Keele, UK, 18 January 2008: Cobra announces the appointment today of Simon James Yvon Saxby, 49, as Chief Operating Officer. Simon will also join the Board of Cobra and will run the contract manufacturing side of the Group. He brings international manufacturing experience, technical knowledge, commercial expertise and capital markets success, all of which make him ideally suited to the challenges of the service business.
At the same time, David Thatcher will step down as Chief Executive, whilst continuing to provide guidance on scientific affairs and business development as a non executive director and he will also act as consultant for Cobra’s oral vaccine project.
Chairman, Peter Fothergill said: “I welcome Simon to the Board of Cobra. His extensive commercial experience and fund raising history is built on a solid technical background. This skill set makes Simon ideal for running our contract manufacturing business which requires in-depth technical knowledge together with sharp business acumen.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank David Thatcher for his dedication since he became Chief Executive of the Group in 2002. He has driven our technology, managed the business and has acted as head of business development. He has risen to many challenges over the last few years and will be available to support Simon as he takes over running our contract manufacturing business.”
Simon Saxby has 25 years experience in the biotechnology industry, latterly as CEO of Alpha Biologics Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian contract manufacturing organisation with an office and laboratories in Cambridge UK. Simon was a founder of Murex Diagnostics, which was sold to Abbott Laboratories for $350m, a co-founder and operations director of Quantum Biosystems Ltd, he led the development of a CMO business for Unisyn Technologies in Massachusetts, USA for 4 years and has held appointments with KS Biomedix Plc, Xenova Plc and Synexis Ltd.
Simon has held the following directorships in the past five years; Alpha Biologics Sdn Bhd, Alpha Biologics Ltd and CTM Biotech Ltd. No further disclosures are required to be made in relation to Simon Saxby under schedule 2 (g) of the AIM rules.
For further information, please contact:
Cobra Biomanufacturing Plc Peter Fothergill, Chairman Tel: +44 (0)1782 714 181
Buchanan Communications (financial media enquiries) Tim Anderson/ Rebecca Skye Dietrich Tel: +44 (0)20 7466 5000
College Hill (trade media enquiries) Gemma Price/Kathryn Robertson Tel: +44 (0)20 7457 2020
Seymour Pierce (NOMAD & Broker) Stuart Lane Tel: +44 (0)20 7107 8000
Notes to Editors:
About Cobra Biomanufacturing Plc: Cobra Biomanufacturing Plc is a leading international manufacturer of biopharmaceuticals to the lifescience industry. Founded in 1992, Cobra provides innovative manufacturing solutions to the biopharmaceutical industry covering DNA, virus, cellular therapeutics and recombinant protein products.
Cobra has developed a range of unique, patented technologies, which underpin a successful revenue generating contract manufacturing business.
www.cobrabio.com
