People on the Move: March 2021

People-on-the-Move-March-2021.jpg
(Blue Planet Studio/iStock via Getty Images Plus) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The companies announcing acquisitions, new hires, promotions and other news this month include Syneos, Elligo, PCI Pharma Services, I Holland and more.

The companies announcing acquisitions, new hires, promotions and other news this month include Syneos, Elligo, PCI Pharma Services, I Holland and more.

People on the Move: March 2021
People on the Move: March 2021 (Blue Planet Studio/Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The companies announcing acquisitions, new hires, promotions and other news this month include Syneos, Elligo, PCI Pharma Services, I Holland and more.

Syneos Health Communications: senior appointments
Syneos Health Communications: senior appointments (oatawa/Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Syneos Health Communications, a division of Syneos Health, has announced five hires to senior specialist positions: Mark Sudwell, head of value, access and reputation communications in Europe; Leigh Ann Bruhn, value and market access lead; Katie Conover, senior public affairs strategist; Laura Keehner Rigas, senior reputation strategist of public affairs and value access; and Aneeb Sharif, global value and access strategist for risk and reputation management.

These new hires come from a variety of high-profile organizations, including the US Food and Drug Administration, Jannsen, Merck, Pfizer, Abbot Laboratories and Avalere Health. Their responsibilities will include matters surrounding the affordability of medicines, compassionate use, safety, risk mitigation, shifting policy landscapes and barriers to access.

CPI: Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre partnership with Pfizer
CPI: Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre partnership with Pfizer

CPI has announced Pfizer will be the latest partner of the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, a collaboration between CPI, University of Strathclyde, and founding industry partners GSK and AstraZeneca. The partnership reportedly will center on advancing formulation of oral solid dosage products.

Brian Henry, vice president of drug product design at Pfizer, said, “Through the support of Pfizer’s Emerging Science Fund, we believe we can utilise our collective knowledge to build predictive models for continuous tablet manufacturing, with the goal of enhancing our ability to accelerate the drug development process and help deliver breakthroughs that change patients’ lives."

Elligo Health Research: executive appointments
Elligo Health Research: executive appointments (Konstantin Yuganov)

Elligo has announced three new executive appointments:

  • Katie Eyestone, vice president of healthcare partnerships
  • Kathleen Fairall, chief people officer
  • Vanessa Watson, vice president of practice success.

We are excited to welcome Katie, Kathleen, and Vanessa to Elligo,” said John Potthoff, CEO of Elligo. “Each brings a depth and breadth of experience to their roles that will add significant perspective, insight, and future planning guidance as Elligo works to ensure that all patients have access to clinical trials as a care option.”

PCI Pharma Services: Tom De Weerdt, SVP and chief financial officer
PCI Pharma Services: Tom De Weerdt, SVP and chief financial officer

Tom De Weerdt has joined PIC has senior VP and chief financial, replacing the retiring Serge Dupuis. He brings 20 years of experience of financial leadership in various industries, leading large global corporations.

De Weerdt said, “PCI is the partner of choice for healthcare companies around the globe, because of its uncompromising focus on quality and operational excellence, while providing an industry-leading client experience. I am honored and excited by the opportunity to join this great organization in its next phase of growth.”

ChargePoint: acquisition by Arcline
ChargePoint: acquisition by Arcline (IR_Stone/Getty Images/iStockphoto)

UK-based pharma equipment specialist ChargePoint Technologies has been acquired by Arcline Investment Management. The move reportedly will enable ChargePoint to accelerate its product development, in order to get products like sterile and contained process solutions to market more rapidly.

Chris Eccles, CEO of ChargePoint Technologies, said, “Partnering with Arcline is an incredible opportunity for us to further strengthen our commitment to delivering high-quality world class process solutions for our customers.”

Spaulding Clinical: Neal Collins, medical director
Spaulding Clinical: Neal Collins, medical director

Spaulding Clinical has hired Neal Collins as medical director. Collins—whose experience includes serving in senior positions at Merck, AstraZeneca and Pfizer—will lead medical staff and oversee Phase I studies from the firm’s Spaulding’s West Bend, Wis., clinical pharmacology unit.

Spaulding Clinical CEO Cassandra Erato said, “As a leader in Phase I-IV clinical trials oversight as well as regulatory alignment and strategy, his wealth of experience in both global and U.S. markets makes him a valuable addition. His broad therapeutic expertise — spanning oncology, internal medicine, primary care, infectious disease, vaccines, women’s health and endocrinology — will be especially valuable during this time of growth for Spaulding.”

NextPharma: acquisition of two Lonza sites
NextPharma: acquisition of two Lonza sites (Lusyaya/Getty Images/iStockphoto)

NextPharma has agreed to purchase two Lonza sites. The Ploermel, France, and Edinburgh, UK sites currently produce liquid-filled hard capsules and softgels for the pharmaceutical and consumer health and nutrition markets.

Peter Burema, CEO of NextPharma, said, “These technologies, combined with the know-how and expertise of the employees at both sites, would provide additional solutions for drug formulations which will benefit patients across the world.”

Xperiome: Dale Jessop, chief technical officer
Xperiome: Dale Jessop, chief technical officer

Global rare disease tech specialist Xperiome has named Dale Jessop as chief technical officer. Jessop will draw upon two decades of experience to develop and direct the company’s data-driven strategies, and expand its software offerings.

With a parent and sibling both living with a rare condition, the chance to be directly involved in this part of the healthcare sector is a real honor,” Jessop said. “The way patients and caregivers are using technology to learn and communicate about health is changing at lightning speed and I’m very excited to join a company at the forefront of this change.

ACG Laboratories: process development lab in India
ACG Laboratories: process development lab in India

Pharma manufacturer ACG has launched its ACG Laboratories division with the opening of a process development lab in Shirwal, India. The facility will feature a research, development, testing, and training environment dedicated to developing oral solid dosage solutions.  

Marcus Michel, CEO of ACG Engineering, said, “The recent situation has shown us how critical close collaboration and agility have become to reaching the end-user’s requirements. If ACG can be part of that evolution with our clients, then we’ll truly be living up to our ‘Make it better’ mission."

I Holland: Javier Raposo, managing director
I Holland: Javier Raposo, managing director

Tablet tooling solutions provider I Holland has named Javier Raposo managing director. Former managing director David Hinds will continue to serve on the company’s board of directors as a non-executive director.

It’s a huge honor to have been appointed Managing Director at I Holland,” said Raposo. “I look forward to working alongside my fellow Board members and company management to turn a new chapter of growth and drive forward the fundamental principles that make the brand so unique.”