This month’s announcements of launches, appointments, and partnerships include Saama, COTA, Yourway, Eversana, Kindeva, and other notable industry companies.
This month’s announcements of launches, appointments, and partnerships include Saama, COTA, Yourway, Eversana, Kindeva, and other notable industry companies.
Vivek Sharma has been appointed CEO of Saama Technologies. Sharma (formerly CEO of Decision Resources Group) succeeds founder and former CEO Suresh Katta, who will be elevated to chairman emeritus.
“I am honored to be joining Saama at such an exciting time in the company’s lifecycle; I am particularly energized to be working with its talented executive team, Suresh, and board to continue leading the industry in its evolution from simply digitizing data to developing purpose-built, AI-based clinical insights and automation platforms that are changing the face of clinical development,” said Sharma. “Saama is uniquely well-positioned to accelerate drug development, and I look forward to expanding those opportunities for our partners and patients.”
Walgreens has launched its clinical trial business, with the goal of elevating the patient experience in the US, increasing access to research, and addressing ongoing challenges with reaching and recruiting a more diverse patient population. According to the company, its flexible clinical trial model combines the its repository of patient insights, partner-enabled health and technology capabilities, and in-person and virtual care options.
“Walgreens trusted community presence across the nation, combined with our enterprise-wide data and health capabilities, enables us to pioneer a comprehensive solution that makes health options, including clinical trials, more accessible, convenient and equitable,” said Ramita Tandon, chief clinical trials officer of Walgreens. “Through the launch of our clinical trials services, we can provide another offering for patients with complex or chronic conditions in their care journey, while helping sponsors advance treatment options for the diverse communities we serve.”
Clario has named Christopher Fikry as the new CEO, replacing retiring Joe Eazor. Fikry comes to the leadership of the company from Thermo Fisher Scientific, where he served as president of the analytical services division; he also served at PPD, Novartis, and Quest Laboratories.
In its announcement, the Clario board commented, “Christopher’s long experience and commitment to supporting global biopharma and biotech companies, our key customers, in bringing new medicines to patients faster, safer and more cost effectively is right in line with Clario’s mission. He has demonstrated strong leadership to his teams and customers alike. We would also like to thank Joe for his leadership in successfully bringing together the two predecessor companies, ERT and BioClinica, to form Clario, successfully navigating the pandemic, and creating a strong team and culture in the new organization.”
Real-world data and analytics company COTA has named Noel Alaka vice president of life sciences. Alaka will be responsible for helping grow and build partnerships with leading life sciences companies that are looking to adopt real-world data and real-world evidence to help accelerate
“Like far too many other people, cancer has hit close to home on more than one occasion; these personal experiences with cancer have helped guide my career,” Alaka said. “I take great pride in building strategic relationships with life science companies that are looking to adopt the latest tools and technologies aimed at helping to reimagine innovation for the benefit of cancer patients. COTA has proven the utility of its real-world data and advanced analytical services to help life science organizations expedite oncology precision medicine.”
Clinical supply chain and logistics specialist Yourway has constructed a new European depot in Dublin, Ireland. The GMP facility is being custom built to suit the company’s clinical trial offerings, such as courier services, primary and secondary packaging, and temperature-controlled storage from ambient to liquid nitrogen.
“With Ireland’s strength in biopharma, Yourway has operated there for over 15 years, which contributed to our decision to build our flagship depot in Dublin,” said Gulam Jaffer, Yourway president and founder. “We’re anticipating notable market growth in Europe, and Yourway will be perfectly placed to support it.”
The Pistoia Alliance, a group that advocates for collaboration in R&D, has named Becky Upton as the organization’s first female president. Upton will lead the Pistoia Alliance’s strategy and defining its future within areas of increasing importance to the industry, such as data standards, diversity and inclusion, sustainability and precision medicine.
“I’ve been a supporter of the Pistoia Alliance’s work for many years and I’m delighted to be appointed as president. I firmly believe the collaboration the Alliance enables is critical to advancing science. The willingness of people to work together across the industry creates huge value for our members and proves that change is better together,” Upton said.
CDMO Kindeva Drug Delivery has completed its acquisition of iPharma Labs, a company based in the Bay Area of San Francisco. The purchase brings together iPharma’s expertise and capabilities in inhalation formulation and development of liquid, dry powder, and propellant-based therapies with Kindeva’s expertise in developing, commercializing, and manufacturing inhaled therapies.
Keith Ung, CEO and cofounder of iPharma, noted, “Joining Kindeva strengthens our ability to craft the best product development strategy for delivery to the patient to and through the lungs. Our customers are already excited to benefit from a more complete product development and manufacturing offering. I am pleased to continue to lead the team here in Union City as the site head and R&D director and look forward to leading efforts at Kindeva to expand our clinical and commercial support for dry powder and nebulized respiratory therapies.”
Accord BioPharma is joining forces with Eversana to launch its Camcevi (leuprolide) 42mg injection emulsion for advanced prostate cancer treatment. Accord BioPharma is heading US distribution for the drug, which received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration from Foresee Pharmaceuticals.
“Accord Healthcare has been offering quality pharmaceutical products in the U.S. and globally since the early 2000s. Through this strategic partnership with EVERSANA for the launch of CAMCEVI, we are excited to sharpen Accord BioPharma's focus on specialty pharmaceuticals. This will help us enable better access to therapy for advanced prostate cancer patients across the US,” said Binish Chudgar, managing director of Accord Healthcare and Accord BioPharma.
Drug development solutions firm Norstella and intelligence provider Citeline have agreed to merge their two organizations. Leadership of the two companies reportedly aim to help life sciences companies bring therapies to patients more rapidly by connecting them with the necessary information and intelligence required from early clinical development to commercialization.
“Accelerating innovation and ensuring that every patient gets the therapy that they need is our North Star,” said Norstella CEO Mike Gallup. “By bringing clinical and commercial intelligence together—along with real-world data—the combined company will be well positioned to deliver on its mission.”
The Center for Breakthrough Medicines has appointed Joseph Lingle has chief people officer. In his new position, the 30-year human resources veteran will oversee all HR activities, including hiring and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts for the CDMO.
“We are thrilled to have Joe join our executive team, “said Joerg Ahlgrimm, CEO of the company. “Not only is his unique background in engineering and biotechnology a perfect fit for CBM, but he is a roll-up his sleeves team player who will make an immediate and profound impact on our company, its employees and our many clients.”
Sustainable building specialist Aircuity has opened its new corporate headquarters in the Boston suburb of Norwood, Massachusetts. The facility is designed to support the company’s growth and features larger spaces for its calibration laboratory and production floor, along with an upgraded engineering lab for product testing and development.
“We are very pleased to be moving into this dynamic new space and believe we are better positioned to meet current and future growth requirements, while also attracting new and more diverse talent into the company,” said Dan Diehl, CEO of Aircuity. “Our history is in the Boston area, and it is certainly THE hub for research and innovation in both the Sustainability and Life Sciences industries, making this an ideal location for us.”
