Oxford Genetics Ltd.

The manufacturing and regulatory process of biopharmaceuticals is highly complex and costly to implement, which can be challenging for big pharma companies and startups to take on themselves. Outsourcing the task to CDMOs allows these companies to spend less of their own time and resources at the cost of surrendering full control of the process. A growing number of clinical trials involving advanced therapies is increasing demand for CDMOs, with many technologies gaining traction such as CAR-T cell therapies and gene therapies. As a result, the global CDMO market for advanced therapies was valued ​ at $5.6 billion last year and is projected to soar to $18.8 billion by 2030. However, there are also challenges with the use of CDMOs. One example is evolving industry regulations that make it vital to stay up to date with the latest requirements. Another is the shifting political landscape, such as the U.S.’s movements toward passing the BIOSECURE act ​, which is aimed to clamp down ​ on the use of CDMOs based in China. Here are five of the key CDMOs leading the market, with sprawling facilities around the world and a wide array of services to offer for clients developing advanced therapies. Catalent (Novo Holdings) Headquarters: Somerset, New Jersey, US ​ Founded: 2007 ​ Catalent was set up ​ when Blackstone acquired the pharmaceutical and services assets from Cardinal Health and rebranded them under their current name. Catalent handles the production and supply of therapeutic products across the range of small molecules and biologics. In terms of advanced therapies, the firm has expertise in the production of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and viral vectors for gene therapies. googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display('text-ad1'); }); The company went public in 2014, raising around $822 million in an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange. In 2023, Catalent raked in ​ almost $4.3 billion in revenue, of which biologics accounted for $1.9 billion. Catalent was acquired by the investment company Novo Holdings, the investment arm of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, earlier this year ​. Novo Holdings forked out $16.5 billion for the CDMO, a 16.5% premium on Catalent’s closing price in February 2024. The move was prompted by a need to boost the production of Wegovy, Novo Nordisk’s lucrative drug for weight loss. Catalent also expanded its clinical supply facility in Germany as part of a $25 million project earlier this year. Lonza ​ Headquarters: Basel, Switzerland ​ Founded: 1897 ​ Nestled in the Swiss Alps, Lonza was set up by a group of Swiss financiers as a company that produced electrochemical products from hydroelectric power on the river Lonza. After World War 1, the firm began to produce more complex chemicals for use in industry and agriculture, and in the 1990s, the company branched into biotechnology with the acquisition of Celltech Biologics. Lonza helps its clients to take advanced therapies from late phase drug discovery and drug substance to commercial supply and drug product. For example, it offers services based on the microbial production of vaccines and recombinant proteins and the manufacturing of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and different types of antibodies. It also helps users to navigate the complexities of cell and gene therapies including T-cell therapies and iPSCs. Lonza’s sales hit CHF 6.7 billion ​ ($7.6 billion) last year, of which its biologics division accounted for CHF 3.7 billion ($4.2 billion). In the same year, Lonza showed the drive to reinforce its expertise in the development of ADCs with the acquisition of the Dutch player Synaffix ​ for up to $175 million. In an expansion effort of its manufacturing capacity, Lonza acquired ​ a large-scale biologics manufacturing facility from Roche for $1.2 billion earlier this year. Thermo Fisher Scientific Headquarters: Waltham, Massachusetts, US ​ Founded: 1956 ​ Thermo Fisher Scientific is a heavyweight supplier ​ of lab equipment such as analytical instruments in addition to consumables. The company launched an initial public offering all the way back in 1967 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1980, with a current market capitalization of $212 billion. In an effort to push into the CDMO space, Thermo Fisher Scientific acquired Patheon for $7.2 billion in 2017, nabbing the latter’s network of manufacturing facilities, which are largely in the US and Europe. At the time, Patheon had earned a neat $1.9 billion in revenue and was shuffled into the larger firm’s Laboratory Products and Services segment. Patheon has experience in the development of a wide range of advanced therapies, with services available for the production of viral vectors as well as cell therapies based on T cells, IPSCs, natural killer cells and more. The firm also offers help with the development of therapies based on messenger RNA (mRNA). Thermo Fisher Scientific’s revenue from 2023 ​ was $42.9 billion, with its Laboratory Products and Services segment accounting for roughly half of the total. Thermo Fisher Scientific also acquired the Swedish proteomics company Olink for $3.1 billion last year to help biopharmaceutical clients to examine diseases at the protein level. Rentschler Biopharma ​ Headquarters: Laupheim, Germany ​ Founded: 1927 ​ Rentschler Biopharma is a family-owned business that has its roots in a pharmacy that was opened in Laupheim in 1872. The company occupies a niche in rare orphan diseases ​ and focuses on offering services for the development and manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals for these conditions. For example, the firm is currently manufacturing eight approved products including bispecific antibodies and recombinant enzymes. Last year, Rentschler provided support with the manufacturing and regulatory development of four newly approved biopharmaceuticals in the US – roughly a quarter of the 17 biopharmaceuticals approved that year. Being family owned gives the CDMO strategic flexibility at the same time as a long-term outlook, among other advantages, said the CEO in 2020 ​. The company is also working with the UK organizations the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult and Refeyn to deploy automated analytical technology and make the manufacturing of viral vectors more efficient than traditional methods. The CDMO recently completed ​ an expansion of its production site in Milford, Massachusetts, U.S., with a new production line opening operations, representing the biggest investment in the 150-year history of the company. WuXi Advanced Therapies (WuXi AppTec) ​ Headquarters: Shanghai, China ​ Founded: 2000 ​ WuXi Advanced Therapies is a CDMO arm of WuXi AppTec. The larger company originated as the drug development service provider and gradually expanded its offerings over the years, with the acquisition of AppTec Laboratory Services leading to the new name of WuXi Apptec. WuXi Advanced Therapies, also known as WuXi ATU, focuses on the development of advanced therapies such as cell and gene therapies with clients, with expertise in testing and manufacturing to speed up the path of new medicines to the market. For example, the team has cell banking tools to ensure that a client’s cells will pass regulatory standards, and analytical experts that deploy molecular biology, microscopy, flow cytometry-based tests and more to speed up the product development process. In 2021, WuXi AppTec acquired the UK CDMO Oxgene to absorb its gene therapy services into those of WuXi Advanced Therapies. In particular, WuXi was attracted by Oxgene’s viral vector technology which is designed to manufacture cell and gene therapies more simply and cheaply than current methods. Last year, WuXi AppTec reported ​ an overall revenue of RMB 40.3 billion ($5.5 billion) – a 2.5% increase from 2022. Revenue from its CDMO grew to RMB 1.31 billion ($180 million), though its profit margin declined due to the under-utilization of capacity, according to the company.

Key strategic appointment as the Company enters next phase of commercial growth and global expansion of its products and services Former CEO, Dr David Hughes, appointed to Scientific Advisory Board CAMBRIDGE, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CN Bio, a leading Organ-on-a-chip Company (OOC) that designs and manufactures single-and multi-organ microphysiological systems (MPS), today announced the appointment of Dr Paul Brooks, formerly the Company’s Chief Business Officer, to the position of CEO with immediate effect. Former CEO, Dr David Hughes, will continue to work with the company in a consultative role within the Company’s Scientific Advisory Board. Paul’s appointment signifies the next stage of CN Bio’s commercial development. He will be focused on driving the Company’s global expansion plans, to reach new customers and create value for shareholders. Having joined the Company as Chief Business Officer in May 2022, Paul was responsible for shaping CN Bio’s commercial business, expansion strategy and overseeing accelerated growth of the Company's PhysioMimix™ OOC range of MPS, consumables, kits and services. In this time, CN Bio also doubled the laboratory space dedicated to its contract research services, in response to rising demand for the Company’s OOC expertise by pharma and biotech companies. With over 25 years’ experience in the Life Science sector, Paul is an experienced C-suite level executive; prior to joining CN Bio he was Head of Business Operations & Managing Director for PerkinElmer’s Horizon Discovery, where he led the strategic and operational transformation of its business units. Throughout his career, Paul has supported successful growth across a broad range of companies, including Head of Discovery Research Services & General Manager at Sigma-Aldrich (now Merck KGaA), and as Chief Commercial Officer & Executive Director and Board member at Oxford Genetics, driving its transformation from start-up company to commercialisation. Paul completed his PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology and holds an MBA from Nottingham Business School. As part of the Scientific Advisory Board, CN Bio will continue to benefit from Dr David Hughes’ domain expertise and extensive technical bioengineering background. In this consultative role, Dr Hughes will remain involved in the future development of CN Bio’s product and service portfolio. Dr Paul Brooks, CEO at CN Bio, said: “I would like to thank David for his leadership of CN Bio through a transformational time, and I look forward to working with him as we begin to fully exploit our incredible innovation engine. I am honoured to be appointed CEO at a pivotal time in the Company’s, and the industry’s, evolution, as the value of well-characterised microphysiological systems is increasingly recognised to revolutionise therapeutic programmes. As we enter 2023, CN Bio is well positioned to build upon its successes so far and enter this exciting next stage of commercial growth and expansion.” Dr David Hughes, previously CEO, CN Bio, commented: “Since joining the team, Paul has been a driving force for initiating the next phase of CN Bio’s development. His breadth of industry experience, paired with extensive technical expertise, is a huge asset to the Company as CEO, and I am confident that he will successfully continue our mission to transform drug discovery. My sincere thanks go to the team, who I have worked alongside for 12 years, and I now look forward to supporting CN Bio’s innovation and growth in an advisory role.” ENDS View source version on businesswire.com: Contacts Source: CN Bio View this news release online at:

Building a successful life sciences organization calls for effective leadership. This week, biopharma and life sciences companies strengthen their leadership teams with these Movers & Shakers. Epygenix Therapeutics: Lorianne Masouka was named chief medical officer of Epygenix. Masuoka is a board-certified neurologist who previously served as CMO at Marinus Pharma, where she was CMO of In Vivo Therapeutics, Cubist Pharmaceuticals and Nektar Therapeutics. Previously, she also held various roles of increasing responsibility at Five Prime Therapeutics, Chiron Corporation and Berlex Laboratories. Aside from her executive roles, Masuoka also serves as a director on the board of Opiant Pharmaceuticals. Enlivex Therapeutics: Israel's Enlivex tapped Roger J. Pomerantz as vice chairman of its board of directors. Pomerantz served as worldwide head of Licensing and Acquisition and Knowledge Management at Merck & Co. and as global head of Infectious Diseases for Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals. Following his tenure with large pharma, Pomerantz joined Flagship Pioneering, where he was appointed president, chairman and chief executive officer of Seres Therapeutics. He is currently the president, CEO, and chairman of ContraFect Corporation and serves as a board member at several other biotech companies, including Viracta Therapeutics, Inc., Indaptus Therapeutics Inc., Collplant Biotechnologies Ltd., and X-Vax Inc. Ascendis Pharma A/S: Jesper Høiland, global chief commercial officer of Acendis has retired. Høiland joined Ascendis as Senior Vice President and Global Chief Commercial Officer in May 2020. Alongside Høiland's retirement Joe Kelly was appointed to the newly created role of head of U.S. Commercial, Endocrinology and Scott A. Holmes was appointed to the newly created position of head of Global Commercial Strategy, Endocrinology. Praxis Precision Medicines: Jill DeSimone was appointed to the board of directors. DeSimone served as president of U.S. Oncology at Merck & Co. from 2014 to May 2022. Before Merck, she served as senior vice president of Global Women's Health at Teva Pharmaceutical and served in several roles of increasing responsibility at Bristol Myers Squibb from 1980 to 2012, including senior vice president of U.S. Commercial and senior vice president of U.S. Virology/HIV. DeSimone serves as a board member for the Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation. 22nd Century Group: John J. Miller joined the 22nd Century tobacco business. He will direct the growth of the company's reduced nicotine tobacco business. Most recently, Miller was the president and CEO of cigar company Swisher International, Inc. Mind Medicine: Schond L. Greenway was named chief financial officer of Mind Medicine. Greenway joins MindMed after serving as CFO of Avalo Therapeutics. He previously served as vice president of Investor Relations at Mesoblast, and served in a similar role at Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. Salubris Biotherapeutics: Arian Pano was named CMO. Pano comes to SalubrisBio from Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, where he served as SVP of Clinical Development. Previously he served as SVP of Clinical Development for Galapagos NV, and concurrently served as the U.S. country head and Global Head of Safety. SHINE Technologies: Chris Vessell was named general manager of the therapeutics division of SHINE. He most recently served as the U.S. Nuclear Medicine supply chain leader for GE Healthcare's Pharmaceutical Diagnostics group. CN Bio: Paul Brooks was named chief business officer of CN Bio. He joins from Horizon Discovery, a PerkinElmer Company, where he led its business units' strategic and operational transformation as Head of Business Operations & Managing Director. Previously, Brooks had various management roles at Sigma-Aldrich and Oxford Genetics. Chroma Medicine: John Maraganore, former CEO of Alnylam, was named a strategic adviser for Chromas Medicine and Celgene veteran George Golumbeski and current partner at DROIA Ventures was named an independent director. Rubius Therapeutics: Noubar Afeyan, cofounder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering, was named chairman of the board at Rubius. He replaces David Epstein as chairman. Afeyan is also co-founder and chairman of Moderna, and sits on several company boards, including Moderna, Omega Therapeutics, Generate Biomedicines, Rubius Therapeutics and Tessera Therapeutics. Odyssey Therapeutics: Darryl Patrick was named vice president of non-clinical development. Patrick joins Odyssey from LionsKeep Associates LLC, where he served as a partner and acted as a non-clinical development consultant. Previously, Patrick held leadership roles at Vertex as VP of Non-Clinical Development and Exploratory Development. Prior to Vertex, Patrick spent nearly 20 years at Merck Research Laboratories in various positions of increasing responsibility. Komodo Health: Aswin Chandrakantan was named the company's first chief commercial officer. He will also retain his responsibilities as CMO. Prior to Komodo Health, Chandrakantan was a senior leader in Google's Global Product Operations and Strategy. He also brings in-depth healthcare and analytics experience from his role at McKinsey, where he was a member of the healthcare analytics service line supporting leading biopharma companies, payer reform and revenue cycle management at top IDNs. MDisrupt: Greg Nagy was named COO of digital health intelligence company MDistrupt. He previously served as chief marketing officer at Drawbridge Health and VP of Global Marketing at Topcon Eyecare. He has also held leadership positions at biotechnology and medical device companies, including Solta Medical, Amgen, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and Aurora Biosciences. Nanoscope Therapeutics: Naveed Shams and Thomas Ciulla will serve as advisers to the company's leadership team. Shams was most recently the chief science officer at ProQR Therapeutics and previously served as president and CEO of Santen Inc. and Global Head of R&D at Santen Pharmaceuticals. Ciulla served as CMO and chief development officer at Clearside Biomedical. At Spark Therapeutics, he led medical strategy through the approval and commercialization of Luxturna. Prior to Spark, he served as VP-Clinical Strategy at Ophthotech. Senti Biosciences: Kanya Ragangam was named chief medical and development officer. Rajangam will join the company in July. ​​Rajangam joins Senti Bio from Nkarta Therapeutics, where she was CMO. Prior to Nkarta, she was chief medical officer at Atara Biotherapeutics. Before that, Rajangam was CMO of Cleave Biosciences, and before that, held roles of increasing responsibility at Onyx and Exelixis. Capricor Therapeutics: Xavier Avat was named CBO and will oversee the company's strategic priorities. Prior to joining Capricor, Avat served as SVP of Global Corporate Strategy and New Initiatives at Edwards Lifesciences. Before that, Avat served as VP of Corporate Development at Santen Pharmaceuticals. Before that, Avat was with Gilead Sciences, where he held positions of increasing responsibility. Russo Partners: Life sciences PR firm Russo Partners tapped Maxim Jacobs as SVP of investor relations. Most recently, he served as vice president of investor relations at Avalo Therapeutics. Previously, he was managing partner and director of research for North America for Edison Group. Catalio Capital: Former OrbiMed Advisors Partner Chau Khuong has joined the firm as General Partner and Senior Advisor. Khuong, who had previously spent two decades at OrbiMed Advisors as a member of the Investment Committee for OrbiMed's VC funds, will serve on the Investment Committees of Catalio's flagship private equity strategy, Nexus, and its credit opportunities strategy. Alchemab Therapeutics: Young T. Kwon, CFO and COO of Alchemab, has succeeded Douglas A. Treco as CEO. Treco resigned from the company for personal reasons. Kwon previously served as chief financial and business officer of Momenta Pharmaceuticals. Prior to Momenta, Kwon was a business development professional at Biogen and worked at the venture capital firm Advanced Technology Ventures. Advent Life Sciences: Dominic Schmidt and Satish Jindal have been appointed general partners, and Katrine Bosley was named a venture partner. Schmidt previously spent eight years as a partner in the investment team of Syncona. Jindal served as CEO of BioMotiv, an early-stage investment fund and was a co-founder and CEO of NeoGenesis, co-founder and president of Verastem and co-founder of Elicio Therapeutics. Bosley is chair of Arrakis Therapeutics, founding CEO of DaCapo Brainscience, and a board member of the winding down Genocea Biosciences. She was CEO of Editas Medicine, and before that, she was CEO of Avila Therapeutics. Bigfoot Biomedical: Matt Rainville was named chief commercial officer. He previously served as Insulet Corporation's vice president and general manager of global Type 2 markets. Before Insulet, Rainville spent 13 years with Eli Lilly, where he held integral leadership roles in sales, training and development, marketing, operations, and market access.