In celebration of International Women’s Day, we sat down with our CEO, Elizabeth Philp and Superintendent Pharmacist, Miriam Martinez Callejas, two women leading the way in compounding and personalised medicine. They share their journeys, insights, and what drives their passion for innovation in women’s health.
What inspired you to pursue a career in pharmacy, and what led you to the world of compounding?
Elizabeth: I’ve always been fascinated by creating things. When I was a child, I was obsessed with making ‘lotions and potions’ and in many ways, I’ve come full circle. My career started in HR and management consultancy, where I gained valuable experience in business strategy and leadership. I then moved into independent consulting and later led a small healthcare business, which deepened my understanding of the industry and fuelled my passion for making a real impact in people’s lives.
Through my work with the Prince’s Trust and London Business School, I saw firsthand how innovation and entrepreneurship can change industries for the better. That inspired me to create Roseway Labs, a pharmacy that not only provides high-quality, personalised medicines but also challenges the status quo in healthcare. A compounding pharmacy is all about tailoring solutions to individual needs, and I love that we’re able to bring this level of care and innovation to women’s health
Miriam: Growing up in Spain, I saw firsthand how compounding pharmacies played a key role in providing bespoke treatments tailored to individual health needs. After completing my master's degree in Pharmacy from the University of Alcalá, I worked in a compounding pharmacy, gaining valuable experience in preparing personalised medications. Unlike standard pharmacies that offer mass-produced drugs, compounding pharmacies allow for adjustments in formulations, dosages, and ingredients to suit each patient's unique needs, which sparked my passion for the field. I further pursued a master's degree in personalised medicine to deepen my expertise in developing individualised treatments.
When I moved to the UK in 2009, I was surprised to find that compounding pharmacies weren’t widely accessible outside of hospitals, leaving many patients without tailored solutions. Recognising this gap, I spent several years educating colleagues on the benefits of personalised medicine. This ultimately led me to co-found Roseway Labs in 2018 with Elizabeth, with the goal of offering accessible, high-quality compounded medicines. Since then, I’ve been committed to providing both men and women with customised healthcare solutions that meet their unique needs.
As female leaders in the pharmacy industry, what challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome them?
Elizabeth: Roseway Labs was only 18 months old when the Covid lockdown started and that really changed our course. We essentially ripped up our business plan and began to react to whatever healthcare professionals needed. At the beginning, we were the only private pharmacy offering electronic prescribing, which brought us a significant number of new customers, many of whom needed medications that were frequently going out of supply. It was a challenging time. Our other main challenge has been educating prescribers about compounded medication and the breadth of its offering.
Miriam: Compounding is not as widely integrated into UK healthcare as it is in countries like Spain, and increasing the awareness of personalised medicines has been difficult. Some healthcare professionals view compounding as outdated or unscientific due to the dominance of licensed pharmaceuticals.
Medication shortages in the UK have worsened in recent years, affecting patients' ability to receive prescriptions for essential medications, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT), antibiotics, and epilepsy drugs.
How does a compounding pharmacy support women’s health?
Miriam: At Roseway Labs, we believe that women’s health is unique and deserves personalised care. A compounding pharmacy like ours tailors medications to meet the specific needs of each individual, which is especially important in women’s health.
For example, we offer treatments which can help balance hormones and address symptoms of menopause, perimenopause, or other hormonal imbalances. These treatments are customised to the women’s exact requirements, ensuring they receive the optimal dosage and formulation.
We also work with women seeking solutions for allergies and dermatological issues, offering specialised formulations that aren’t typically available in commercially produced medications. The flexibility of compounding means we can adjust the ingredients, strength, and delivery methods to better suit each patient, whether that’s through creams, gels, or capsules.
Ultimately, a compounding pharmacy gives women the ability to address their health concerns with solutions that are tailored to their lives, ensuring the best possible outcomes in managing their health.
What innovations in women’s health excite you the most right now?
Miriam: There are so many exciting innovations in women’s health right now, but one which is a game-changer for women going through menopause or experiencing hormone imbalances is bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).
BHRT offers a more personalised approach to managing menopause symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep disturbances, and we’re seeing more women embrace this option as they recognise that each woman’s experience is unique, making tailored treatments highly beneficial.
Elizabeth: AI is shaping the world of personalised medicine right now and we are seeing more and more AI-driven diagnostic tools coming onto the market. Whilst the opportunity for greater insight and better is data is exciting, I also fear that the role of the healthcare professional will become one of interpreting reports and implementing recommendations.
What advice would you give to young women looking to pursue a career in pharmacy or healthcare leadership?
Elizabeth: To lead effectively, you must gain many varied experiences, enabling you to understand different characters and learn how people may react in particular circumstances. I am a firm believer in walking the walk before talking the talk. Healthcare is one of the few industries that has plenty of female representation at the top and this should encourage young women to aim high.
Miriam: Don’t limit what you think you are going to achieve; perseverance and consistency are key. Healthcare professionals have a key role in society, and we can change and improve people’s quality of life.
The most important things in life are love, health, and money. We can change one of them.
As a leading compounding pharmacy, Roseway Labs is proud to be at the forefront of personalised medicine for women’s health. This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the women driving innovation and making a difference, both in our company and beyond.