Durham, North Carolina (December 5, 2023) – KBI Biopharma, Inc. (KBI), a JSR Life Sciences company, today announced the recent appointment of Maggie Chen, Senior Vice President and Site Head of the Patriot Park mammalian cGMP manufacturing facility in Durham, North Carolina. She brings over 20 years of biopharmaceutical experience with a proven track record as a successful leader in Manufacturing, Manufacturing, Science & Technologies (MS&T), Quality, and Engineering. Chen now leverages her vast multi-disciplinary experience in leading the site’s day-to-day operations.
“I am very happy to welcome Maggie to KBI. I am confident that her passion for cross-functional collaboration and expertise in operational readiness and program management will be valued at the facility, across the KBI network, and in customer interactions,” said Tony Fraij, KBI Biopharma COO. “Maggie will play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of the Patriot Park site as it continues to evolve and expand to meet the needs of our current and future customers.”
The 150,000-square-foot commercial manufacturing facility produces mammalian-based products and currently employs more than 300 people in manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, quality control, and quality assurance. Chen will steward the site on its mission to provide KBI customers with high-quality drug substance, underpinned by Manufacturing 4.0 principles and advanced sustainability practices.
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join the KBI team at Patriot Park,” said Chen. “KBI has built a strong reputation with a high customer satisfaction rating, and this location is primed to continue to deliver at an exceptional level for our commercial customers.”
Prior to joining KBI, Chen built and led high-performing teams at Johnson & Johnson, Spectranetics (now Philips), and Novartis. She most recently transitioned from her role at AGC Biologics as Sr. Director of Manufacturing for cell and gene therapy, Longmont site and Interim Engineering Head for Colorado, to spearhead KBI’s commercial mammalian facility in North Carolina where she leverages her extensive background in manufacturing, engineering, and automation. Chen earned her Executive Master of Business Administration from Colorado University – Denver, and her Bachelor of Science degrees in Industrial Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from Xian Jiao Tong University in China.
About KBI Biopharma, Inc.
KBI Biopharma, Inc., a JSR Life Sciences company, together with its affiliates, is a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) providing fully integrated, accelerated drug development and biologics manufacturing services and expertise to life science companies. As a global leader in mammalian cell line development, with best-in-class modular technology and highly specialized solutions, KBI enables the life sciences industry to rapidly discover, develop and commercialize innovative medicines and vaccines. With each of its 500+ client partners, KBI works closely to personalize and rapidly accelerate drug development programs.
Global partners are utilizing KBI’s technologies to advance more than 170 drug candidates in preclinical and clinical development and the manufacture of ten commercial products. Built upon a foundation of world-class analytics capabilities and extensive scientific and technical expertise, KBI delivers robust process development and clinical and commercial cGMP manufacturing services for mammalian, microbial, and cell therapy programs. Recognized for quality manufacturing, KBI helps partners advance drug candidates to the market. KBI serves its global partners with eight locations in Europe and the USA. More information is available at www.kbibiopharma.com.
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