A former pharmaceutical executive who saw her health collapse without clear answers from conventional medicine has gone on to build a six figure functional medicine company, saying the experience proved that better diagnostics are the future of healthcare.
Ayse Kocak spent years in drug development before her own health declined, leaving her drained, unable to sleep and dealing with digestive issues. Despite her professional background, nothing she tried made a difference.
“My years in pharma gave me credibility but not solutions when my health failed,” the 41 year old told Absolutely Business.
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Everything shifted when she turned to advanced functional medicine testing.
Comprehensive diagnostics revealed mercury toxicity, nutrient deficiencies and gut imbalances.
After following a personalised plan with targeted supplements, nutrition changes and stress reduction, her symptoms disappeared within weeks.
That turning point prompted Ayse to leave her role in the pharmaceutical sector and launch PAAR London Ltd six years ago.
The London based longevity and functional medicine practice now brings in between £500,000 and £1 million annually.
The path to success was far from simple.
Ayse said her experience in pharma helped her understand how systems operate but also made her aware of their limits. Traditional medication can manage disease, she noted, but it does not necessarily restore full wellbeing.
She came to believe the real impact comes from precise diagnostics and tailored lifestyle medicine, identifying each person’s unique issues – from toxins and nutrient gaps to microbiome and nervous system imbalances – and creating targeted plans that address root causes rather than symptoms.
PAAR now runs in depth testing for clients to uncover problems like heavy metal toxicity, gut dysfunction, mineral imbalances and nervous system stress before creating personalised protocols.
The business supports busy professionals, entrepreneurs, parents and athletes who feel below their best even when their standard medical tests appear normal.
Ayse’s earliest clients came from her own network – people who trusted her shift into functional medicine because they knew her scientific background. Momentum grew when one client experienced major improvements and began referring others. Word of mouth quickly became her strongest growth driver.
Building the company, however, required Ayse to juggle multiple jobs at once. She acted as practitioner, administrator, strategist and operations manager, often responding to messages late at night and managing bookings and payments manually.
A major breakthrough came when PAAR secured its first partnership with wellness resort Kamalaya. Ayse said the collaboration validated her model and opened the door to a steady flow of health conscious clients while proving that precision diagnostics and personalised protocols were in demand among established wellbeing brands.
Today, she describes her leadership style as direct but caring, focused on honest guidance and accountability.
Looking ahead, Ayse’s ambition is to make longevity and functional medicine accessible on a wider scale.
She said the company is building systems, using technology and forming partnerships to ensure advanced diagnostics and personalised health optimisation become available to anyone committed to improving long term wellbeing.
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