisions through IND submission and into the clinic.
This role goes beyond advice. It means owning your nonclinical strategy end to end, orchestrating execution across your CROs and experts, authoring INDs built on defensible interpretation, and making sure every development decision holds up twice: under FDA scrutiny, and the day an investor opens your data room.
Whether your program needs end-to-end development oversight, IND-enabling study design, hands-on CRO leadership, regulatory ownership, or a development story that funds your next round, fractional leadership gives you the same ownership and accountability expected of a full-time Chief Development Officer — without the full-time hire.
I’ve sat in every seat that decides your program’s fate.
Most people you'd hire have done one of these jobs. I've done them all.
The lab seat. Board-certified toxicologist (DABT), 15+ years from discovery through IND-enabling development — small molecules, biologics, nanoparticles, radiopharmaceuticals — across oncology, immunology, pain, and rare disease. Multiple programs advanced to first-in-human. Regulatory record: clean.
The Founder seat. I've built and run my own venture — raised on the strength of the science, filed the patents, wrote the SBIR application, owned the equity structure and the strategy. I know what it's like when the program is the company.
The operating seat. I don't sit back and advise. I'm boots on the ground, in the trenches to progress the molecule. Currently I'm the fCDO at Immugen BioPharma, overseeing their development plan from start to IND.
The cap table. I run diligence for VCs evaluating biotech deals. I know exactly what an investor pulls apart in your data room, because I'm the one they pay to pull it apart.
The boardroom. Biotech board member. I've made go/no-go calls from the governance seat — not just recommended them.
The classroom. Founder of Nonclinical Academy and author of Data Is Not Strategy. Thousands of scientists read my work every week. The whole job there is turning complex science into something anyone can follow — the same skill that gets your program funded by people who aren't scientists.
Operator, founder, evaluator, director, educator. Your program never hits a seat I haven't already sat in.
750+
nonclinical studies supported
18+
regulatory documents authored
0
clinical holds
42+
biotech clients over 6 years
Here's what winning looks like.
An IND the FDA clears. A round that closes because your program held up the moment investors opened the data room. A molecule that keeps moving toward the clinic — instead of stalling in the gap that sinks most early-stage biotechs.
That’s where you’re headed, and I’m how you get there.
I take development off your plate and carry your program to IND — built from day one to survive the diligence that funds your next round. I make sure the science, the regulatory path, and the investor story all hold up.
IND-defensible. Investor-fundable. That’s what you walk away with.
Your Fractional CDO
Dessi McEntee, MS, DABT
Founder, Toxistrategy
Author of Data Is Not Strategy
Dessi McEntee is a board-certified toxicologist and fractional Chief Development Officer trusted by early-stage biotechs to own the senior-level development leadership they don't have in-house. With 15+ years of hands-on experience spanning exploratory research through IND-enabling development and into the clinic, she has led programs across small molecules, biologics, nanoparticles, radiopharmaceuticals, and more — in oncology, immunology, pain, and rare disease. Her leadership has carried multiple programs into first-in-human studies, and her regulatory track record remains flawless. Having sat on the diligence side of the table for VCs and in the founder's chair herself, she builds programs that hold up under FDA scrutiny and in the data room alike.
Toxistrategy isn't a large consulting shop — it's Dessi's high-touch, embedded model of development leadership. As your fractional CDO, you gain direct access to a seasoned expert who owns your nonclinical strategy end to end, integrates seamlessly with your team, anticipates challenges before they surface, and translates complex science into a story your board and investors can act on. No layers, no handoffs — just focused, senior-level ownership that accelerates your path to the clinic and gives founders the confidence to move fast and move smart.
Ringing endorsement right here! Dessi has brought clarity, strong project management, and adherence to timeline, with a clear set of deliverables expectations. But what sets her apart is early and highly contextualized understanding of the program, the study, and the analysis.
— Rahul Madhavan, VP of Strategic Programs
Even after our times together at the same organizations I continue to reach out and recommend Dessi as my go-to nonclinical colleague. Besides her immense knowledge base in the areas of safety and nonclinical drug development, Dessi is one of the kindest, hard-working individuals I know and would be a benefit to any organization/team.
— Dan Dransfield, Principal Consultant
Dessi was able to succinctly summarize recommendations for studies that aligned with company budget and R&D needs to progress the programs. She was also able to adjust studies, plans and work with vendors to make immediate adjustments if plans changed, which is critical for start-ups. She interfaced with other consultants and CROs to ensure a seamless execution of planned studies.
— Hannah Webb, Venture Partner
Curious to see how I can help your program thrive?
Reach out anytime at dessi@toxistrategy.com
3,000+ scientists read The Nonclinical. You should too.
Drug development made simple. Every week.
© 2026 Toxistrategy LLC. All rights reserved.
.png)