Ten new jobs as company expands services at Athlone facility

Almac Sciences, a member of the Almac Group, has announced the expansion of its existing suite of analytical solutions at its Athlone facility to include biologics testing.

PHOTO: The new biologics testing service at Almac's facility at the IDA Business and Technology Park in Athlone.

Ten new positions have been added in Athlone with the launch of the new biologics testing service – and further growth is anticipated with an expansion of that business.

It's part of initial investment of over €2m for 2020 to 2021 on equipment and infrastructure within the current facility in Athlone.

This new offering follows the announcement of the company’s expansion of its Irish laboratory in Athlone in 2019 and from which Almac Sciences now provides a comprehensive range of flexible pharmaceutical testing services to support clients’ drug development programs adhering to industry regulations including FDA, EMA and PMDA, under GMP standards.

The expansion of biologics analytical testing solutions complements the well-established range of analytical services already offered from Athlone as well as its global headquarter campus in the UK and facility in Pennsylvania, North America.

The company currently employs over 150 scientists globally. In order to provide additional leadership and site management to ensure the continued execution of this expanded offering, two key posts have been appointed within the last six months.

Simon Cocks has been appointed as Athlone Site Manager and, with a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Loughborough University, brings over 25 years’ industry experience to the role. Prior to joining Almac, he managed multifunctional/multisite technical and support teams within both the CRO/CDMO and pharmaceutical industries. He is a chartered chemist and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and brings with him a wealth of knowledge including discovery and development, manufacture, clinical analysis and commercial supply of both small and large molecules in all of the GxP regulatory sectors.

Pavan Kumar Kunala has been recruited as Biopharma Lab Manager, also based at Almac’s Athlone facility. Pavan has a strong background in the field of analytical development for biologics, with over a decade of experience. In his previous roles at Intas Biopharmaceuticals and Pfizer, he was responsible for leading a team of scientists to support analytical method development, validation and overall CMC strategy for the advancement of early, late and commercial biologics. Pavan holds a M.S. degree in Biological Sciences from Arkansas State University.

Dr John Robson, Vice President Analytical Operations at Almac Sciences, commented: “Biologics have gained huge traction in the last decade and are poised for stronger growth in the coming years with potential to significantly impact patient lives. The launch of this service offering furthermore demonstrates Almac’s commitment to offering a best-in-class service to our global client base and in advancing human health. We are confident the addition of biologics testing solutions will continue to strengthen our competitive position in the marketplace.”

Amid the current COVID-19 pandemic, Almac Sciences is now offering virtual auditing solution for clients on request.