Vibalogics boosts U.S. team with expert senior hires ahead of facility launch

Vibalogics, a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in the production of virotherapy products, has strengthened its North American team with new strategic hires, including a Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Vice President of Quality and Head of Process Sciences.

The new recruits will accelerate the redevelopment and opening of Vibalogics’ new late-phase and commercial virotherapy manufacturing facility in Boxborough, MA.

Mike DiMeo has been welcomed to the executive board as CFO, while Judith Adair McCorry has joined as Vice President of Quality, and Hao (Max) Qian as Head of Process Sciences.

Mike DiMeo

With 15 years’ experience in finance for companies in the life sciences sector, Mike is well placed to support and drive Vibalogics’ expansion strategy in North America. He has worked for major names in the industry including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Exosome Diagnostics.

Judith Adair McCorry

Judith brings 20 years’ experience in quality assurance, working for many multinational biopharma brands, including Merck and Emergent BioSolutions. In her new role as Vice President of Quality Judith will be responsible for all facets of quality.

She[will be responsible for preparing the Boxborough facility for approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Once the site is operational, Judith will focus on implementing strategies to accomplish the company’s quality and compliance goals, whilst also ensuring the CDMO continues to meet all regulatory requirements for phase appropriate manufacturing.

Max Qian

As Head of Process Sciences, Max will lead the development and innovation of cutting-edge manufacturing processes for new projects. He will bring to bear more than 24 years of experience in the pharmaceutical sector, and 14 years in the biologics space. Having worked at Merck, Agilent Technologies, and Abbott Laboratories, Max has formidable expertise in all aspects of the development and manufacturing process for biopharma products. His insight will be invaluable as we support customers to develop efficient and effective protocols for their late-phase projects.

Speaking of the hires, Tom Hochuli, Chief Executive Officer CEO of Vibalogics, explained: “Mike, Judith and Max are fantastic additions to our team here in Boxborough. They all bring with them exceptional skills and experience that will complement our existing team as we bring the new site online, and they will help ensure that we continue to exceed our customers’ rigorous quality expectations into the future.”

For some 15 years, Vibalogics has been a specialist in the manufacturing of oncolytic viruses, viral vector vaccines and viral vectors. It provides an array of services, including process development, manufacturing, testing and fill-finish services for early phase clinical trials from its 50,000 sq. ft. GMP certified facility in Cuxhaven, Germany. When its new 110,000 sq. ft facility in Boxborough, MA is operational later in 2021, it will be able to offer late-stage development and commercial services, providing an end-to-end solution for its customers.

Commenting on his appointment as CFO, Mike added: “Vibalogics is an incredible company to work for and is at a really exciting point in its development. I am keen to get started in supporting the business’s ambitious growth strategy, and in supporting the success of the wider viral vector sector.”

ABOUT VIBALOGICS

Vibalogics is a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) located in Cuxhaven, Germany, providing process development and GMP manufacturing services.

Founded in 2002, the company is recognized as a leading service provider within the live biologics industry, specializing in the manufacture of oncolytic virus, viral vector vaccine and viral vector gene therapy products. Following investment from Ampersand Capital Partners in 2019, the company is set to expand its late phase and commercial services and global footprint with a facility in Boston, MA. The facility will be operational by the second half of 2021.