Dr David Cavalla qualified as a PhD synthetic chemist at Cambridge University followed by a post doctoral period in biochemical pharmacology at the NIMH in Washington DC. He returned to the UK in 1985 to join Glaxo Group Research at Ware, where he participated in the research that led to the marketed drugs Imigran and Zophran.

He left Glaxo to join Napp Research Centre where he initiated and directed their first successful research programme, for PDE4 inhibitors, through to Phase I, based on a strategy of extensively outsourced activities.

In 1998 he set up his own company Arachnova, which is focussed on therapeutic switches and their development via outsourced resources, both for its own proprietary projects, and for collaborative partners.

He has written numerous articles and a book on the virtual strategy of pharmaceutical project management. He is closely involved with the UK Society for Medicines Research, a multidisciplinary society for all disciplines in drug discovery, for which he is Chairman.