WALTHAM, Mass., March 31, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Repligen Corporation (NASDAQ:RGEN), a life sciences company focused on bioprocessing technology leadership, today announced its formation of a Scientific Advisory Board (“SAB”) to provide thought leadership and oversight of the Company’s innovation initiatives. The SAB will focus on expansion of Repligen’s bioprocessing product portfolio as well as identification and evaluation of new strategic opportunities. It is comprised of some of the world’s most recognized experts and trailblazers in the field of biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
Charles L. Cooney, Robert T. Haslam Professor of Chemical Engineering, Emeritus, of the MIT Department of Chemical Engineering, and Faculty Director, Emeritus, of the Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, has been named the Chairman of the SAB.
“As a vocal proponent of stimulating technological innovation in bioprocessing, I am enthused to be leading the SAB at Repligen,” said Dr. Cooney. “Over the past few years, I’ve observed the Company deliver on its commitment to advance high-value products that enable more efficient and more flexible biological drug manufacturing. This is a clear industry trend where I believe Repligen is well-positioned to make important contributions to the evolution of bioproduction processes, and I look forward to helping coordinate this advisory team.”
“As we continue to expand our portfolio of bioprocessing products, our firsthand understanding of the evolving and unmet needs of our biomanufacturing customers is what drives innovation here at Repligen,” said Tony J. Hunt, President and CEO of Repligen. “We can now exchange ideas with some of the most accomplished and renowned experts in the bioproduction world as we make critical resource and investment decisions.”
There are nine inaugural members of the Repligen SAB including five external and four corporate members. External members of the Repligen SAB, listed below, include recognized pioneers and researchers in bioprocessing and biological drug development:
- Charles L. Cooney, Ph.D. is the Robert T. Haslam (1911) Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Emeritus, MIT Department of Chemical Engineering and founding Faculty Director of the Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation at MIT
- Dr. Cooney’s research interests include biopharmaceutical manufacturing and bioprocess industries, bioprocess design, operation and control, and technological innovation strategy. As founding Faculty Director of the Deshpande Center, he is interested in the process of stimulating technological innovation and translating innovation into new company creation. He chaired the FDA Advisory Committee for Pharmaceutical Science from 2004-2006, serves as a consultant to a number of biotech and pharmaceutical companies, and is on multiple editorial boards of professional journals.
- Steven Cramer, Ph.D. is the William Weightman Walker Professor of Polymer Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Dr. Cramer is a recognized researcher in several areas related to protein-surface interactions and molecular bioprocessing. His work involves experimental and theoretical investigations into novel bioseparations systems, including chromatographic separation processes. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Separation Science and Technology and has received several awards for his work, including the Alan S. Michaels Award for the Recovery of Biological Products (ACS Division of Biochemical Technology) as well as Rensselaer's School of Engineering Research Excellence Award.
- Konstantin Konstantinov, Ph.D. is Senior Vice President, Manufacturing & Process Sciences at Codiak Biosciences
- Dr. Konstantinov is a pioneer in the development of an end-to-end integrated continuous biomanufacturing platform, which worldwide is becoming a strategic technological trend in the industry. His involvement in continuous manufacturing stems from a long career in the development and commercialization of biologic drugs, including monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics. His newest research focuses on exosome technology targeting the development of therapeutics against pancreatic and other types of cancers. Prior to Codiak Biosciences, Dr. Konstantinov was responsible for late-stage bioprocess and technology development at Genzyme (Sanofi), spanning from cell banking to fill-finish and lyophilization processes.
- J. Christopher Love, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT
- Dr. Love’s research centers on developing new approaches to manufacturing biologic drugs efficiently and affordably, and using simple microsystems to monitor cells from clinical samples in chronic human diseases. He was named a Dana Scholar for Human Immunology and a Keck Distinguished Young Scholar in Medical Research in 2009, as well as one of Popular Science’s Brilliant 10 in 2010. Chris is also an associate member at the Eli and Edythe L. Broad Institute, and at the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard.
- Kripa Ram, Ph.D. is Vice President of Bioprocess and Manufacturing Sciences at MedImmune (biologics arm of AstraZeneca)
- In his current role within the biopharmaceutical development organization of MedImmune, Dr. Ram is responsible for process development (including cell line engineering, cell culture/fermentation and purification), technology transfer, and scale-up as well as manufacture of clinical trial material. Over the past 25 years, his work at Merck, Glaxo SmithKline, Biogen and MedImmune has focused on the development and manufacture of biopharmaceuticals ranging from monoclonal antibodies to live virus vaccines, including the associated regulatory submissions leading to market authorization.
The Repligen corporate members of the SAB are:
- Tony J. Hunt, President and Chief Executive Officer, Repligen
- James R. Rusche, Ph.D., Senior Vice President Research and Development, Repligen
- John G. Cox, Repligen board director and Executive Vice President, Pharmaceutical Operations and Technology, Biogen
- Alfred L. Goldberg, Ph.D., Repligen board director and Professor of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School.
Biographical profiles of corporate members can be viewed at: http://www.repligen.com/company/leadership/
About Repligen Corporation
Repligen Corporation (NASDAQ:RGEN) is a life sciences company focused on the development and commercialization of high-value bioprocessing products used to manufacture biological drugs. Our bioprocessing products are sold to major life sciences and biopharmaceutical companies worldwide. We are the leading manufacturer of Protein A affinity ligands, a critical component of Protein A media that is used to separate and purify monoclonal antibody therapeutics. Our ATF System and our growth factor products are used to increase product yield during the fermentation stage of biologic drug manufacturing. In addition, we developed and market an innovative line of “ready-to-use” chromatography columns under our OPUS® brand that we deliver pre-packed with our customers’ choice of purification media. Repligen’s corporate headquarters are in Waltham, MA (USA) and our manufacturing facilities are located in Waltham, MA and Lund, Sweden.
The following constitutes a “Safe Harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release which are not strictly historical statements, constitute forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, express or implied statements or guidance regarding future financial performance and position, and the expansion of our product portfolio, constitute forward-looking statements identified by words like “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seek,” “anticipate,” or “could” and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, without limitation those risks detailed in Repligen’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the other reports that Repligen periodically files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from those Repligen contemplated by these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect management’s current views and Repligen does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views or events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof except as required by law.
Contact:
Sondra S. Newman
Senior Director Investor Relations
Repligen Corporation
(781) 419-1881
snewman@repligen.com
