Oxford, UK – 11 March 2024: Oxford Biomedica plc (LSE:Oxford Biomedica) (“Oxford Biomedica”, “Oxford Biomedica” or “the Company”), a quality and innovation-led cell and gene therapy CDMO, today announces that CDMO expert, Peter Soelkner, will join the Board as a Non-Executive Director, effective from 15 March 2024. Concurrently, as part of Oxford Biomedica’s transformation into a pure-play CDMO, the Company announces that Catherine Moukheibir and Dr. Michael Hayden have informed the Board that they do not intend to stand for re-election at the upcoming Annual General Meeting in June 2024. Dr. Michael Hayden will continue to be an adviser to the Science and Technology Advisory Committee.
Peter Soelkner has more than 30 years’ experience in the global pharmaceutical services industry with significant CDMO expertise. He is currently Managing Director of Vetter Pharma, a global Aseptic Filling and Packaging CDMO, where over the past 15 years he has helped grow revenues from $200 million to more than $1 billion. Prior to Vetter, Mr. Soelkner held various senior positions at Sartorius including Vice President of the Americas region where he expanded the global footprint of the business across the US and multiple sectors. He has an MBA from Columbia Business School, New York and Masters in Chemical Engineering from TU Dortmund University, Germany.
Dr. Roch Doliveux, Non-Executive Chairman of Oxford Biomedica, commented: “Alongside Oxford Biomedica’s transformation to become a pure-play viral vector CDMO, the Board of Directors has reviewed its breadth of skills and taken the decision to streamline the Board whilst bolstering its CDMO expertise. In light of this, we are delighted to welcome Peter Soelkner given his impressive track record in significantly growing Vetter, a leading global CDMO from $200m to more than $1bn in revenues. In parallel, Catherine Moukheibir and Dr. Michael Hayden, who have played a defining role in shaping Oxford Biomedica’s new strategy, both volunteered not to stand for re-election at the next AGM given that their strengths lie more in therapeutics rather than CDMO. I would like to personally thank Catherine and Michael for their impeccable service, loyalty and valuable insights.”
Peter Soelkner commented: “I am pleased to be joining this innovative, client-centric, global business at such an exciting juncture in the Company’s journey. In my view Oxford Biomedica is extremely well-positioned as a pure-play CDMO and I am excited to apply my skillset and experience to help deliver the strategy to clients, enabling them to deliver life-changing therapies to patients.”
Relevant disclosures
There are no disclosures required to be made in accordance with LR 9.6.13R.
-Ends-
Enquiries:
Oxford Biomedica plc:
Sophia Bolhassan, VP, Corporate Affairs and IR – T: +44 (0) 1865 509 737 / E: ir@oxb.com
ICR Consilium:
T: +44 (0)20 3709 5700 / E: oxfordbiomedica@consilium-comms.com
Mary-Jane Elliott / Matthew Neal / Davide Salvi
About Oxford Biomedica
Oxford Biomedica (LSE: Oxford Biomedica) is a quality and innovation-led cell and gene therapy contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) with a mission to enable its clients to deliver life changing therapies to patients around the world.
One of the original pioneers in cell and gene therapy, the Company has more than 25 years of experience in viral vectors; the driving force behind the majority of gene therapies. The Company collaborates with some of the world’s most innovative pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, providing viral vector development and manufacturing expertise in lentivirus, adeno-associated virus (AAV), adenoviral vectors, and other viral vector types. Oxford Biomedica’s world-class capabilities span from early-stage development to commercialisation. These capabilities are supported by robust quality-assurance systems, analytical methods and depth of regulatory expertise.
Oxford Biomedica, a FTSE4Good constituent, is headquartered in Oxford, UK. It has locations across Oxfordshire, UK, Lyon and Strasbourg, France, and near Boston, MA, US. Learn more at www.oxb.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.