Cytovance Biologics Strengthens Management Team
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK--(Marketwire - March 14, 2012) - Cytovance® Biologics, a leading full-service contract manufacturer ("CMO") of mammalian and microbial biologics, strengthens its management leadership in the departments of finance, operations and business development. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, Cytovance welcomes Richard Vaillant, Ulrich Ernst and Valerie McDonnell.
"We are fortunate to have these professionals join our Cytovance team. They bring a combination of strong biologics business experience, proven results and goal-oriented leadership," said Darren Head, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cytovance Biologics. "We look forward to benefiting from their experiences across a variety of roles and businesses throughout the world."
Richard Vaillant joined Cytovance Biologics in July 2011 as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Vaillant has more than 26 years of financial operations and management experience in the life sciences industry.
Previously, Mr. Vaillant served as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary of Histogenics Corporation, where he was responsible for all financial operations, Information systems and Human resources. Prior to Histogenics, Mr. Vaillant was the Corporate Operations Controller with American Cystoscope Makers, Inc. Prior to American Cystoscope, he was the Division Controller at Boston Scientific for 12 years. Mr. Vaillant has a B.S. in Business Administration from Merrimack College and a M.S.A. from Suffolk University.
Ulrich Ernst joined Cytovance Biologics in August 2011 as Vice President of Operations. Mr. Ernst is a proven biotechnology industry leader with more than 20 years of domestic and global experience in the life sciences field.
Prior to joining Cytovance, Mr. Ernst served as Vice President of Manufacturing at Alexion where he led the efforts to gain FDA and EMA site approvals for SOLIRIS. Following Alexion, he served as Vice President of Manufacturing at ZymoGenetics where he helped create the infrastructure for the commercial manufacturing enterprise which launched the RECOTHROM® franchise, approved by FDA for use in surgical settings as an adjunct to hemostasis. Prior to ZymoGenetics, Mr. Ernst held the position of Director of Manufacturing Operations for SCIOS where he spearheaded the manufacturing/CMC and supply chain operations for the global launch of NATRECOR®, an approved biologic used in the treatment of congestive heart failure.
Mr. Ernst earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Lehigh University.
Ms. Valerie McDonnell joined Cytovance Biologics in January 2012 as Vice President of Sales and Business Development. She is responsible for oversight of all sales and marketing functions. Ms. McDonnell has more than 22 years of experience in the Biotech Industry.
Prior to joining Cytovance Biologics, Ms. McDonnell served as Vice President of Sales at Althea where she had the overall responsibility for all client relationship development. Prior to joining Althea she held a Study Director position at BioReliance. She also worked at The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) and participated in the Haemophilus influenzae sequencing program. Ms. McDonnell holds a BS in Microbiology from the University of Maryland and an M.S. in Biotechnology from John's Hopkins University.
With the addition of these new leaders, Cytovance strengthens its commitment to offering full-service manufacturing contracts to biotechnology and pharmaceutical clients worldwide.
About Cytovance® Biologics
Cytovance® Biologics is a biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing company specializing in the production of therapeutic proteins and antibodies from both mammalian cell culture and microbial fermentation. In addition to its cGMP manufacturing services, the company offers process development, cGMP cell banking and support services from its Oklahoma City state-of-the-art facilities.
Learn more about Cytovance Biologics at www.cytovance.com.