Symbiosis confirms commitment to growth strategy with key appointment

The CMO's new Chief Operating Officer will continue the company's operational response to COVID-19.

Previously operations development director at Symbiosis, Mr McCormick has 15 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry in various roles including pharmaceutical formulation, medicine manufacturing process development, project technical transfer, manufacturing scale-up, and clinical and commercial manufacture of a number of dosage forms including capsules and injectables.

As COO John will take operational leadership of the project management, quality, manufacturing, technical, supply chain, engineering, validation and training operational functions.

He will continue to lead the ongoing implementation of Innovate UK grant projects currently being undertaken jointly by Symbiosis and its external collaborators who include Freeline Therapeutics and the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGTC) in Stevenage, UK.

Mr McCormick will also drive continuous improvement and operational efficiency gains across the business and will directly support the CEO while making a strategic contribution as a member of the Board of Directors.

Colin MacKay, CEO at Symbiosis said: “John’s promotion and appointment to the Board of Directors is part of a long-term strategy to support the continued organic growth of our core sterile manufacturing services in the US and Europe.”

Mr McCormick will also continue to manage Symbiosis’ operational response to COVID-19 to ensure that Symbiosis continues to deliver projects on-time to meet clients’ clinical and commercial timelines.

During the last 12 months Symbiosis has grown its sterile biologics manufacturing capabilities significantly and the company has invested more than £1.5m ($1.9m) in its expansion, doubling its physical footprint and creating fresh operational challenges.