Molecule to Market: Inside the outsourcing space
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- 292
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- 13. Nov. 2026
Über den Podcast
Molecule to Market takes you inside the global pharma and biopharma outsourcing ecosystem. Each week, our host Raman Sehgal sits down with the founders, entrepreneurs, CEOs and C-suite leaders shaping the pharma services and tools that power discovery, drug development and commercialization.
Listeners get real stories and practical insights from across the entire value chain, from big pharma and emerging biotechs to private equity investors, CROs, CDMOs, technology platforms and specialist consulting firms. Our host Raman is an entrepreneur, investor, bestselling author, speaker and long time industry insider.
Folgen 292
From Polish Biosimilars to Building a Biologics CDMO
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development and commercialisation lifecycle with Adriana Kiedzierska, CEO of Rezon Bio. Adriana …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development and commercialisation lifecycle with Adriana Kiedzierska, CEO of Rezon Bio.
Adriana Kiędzierska-Mencfeld is the CEO of Rezon Bio, where she leads the company’s strategy, operations and partnerships across biologics development and manufacturing. With more than 20 years of experience in biotechnology, she specialises in recombinant proteins, purification and biosimilars.
Previously, she held senior roles at Polpharma Biologics, including COO and Site Head, where she helped support the transition to commercial scale manufacturing and contributed to FDA and EMA approvals. Adriana holds a PhD from the University of Wrocław and an Executive MBA from IMD, combining deep technical expertise with strategic leadership.
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharma and biopharma ecosystem with Adriana, covering:
- How her personal story led her into science and biologics, and onto the path of helping build a biopharma hub in Poland
- How each stage of her career taught her something different, and why CEOs should create the conditions for people to achieve more
- The importance of purpose, values and doing work that is genuinely meaningful for patients
- The journey from legacy biosimilars to bringing the first Polish manufactured biologic to the global market, and ultimately into the CDMO world
- The mindset and culture shift required when moving from an established biologics organisation to a genuinely client centric CDMO business
- How Rezon Bio is positioning itself for the future around pricing, added value, partnerships and the growing importance of dual sourcing
Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals, and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
Why caring is winning in the CRO space
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development and commercialisation lifecycle with Kevin Jones, CEO of Aliri Bioanalysis. Your host, Raman Sehgal …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development and commercialisation lifecycle with Kevin Jones, CEO of Aliri Bioanalysis.
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharma and biopharma ecosystem with Kevin, covering:
- His journey from working nights in the lab to leading global commercial and scientific teams
- Why flexibility, care and a consultative approach are critical differentiators for smaller specialist CROs competing against one stop shop providers
- What attracted him to Aliri Bioanalysis, and the appeal of joining a fast growing, private equity backed business, something he had not previously experienced
- How the role and perception of CROs has evolved over the last 30 years, including Kevin’s five principles for what clients value when selecting partners today
- How the market has begun to rebound after a difficult few years, and why he believes the industry is entering a new molecule renaissance
Kevin Jones is CEO of Aliri Bioanalysis, a contract research organisation supporting drug developers with regulated bioanalysis and PK/TK testing. He began his career running laboratories and has spent three decades leading large, multidisciplinary scientific teams across both GMP and GLP/clinical environments.
Kevin previously led Global Bioanalysis at Covance, now Labcorp, and served as Vice President and General Manager of Bioanalytical/ADME, Vaccine and Discovery Laboratories at Q² Solutions, part of IQVIA. His experience spans laboratory operations, global integration and strategic growth, with a particular focus on building service organisations that scale without compromising quality or the client experience.
Connect with him on LinkedIn.
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
Takeaways from CDMO Live Americas
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with: Ben Locwin, Senior VP at Reliant Life Sciences Jennifer Chadwick, Founder at Jennifer …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with:
- Ben Locwin, Senior VP at Reliant Life Sciences
- Jennifer Chadwick, Founder at Jennifer Chadwick Consulting LLC
- Jeff Buguliskis, Deputy Chief Editor at Outsourced Pharma
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the takeaways from CDMO with his guests on a live panel from Boston. The event was hosted by PharmaSource and Molecule to Market.
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
M2M ENCORE: Zero to a billion… A CDMO original
In this special encore episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Thomas Eldered, Executive Chairman of Flerie. Your host, Raman Sehgal …
Shownotes
In this special encore episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Thomas Eldered, Executive Chairman of Flerie.
Your host, Raman Sehgal, revisits one of Molecule to Market’s most fascinating founder stories, bringing together Thomas’ original two part conversation into one episode charting the journey from a small Swedish contract manufacturer to a global CDMO powerhouse.
Raman and Thomas discuss the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain, covering:
- How a series of failed plans eventually led to the creation of a CMO before the term was widely used
- Building Recipharm from a local Swedish manufacturer into an international CDMO employing more than 9,000 people across 10 countries
- Why having cash during the financial crash created an opportunity to accelerate growth through M&A
- The decision to take Recipharm public when very few Swedish businesses, and virtually no CDMOs, were pursuing an IPO
- Why selling Recipharm after 26 years was one of the hardest decisions of his career
- How the divestment of Cobra Biologics led Thomas back into ownership, and how the gene therapy boom transformed the fortunes of the business
- Choosing passion rather than pension after his exits, and continuing to build and invest through Flerie
- The mindset, timing and calculated risk taking behind one of the most remarkable journeys in the CDMO sector
Thomas Eldered co-founded Recipharm in 1995 and helped grow the company from a local Swedish contract manufacturer into one of the world’s leading CDMOs before leaving the business in 2021.
He founded Flerie in 2011 and today serves as Executive Chairman. Flerie is a long term life science investor focused on developing companies built around scientific innovation and unmet medical needs. Thomas also serves as chairman and board member across a number of life science businesses. (Flerie)
Thomas holds an MSc in Industrial Engineering and Management from Linköping University.
Connect with him on LinkedIn.
Molecule to Market is sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
CPHI Milan Live: What matters more now?
Live from CPHI Milan, Molecule to Market and ramarketing bring together 11 senior leaders from across the global pharma outsourcing sector to tackle some of the industry's biggest trade-offs. In this special …
Shownotes
Live from CPHI Milan, Molecule to Market and ramarketing bring together 11 senior leaders from across the global pharma outsourcing sector to tackle some of the industry's biggest trade-offs.
In this special episode, produced in partnership with ramarketing, host Raman Sehgal cuts through the usual industry talking points with a series of rapid-fire, either-or questions designed to uncover what leaders are really prioritizing, where opinions align, and where perspectives differ.
From balancing cost with flexibility to weighing technology against human expertise, we explore the decisions shaping the future of pharma services, what customers value most, and where the industry could be heading over the next five years.
Expect different perspectives, some tough choices, and plenty of food for thought from the people helping shape the future of pharma outsourcing.
Featuring insights from:
- Maja Pedersen, President and COO at Fujifilm Biotechnologies
- Hayley Crowe, Executive VP and General Manager of Global Life Sciences at Ecolab
- John Wichelt, VP/General Manager at Kindeva
- Henning Steinhagen, CEO at Symeres
- Campbell Bunce, Chief Scientific Officer at Abzena
- Patrick Kelley, Senior Director - Commercial at Pace Life Sciences
- Matt Peterson, Chief Strategy Officer at Quotient Sciences
- Joe Lipari, Director, Global Traceability Solutions at Systech
- Martin Meeson, CEO at Axplora
- Darren Hieber, VP of Alliance Partnerships at Ensera Pharma/Design
- Luke Guerrero, Co-Founder & Director of Operations at Digital CMC Consortium
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
CPHI Milan Live Panel: The Real Truths Shaping Pharma Outsourcing
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with: Bobby Sheng, Chairman and CEO of Bora Pharmaceuticals Derek Hennecke, Biotech …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with:
- Bobby Sheng, Chairman and CEO of Bora Pharmaceuticals
- Derek Hennecke, Biotech Entrepreneur and Board Member
- Maja Herold Pedersen, President and COO of Fujifilm Biotechnologies
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the real truths shaping pharma outsourcing with his guests live from CPHI Milan 2026. The event was hosted by Ramarketing and Molecule to Market.
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
M2M ENCORE: Founding and Selling Three Bio CDMOs
In this special encore episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Mark Bamforth OBE, serial entrepreneur, investor and mentor to CEOs. Your …
Shownotes
In this special encore episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Mark Bamforth OBE, serial entrepreneur, investor and mentor to CEOs.
Your host, Raman Sehgal, revisits one of Molecule to Market’s most memorable conversations, bringing together Mark’s original two-part story of building and selling three biotech CDMOs for a combined value of $2.5bn.
Raman and Mark discuss the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain, covering:
- Mark’s unconventional journey from North Sea oil and the whisky industry to spending 22 years at Genzyme and ultimately leading a global manufacturing network.
- Leaving corporate life to build Gallus Biopharmaceuticals, and the baptism of fire that came with raising money for a self funded CDMO carve out.
- The strategy and timing behind Gallus and its eventual sale to Patheon.
- Spotting the opportunity in viral vectors early, and building Brammer Bio from start up to its $1.7bn acquisition by Thermo Fisher.
- Building Arranta Bio across microbiome, plasmid and mRNA capabilities, before an unsolicited approach led to its sale to Recipharm.
- Mark’s ability to spot where the market is heading, sometimes before conventional wisdom catches up.
- Leadership lessons from more than two decades at Genzyme and three successful founder to exit journeys.
- How he thinks about investing, mentoring CEOs and building businesses in complex, fast moving markets.
Mark Bamforth OBE is a serial entrepreneur, investor and mentor to CEOs. He is currently CEO of disAMR, whose mission is to accelerate scientific, financial and policy solutions to protect modern medicine from antimicrobial resistant infections.
He is also Executive Board Chair of Kincellis, an advanced therapies CDMO, General Partner of the Kineticos AMR Accelerator Fund, and serves on the boards of Enterobiotix, Continuus Pharma and the Saltire Foundation USA.
Previously, Mark founded, built and sold three PE backed biotech CDMOs, Gallus Biopharmaceuticals, Brammer Bio and Arranta Bio, over a 12 year period for a combined value of $2.5bn.
Before becoming an entrepreneur, Mark spent 22 years at Genzyme in the UK and US, latterly running a global manufacturing operation spanning 12 sites in nine countries and producing more than 20 commercial products.
He began his career as a petroleum engineer exploring for North Sea oil with Britoil, before moving into the whisky industry as a chemical engineer with Whitbread.
Mark holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Strathclyde University and an MBA from Henley Management College. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, OBE, for services to the biotech industry and UK USA business relations.
Connect with him on LinkedIn.
Molecule to Market is sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
M2M SPECIAL: What Pharma Really Wants From Its CDMOs
In this special episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector through the perspective of pharma-side buyers and external manufacturing leaders. Your …
Shownotes
In this special episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector through the perspective of pharma-side buyers and external manufacturing leaders.
Your host, Raman Sehgal, brings together insights from Daniel Hurni, Felipe Furiati, Frank Binder, and the buyer-side panel from CDMO Live Europe: When Outsourcing Goes Wrong, covering:
- What really goes into selecting a CDMO partner, and why price and technical capability are only part of the decision.
- Why product lifecycle, supply resilience, geography and risk all influence outsourcing strategy.
- What strong pharma-CDMO relationships look like in practice, including trust, transparency, governance and communication.
- Why being a genuine strategic partner requires much more than simply using the phrase.
- The early warning signs that an outsourcing relationship may be starting to fail, and why sponsors also need to take responsibility.
- What makes a CDMO stand out to experienced buyers, from consistency across sites to strong planning, risk management and operational capability.
- Why buyers increasingly want to understand the people and processes behind the equipment, not just the facility itself.
This special episode brings together buyer-side perspectives from across Big Pharma, mid-sized pharma and global external manufacturing to provide CDMOs with a clearer view of what their customers really value.
Molecule to Market is sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
What Pharma really needs From CDMOs today
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Frank Binder, Independent Consultant (external manufacturing and supply chain …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Frank Binder, Independent Consultant (external manufacturing and supply chain management).
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Frank, covering:
- Getting hooked on supply chain management during his time at Accenture, before joining Novartis’ biopharma business during the early stages of outsourcing and CDMO management.
- Deciding to move to Celgene, and feeling liberated by the hands-on, can-do culture of a fast growth company.
- The intrigue of joining a highly respected Japanese pharma company to help drive global supply chain alignment.
- Common themes in pharma and CDMO relationships, including better planning, clearer communication and secondary sourcing.
- How CDMO selection has evolved over the last 10 to 15 years, what has changed and what remains the same, including the role of regionalisation.
- The lens he uses to identify genuine, strategic partners he can trust.
Dr. Frank Binder is a senior supply chain leader with experience across major pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies in Switzerland, the US and Japan. He is now an independent consultant at GSCA | Global Supply Chain Advisors, having previously held senior roles at Santen, Celgene, Novartis, Roche and Accenture. His expertise spans global supply chain transformation, biologics and API production, CDMO management, international logistics, planning, NPI and SOP/IBP. Frank is a recognised pharmaceutical supply chain thought leader, regularly speaking at industry conferences across Europe, the US and Asia. He holds a doctorate in Physical Chemistry from the University of Berne, with further executive education at Cranfield University, Harvard Business School and INSEAD.
Connect with him on LinkedIn.
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
The CSO Staying Ahead of the CDMO Curve
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Stefan Randl, Chief Scientific Officer at Siegfried. Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Stefan Randl, Chief Scientific Officer at Siegfried.
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Stefan, covering:
- How his love of science, combined with a desire to get closer to the business, led him to leave Novartis
- His move from science into commercial roles, and how geographic relocations created a compound impact on his career
- The decision to leave a large pharma environment and join a smaller CDMO with both drug substance and drug product capabilities
- The importance of scientific innovation in creating competitive advantage in a busy and fragmented market
- Stefan’s role in shaping capability, R&D and technical investments, and why CDMOs must stay ahead of the curve by backing the areas they truly believe in
- How the need for accelerated speed to market is being driven by more assets, higher quality assets and increasingly complex products
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
Stefan Randl (1973) joined Siegfried in January 2025 as Chief Scientific Officer. Prior to joining Siegfried, he spent 16 years at Evonik, where he held various leadership positions in several regions, most recently as Vice President Innovation Management Health Care, based in Frankfurt, Germany, and as Vice President Drug Substance, based in Indiana, US. He also headed Sales & Services for Health Care in Asia, based in Tokyo. He holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the Technische Universität Berlin and is a German citizen.
Connect with him on LinkedIn.
Leading a State Owned CDMO
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Erik Haeffler, CEO at APL. Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Erik Haeffler, CEO at APL.
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Erik, covering:
- Two decades at AstraZeneca, including being at the forefront of global sourcing and increasingly sophisticated supply chain management in pharma
- Managing a highly complex network of more than 100 CDMOs during his time at Meda
- Lessons from six years at Recipharm, where he led 4,000 people across 14 manufacturing sites
- The unique story behind APL, what attracted him to the CEO role, and how his assumptions about a state owned business were challenged
- Implementing a clear strategy for APL’s CDMO business, leading to stronger differentiation and significant growth
- The decision to acquire a penicillin facility, and the growth engine now driving APL forward
Erik leads APL, a Swedish pharma manufacturing company of 600 people across 5 sites. Being a state owned enterprise with a public policy assignment, APL is a bit of an odd bird on the pharma market. The state assignment comprises pharmacy compounding for the Swedish market, where APL has approx. 80% market share, and also a formal preparedness mission for supply in times of crisis and war. APL is also a fully commercial CDMO with a wide range of capabilities, focusing on a segment that fits into the company's origin in compounding. Erik has more than 30 years in the pharma industry with senior roles in AstraZeneca, Meda and Recipharm. He is also a Board member at Nanologica.
Connect with him on LinkedIn.
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals, and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
CDMO Live Europe: When Outsourcing Goes Wrong 2026
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with: Oksana Vodovska, Business Development of Sopharma Stefan Bouckaert, Quality & Operations …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with:
- Oksana Vodovska, Business Development of Sopharma
- Stefan Bouckaert, Quality & Operations Leader, Enabling Business Growth
- Nick Wark, Sr. Director / Head of Global External Manufacturing Network, CDMO & Strategic Partnerships, Ferring Pharmaceuticals
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the state of contract manufacturing with his guests live from CDMO Live Europe 2026. The event was hosted by PharmaSource and Molecule to Market.
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
From the Army Commander to the CDMO Corner Office
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Denis Johnson, Chief Executive Officer at Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing. Your host …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Denis Johnson, Chief Executive Officer at Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing.
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Denis, covering:
- What his time in the military and the CDMO industry have in common
- Why he is passionate about operations, and why operational excellence is the real product CDMOs deliver
- His decision to leave a successful leadership role at Catalent and move to the customer side of the industry
- Realising his ambition of becoming a CDMO CEO, and why sterile fill finish remains such an attractive area of the market
- The case for staying focused in small molecules rather than trying to become a “Swiss Army knife” provider
- Why sterile manufacturing continues to be one of the biggest pain points in pharma launches and commercial supply
Denis Johnson brings extensive life sciences leadership and manufacturing experience to his role as CEO, including significant prior sterile fill-finish experience. He has led operations and commercial senior leadership roles in the biologics, pharmaceutical, and combination devices for over 25 years. Before being appointed CEO at Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing, his prior roles include Head of Global Manufacturing and Technical Operations at Biogen as well as leadership roles at Catalent, Boston Scientific and Johnson & Johnson. He started his career in the U.S. Army managing logistics and operations.
Denis earned a B.S. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin Madison and an MBA from the University of South Carolina.
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
From Family Pharma to Global injectables CDMO
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Kimberlee Steele, Chief Commercial Officer at ROIS and Javier López-Belmonte, Vice …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Kimberlee Steele, Chief Commercial Officer at ROIS and Javier López-Belmonte, Vice Chairman of the Board at ROVI and CEO at ROIS.
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Kimberlee and Javier, covering:
- Kimberlee’s 12 golden years at Catalent, and the lessons she learned during a period of significant CDMO growth
- The family heritage behind ROVI and its journey to becoming a $4bn market cap global pharmaceutical business
- How the pandemic created a quantum leap in the company’s reputation and capabilities in sterile injectables
- The ambition behind ROIS and its goal to become one of the world’s leading sterile CDMO specialists
- The trend towards self administered medicines, and how this is driving demand for prefilled syringes, cartridges and device assembly
- Investing in value added capabilities and significant capacity to ensure reliability of supply for clients
Kimberlee Steele is a seasoned executive with over 25 years CDMO experience, currently serving as Chief Commercial Officer for ROIS. In this role, she is responsible for leading the company’s global commercial strategy, including business development, marketing, and strategic partnerships; supporting ROIS’s growth as a prominent global CDMO specializing in sterile injectables.
Prior to joining ROIS, Steele held several senior leadership roles that reflect her deep industry knowledge and operational experience. She most recently served as Managing Director, North America at SHL Medical, a global autoinjector company. Earlier in her career, she spent more than a decade at Catalent, advancing to Vice President of Strategic Partners and contributing to growth initiatives across biologics, injectables, and advanced drug delivery technologies.
She also previously served board roles with SCbio, American Injectables and Softgel Healthcare Ltd. and volunteered with DCAT Alliance for Industry Women Committee.
Mr. López-Belmonte is an experienced pharmaceutical executive with a strong financial background and more than two decades of leadership at ROVI. He currently serves as CEO of ROIS, ROVI’s CDMO business, and as First Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of ROVI. In these roles, he has played a key part in the company’s long-term growth, including the expansion of its CDMO capabilities in sterile injectables and complex molecule manufacturing.
He began his career in banking, working as an analyst at Argentaria S.A. in the United Kingdom, before moving into the pharmaceutical sector with Medeva Pharma. He joined ROVI in 2000 and assumed financial leadership just one year later. He went on to spearhead ROVI’s successful IPO in 2007, helping strengthen the company’s relationships with analysts, investors and the wider financial community.
Since 2014, he has led the development of ROVI’s CDMO business, supporting the expansion of its operations, manufacturing sites and strategic positioning. He is also the majority shareholder of Norbel Inversiones, S.L., the controlling company of ROVI.
Mr. López-Belmonte Encina holds a degree in Economics and Business Administration from CUNEF in Madrid, with a specialization in finance, and a joint Executive MBA from Brown University and IE Business School. He has also held senior roles within CEIM, the Madrid Region Business Association, and has served on academic bodies linked to the Autonomous University of Madrid.
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals, and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
Meet the Supply Chain Wizard
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Evren Ozkaya is the Founder & CEO of Supply Chain Wizard and SCW.AI. Your host, Raman …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Evren Ozkaya is the Founder & CEO of Supply Chain Wizard and SCW.AI.
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Evren, covering:
- The job offer that pulled him away from the McKinsey fast track and into the pharma industry
- Getting hands on experience at Sandoz, delivering real impact before spotting the opportunity to found his own business
- The moment that triggered the shift from consulting to technology, and the rapid build out of a software platform
- The decision to spin out the Digital Factory into a standalone company and raise $10m in Series A funding
- The importance of simplicity and creating a single source of truth on the factory floor
- Why the industry must move towards interconnected, systems thinking rather than isolated point to point solutions
- Why strong networks remain a hidden but powerful advantage in the life sciences sector
Evren Ozkaya, Ph.D. is the Founder & CEO of Supply Chain Wizard (a management consulting firm) and SCW.AI (a technology platform company), helping Pharma manufacturers establish and execute cost-effective and scalable digital transformation programs across manufacturing and supply chain domains by leveraging the state-of-the-art technology.
As a former management consultant at McKinsey & Company and a supply chain executive at Sandoz/Novartis, Dr. Ozkaya led various business transformation programs in over 100 companies in industries such as pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial, logistics and private equity.
Evren Ozkaya received his Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology with his award-winning thesis on Demand Management in Global Supply Chains. Dr. Ozkaya currently serves as the Chair of the Advisory Board at the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Georgia Tech, besides his other advisory board roles at Rutgers Business School and Seton Hall University.
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals, and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
Building a Canadian CDMO from grad school
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Lisa Studnicki Hunt, Ph.D, Co-Founder and Board Member, GL CHEMTEC. Your host, Raman …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Lisa Studnicki Hunt, Ph.D, Co-Founder and Board Member, GL CHEMTEC.
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Lisa, covering:
- How her passion for problem solving led her to cofound a CDMO straight out of grad school
- How, without an established industry network, she focused on developing her core skill set and immersing herself in a different culture
- Figuring things out day by day, while pursuing opportunities aligned with the company’s long term vision
- Positioning the business as “innovation experts” to differentiate in a competitive and fragmented CRO and CDMO market
- How the pandemic accelerated demand and growth, ultimately leading to a well timed private equity deal
- The “misbehaving of the market” over the last few years, and how a Canadian CDMO is positioned amid geopolitical shifts involving the US and China
Lisa co-founded GL CHEMTEC INTERNATIONAL in 2002 and has played a key role in growing the organization across both operations and commercial functions for more than two decades. She also now serves on several boards and is passionate about philanthropy and supporting non-profit organizations.
Lisa began her academic journey with a degree in Natural Sciences from John Abbott College. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science with Honours, with a minor in French, and a Master of Science in Chemistry from the University of Toronto. She later completed her Doctor of Philosophy in Organic Polymer Chemistry at Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, Germany.
Lisa has authored several scientific publications and holds multiple patents. Alongside her scientific credentials, Lisa has continued to build her commercial and business expertise. She earned her Professional Sales Designation from the Canadian Professional Sales Association in 2008, completed the E2: Entrepreneur’s Edge course at Wilfrid Laurier University in 2009, attended Harvard Business School in 2015 under the guidance of renowned professor Clayton Christensen, and completed the Marketing Innovation course at MIT Sloan School of Management in 2017.
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
From Big Pharma to Biotech CEO
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Rachel Sha, CEO at Terrestrial Bio. Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Rachel Sha, CEO at Terrestrial Bio.
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology ecosystem with Rachel, covering:
- Navigating the Genzyme Sanofi acquisition and building a leadership career on the other side of the transaction
- Being in the right place at the right time to pursue entrepreneurship, and the steep learning curve of stepping into a biotech CEO role
- The decision to adopt a dual strategy, partnering with biopharma on a platform technology while also advancing internal programs
- Leading a $50M Series C raise in a challenging funding environment and evolving the company’s identity
- The real world trade offs between building manufacturing capabilities in house versus outsourcing to CDMOs
Rachel Sha is the CEO at Terrestrial, a company focused on transforming the delivery of next generation therapies with its microarray skin patch that provides a patient friendly experience that is injection free and without the hassle of cold chain. Prior to Terrestrial, she was an Operating Partner at Engine Ventures, a venture fund spun-out of MIT that invests in Tough Tech companies primarily in the Boston area. She advised companies and worked with the investment team in exploring investment themes, opportunities, and programming. Before her time in venture, she spent seventeen years at Genzyme and Sanofi where she held leadership positions in business development, strategy, and commercial. Her last role at the firm was the Global Vice President of Digital Strategy, Partnering and Governance at Sanofi where she led global strategy, business development, and governance of digital programs to transform Sanofi and healthcare.
She has long been a supporter of developing women entrepreneurs and has supported organizations like Mass Next Gen and Springboard Enterprises. She was recognized by the Boston Business Journal in the 2025 class of Women Who Lead in Life Sciences. Rachel holds a BS from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Chemistry and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Please note: Vaxess Technologies is now Terrestrial (Terrestrial Bio, Inc.). This change reflects a brand evolution and is not part of a merger or acquisition. There has been no change in control or operations. All contracts, relationships and business activities continue uninterrupted under our new name.
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals, and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
From Lab to Boardroom at Sartorius
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with René, covering: How a lucky break brought him to Sartorius over 20 years ago, and what has changed and stayed the same …
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Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with René, covering:
- How a lucky break brought him to Sartorius over 20 years ago, and what has changed and stayed the same over that time
- His journey from scientist to senior leader, and the evolution of biologics he has witnessed along the way
- The pace of innovation in bioprocessing, and how he thinks about speed, efficiency and flexibility
- Why innovation continues regardless of market cycles, through both boom and correction periods
- His perspective on the current biotech market reset and why it represents a healthy correction
- Despite building a €3.5bn powerhouse, how Sartorius has maintained a relentless focus on customers
René Fáber, born in 1975, has been Head of Bioprocess Solutions Division and Member of the Executive Board of Sartorius AG since 2019. In the same year, he became a Member of the Board of Directors of Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A.; in 2023 he was appointed as CEO of the company. René Fáber studied chemistry in Bratislava, Slovakia, and earned his Ph.D. in polymer chemistry from the Technical University of Munich in Germany. He joined Sartorius in 2002, where he initially worked as a scientist on membrane modification. As Vice President, he held various management positions in R&D, Marketing for Filtration and Fermentation Technologies, as well as in Key Account Management. In his most recent position, he was responsible for the Product Development unit of the Bioprocess Solutions Division.
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals, and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
CDMO Live Europe: State of Contract Manufacturing 2026
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with: Kaan-Fabian Kekec, Partner Simon Kucher Kurt Nielson, President, Longview Leader Melanie …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with:
- Kaan-Fabian Kekec, Partner Simon Kucher
- Kurt Nielson, President, Longview Leader
- Melanie Wamsler, External Network Strategy Lead, Takeda
- Rocco Paracchini, Vice President, Morpho
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the state of contract manufacturing with his guests live from CDMO Live Europe 2026. The event was hosted by PharmaSource and Molecule to Market,
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
Codexis at TIDES - Stereochemistry in RNA Manufacturing: Signal or Noise?
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with: Fred Fleitz, SVP, CMC and Development Chemistry, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Jason …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with:
- Fred Fleitz, SVP, CMC and Development Chemistry, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals
- Jason Costigan, Head of CMC, Corsera Health
- Alison Moore, CEO and President, Codexis, Inc.
- Muthu Kandasamy, VP of Medicinal Chemistry, Wave Life Sciences
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology ecosystem with his guests live from TIDES 2026. The event was hosted by Codexis and Molecule to Market,
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
Navigating global supply chains at Big Pharma
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Daniel Hurni, Supply Chain Enterprise Capability Lead at Roche. Your host, Raman Sehgal …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Daniel Hurni, Supply Chain Enterprise Capability Lead at Roche.
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Dan, covering:
- Why working all over the world was a key competent in building his confidence, and his understanding of people and perspectives from different cultures.
- The value of doing an MBA as a technician, and the need to master yourself and becoming the boss of yourself before leading others.
- A behind the scenes peek of CDMO sourcing and selection at small and a big pharma across different modalities.... and the importance of relationship building.
- Taking on a global supply chain lead at big pharma, and the job of navigating risk... and why you can only plan so much.
- How he's excited by, and thinking about AI with respect to supply chain, and why he will only apply it where it makes sense.
- Why listening, empathy, mentorship and networking are vital for survival and growth in a big pharma company.
- Top tips for large and specialist CDMOs.
With over 20 years of experience driving operational transformation in the life sciences sector, Daniel has established a reputation for optimizing end-to-end supply chains and navigating the complexities of the global pharma and biotech landscape. Throughout his career, he has successfully led high-stakes initiatives—ranging from aseptic Tech Transfers for sterile drug products to large-scale M&A integrations—consistently delivering cost reductions and scalable, patient-centric solutions within complex matrix environments. In small and large pharmaceutical companies.
Daniel specializes in bridging the gap between digital innovation and physical operations, leveraging AI, data integration, and advanced analytics to enhance S&OP and network design. Beyond his technical leadership in manufacturing and supplier management, he is a seasoned change management architect, adept at aligning functional priorities with enterprise strategy to drive operational agility. Daniel is also a frequent collaborator and thought leader who focuses on mentoring cross-functional teams and influencing stakeholders at all levels to build the intelligent, resilient supply chains of the future.
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
Bora Live Panel - The Voice of the Customer
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with: Jennifer Chadwick, Founder and Principal at Jennifer Chadwick Consulting Firelli Alonso …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with:
- Jennifer Chadwick, Founder and Principal at Jennifer Chadwick Consulting
- Firelli Alonso, Founder / Principal Consultant at ConsultFi Biologics LLC
- Umar Hayat, Founder, CEO at Accanito Inc
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology ecosystem with his guests live from Bora Nexus 2026. The event was hosted by Bora Pharmaceuticals and Molecule to Market,
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
The Making of a CGT CDMO Builder
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Steve Favaloro, Chairman and CEO of Genezen. Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Steve Favaloro, Chairman and CEO of Genezen.
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Steve, covering:
- His deep passion for operations, and how early lessons in hard work and customer service shaped his leadership
- Learning from Mark Bamforth and the entrepreneurial journey at Brammer Bio, culminating in a $1.7bn exit to Thermo Fisher
- Why gaining exposure to every seat at the table was critical in preparing him for the CEO role
- Building Genezen with a focus on strong values, hiring the right people and investing in differentiated capabilities
- How the cell and gene therapy market has evolved over the past decade, and why he remains optimistic about the future of curative medicines
- Why things inevitably go sideways in innovative drug development, and the importance of being prepared to navigate it
Steve Favaloro is an experienced biotech executive, board member, and investor. He is currently Chairman and CEO of Genezen, a best-in-class gene and cell therapy CDMO with specialized expertise in viral vector manufacturing. Steve joined Genezen in 2023 and has built up a team of almost 300 employees, supporting gene and cell therapy innovators from early-stage, growth-oriented biotechs to established industry leaders. He is an executive advisor at Ampersand Capital Partners, a leading healthcare investor, and serves on the board of Biologos. He also serves on the board of advisors of Life Science Cares Boston.
Prior to Genezen, Steve was CFO at Arbor Biotech, a next-generation gene editing therapeutic company. Steve also served as CFO at Arranta Bio, a leading CDMO for mRNA, from its founding in 2019 to its successful exit to Recipharm in February 2022.
Prior to this, Steve was a finance leader and ultimately CFO at Brammer Bio, where he oversaw a period of rapid expansion and capital deployment from 2016 to 2019 – leading up to its successful sale to Thermo Fisher Scientific in May 2019 for $1.7B. Before joining Brammer, Steve held finance roles of increasing responsibility at MilliporeSigma, Merck KGaA, and Bruker Corporation. Steve received his MBA and Master of Science from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. Steve also received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Boston College.
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
Inside the mind of the CMO outsourcer
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Felipe Furiati, Senior Director, External Supply Operations at Grünenthal. Your host …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Felipe Furiati, Senior Director, External Supply Operations at Grünenthal.
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Felipe, covering:
- Why he stepped away from big pharma to pursue an MBA in the US and transition into top tier management consulting, broadening his global perspective
- The pace and intensity of his time at Bain, and how it expanded his problem solving toolkit across industries
- The challenges, risks and opportunities involved in acquiring products and integrating supply chains
- How he approaches identifying, selecting and managing CDMO partners, and why product characteristics play a critical role
- Building and maintaining a CMO and CDMO network, and the key criteria he uses to assess and source new projects
- What strong vendor relationships really look like, why not every CDMO can be a strategic partner, and where CMOs can improve
Felipe currently works in External Supply Operations at Grünenthal, a mid-sized pharma organization with a vision of a world free of pain. He is an experienced professional in pharma strategy and operations, with a focus on external supply chain management across both pre launch and commercial products.
Originally from Brazil, Felipe has lived in Ireland and the United States, and is now based in Italy. His experience in the pharmaceutical industry is complemented by time in management consulting, where he gained exposure to a range of sectors including CPG and healthcare services.
Outside of work, Felipe is a mid of the pack endurance triathlete and enjoys spending time outdoors.
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals, and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
The unconventional CEO
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Tim Dietlin, Chief Executive Officer of ELIQUENT Life Science. Your host, Raman Sehgal …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Tim Dietlin, Chief Executive Officer of ELIQUENT Life Science.
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Tom, covering:
- Practical advice on the mindset required when navigating M&A from both sides
- Why he made the move from management consulting into executive search, and why it proved to be the right call
- How the hunter became the hunted when private equity firm GHO Capital came knocking to take him to ELIQUENT
- The challenge of integrating five successful businesses into one unified platform and brand
- Timeless lessons on working with private equity, while balancing senior leadership with family life
- Operating at the forefront of global regulatory change and the evolution of modern drug development
As Chief Executive Officer of ELIQUENT Life Sciences, Tim Dietlin steers the company’s global priorities and strategic growth. His leadership guides ELIQUENT’s team of unmatched regulatory experts and clears the path to better health.
Tim leads ELIQUENT’s global business with a focus on bringing clarity to regulatory complexity. His strategic direction leverages ELIQUENT’s combined capabilities and collective expertise to provide integrated solutions that bridge the spectrum of global regulatory challenges. Under his leadership, ELIQUENT’s platform of comprehensive solutions deliver a full-service engagement that global life sciences innovators need to gain and maintain market authorization for their products.
With more than 25 years of leadership experience, Tim empowers the ELIQUENT team to redefine regulatory excellence and provide continued value to clients. Prior to joining ELIQUENT, Tim served in leadership roles with premier firms advising and serving the life sciences industry, including Campbell Alliance, IBM and Heidrick & Struggles.
Tim holds a BA from Loyola University Chicago, an MBA from DePaul University, and sits on the board of the Chicago chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
The Indiana boy driving CGT development
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Sean Werner, Chief Technology Officer at BioLife Solutions, Your host, Raman Sehgal …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Sean Werner, Chief Technology Officer at BioLife Solutions,
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Sean, covering:
- The value of learning your craft in big pharma, and the steep transition from technical expert to President of a spinout
- Why BioLife moved from board involvement to acquiring Sean’s company outright
- The critical role of cryopreservation, and why it remains an overlooked risk in cell therapy development
- His perspective on the cell and gene therapy space, and why there is still plenty of reason for optimism
- The rise of China’s biotech ecosystem and why its growth is a positive for the global industry
- Why CGT is set to diverge into more specialised areas, unlocking new therapeutic and patient applications
Sean Werner is the Chief Technology Officer at BioLife Solutions, a leading provider of bioproduction tools and services to the cell and gene therapy and broader biopharma markets. BioLife acquired Sexton Biotechnologies in 2021 where Sean was President of the company known for providing processing and handling solutions for the CGT industry. Sean received his PhD from Purdue University in Biology followed by post-doctoral positions at the Indiana University School of Medicine and Eli Lilly. Sean has previous experience filling various roles in the scientific, global regulatory, and general management functions supporting medical devices, autologous cell therapy, and single use disposable development programs. In his 23 years working in the life science industry, he has guided regenerative medicine research programs, pre-clinical and clinical testing and submission strategies leading to global commercialization of medical devices and bioprocessing tools and successful initiation of multi-national cell therapy clinical studies.
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
DCAT Live - Morgan Stanley CDMO CEO Dinner
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Alessandro Maselli, President and Chief Executive Officer at Catalent and Franco Negron …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Alessandro Maselli, President and Chief Executive Officer at Catalent and Franco Negron is the Chief Executive Officer at Simtra BioPharma Solutions.
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology ecosystem with his esteemed guests during a live fireside chat at the DCAT Morgan Stanley CDMO CEO Dinner.
Alessandro Maselli is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Catalent, having assumed the CEO role in July 2022 after serving as the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer since February 2019. He has been with Catalent since 2010 and has played a central role in shaping the company into one of the world’s leading contract development and manufacturing organizations serving pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and consumer health customers globally.
Alessandro joined Catalent as Director of Operations at the company’s pharmaceutical, nutrition, and cosmetics facility in Italy. Over the course of more than a decade, he progressed through a series of increasingly senior leadership roles, including General Manager of the Zydis® operations in Swindon, U.K., Vice President of Operations for Europe within the Drug Delivery Solutions business, and Senior Vice President of Global Operations. In these roles, he oversaw multi-site global manufacturing networks, large-scale capacity expansions, and complex technology platforms across oral solid dose, biologics, and advanced delivery modalities.
As Chief Executive Officer, Alessandro led Catalent through the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the company played a critical role in the global response by supporting vaccine and therapeutic manufacturing at unprecedented scale. More recently, he has overseen Catalent’s transition to private ownership following its $16.5 billion acquisition by Novo Holdings, positioning the company for long-term investment and growth as a privately held global CDMO.
Prior to joining Catalent, Mr. Maselli held a range of operational and business leadership roles at ABB Group, Alstom, and SGS, gaining extensive experience in industrial automation, engineering, and large-scale manufacturing operations. He began his career as an automation systems engineer in the food industry. In addition to his executive role, Alessandro serves on the Board of Directors of Graphic Packaging Holding Company, to which he was appointed in May 2025. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electronic engineering from the University of Rome and is a native of Italy.
Franco Negron is the Chief Executive Officer of Simtra BioPharma Solutions, a leading sterile injectable contract development and manufacturing organization formed following the divestiture of Baxter International’s BioPharma Solutions business. He was appointed CEO in 2023 by Advent International and Warburg Pincus to lead the business as an independent, private-equity-backed CDMO focused on clinical-to-commercial parenteral manufacturing. Franco is an industry veteran with nearly 30 years of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical experience, bringing deep expertise across sterile manufacturing, commercial operations, and global supply chain leadership. Prior to joining Simtra, he served as Chief Executive Officer of ApiJect Systems America, a medical technology company focused on advanced drug-delivery and injection systems. Earlier in his career, he held senior executive roles at Thermo Fisher Scientific, where he served as President of Commercial Operations, and at Patheon Pharmaceuticals, where he was President of Development and Commercial Operations, North America, playing a key role in scaling Patheon’s CDMO platform prior to its $7.2 billion acquisition by Thermo Fisher in 2017.
Franco has also held leadership positions at several major pharmaceutical companies, including Vice President of Manufacturing and Supply at Valeant Pharmaceuticals, Global Vice President within Novartis’ Consumer Health division, and Site General Manager at McNeil Consumer Healthcare.
Across these roles, he developed a reputation for operational excellence, customer-centric leadership, and the ability to lead complex manufacturing organizations through periods of transformation and growth. As CEO of Simtra, Franco is leading the company through its next phase of expansion, focused on strengthening its sterile fill-finish capabilities, advancing technical differentiation, and investing in capacity to support increasing demand for injectable biologics, vaccines, and complex parenteral products
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals, and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
DCAT Live Panel - Stick or Twist with Capacity in Times of Uncertainty
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with: Jake Behrman, 3i Dirk Lange, Pyramid Pharma Hanns-Christian Mahler, ten23 J.D. Mowery …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with:
- Jake Behrman, 3i
- Dirk Lange, Pyramid Pharma
- Hanns-Christian Mahler, ten23
- J.D. Mowery, AST/Engage
- Sarah Stevens, Chrysalis
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology ecosystem with his guests live from DCAT 2026. The event was hosted by Lead Candidate and sponsored by 3i private equity... and Molecule to Market,
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
From consulting stay at home dad to global CRO CEO
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Greg Plunkett, Founder and CEO of Accelagen. Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Greg Plunkett, Founder and CEO of Accelagen.
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Greg, covering:
- How years at big pharma exposed him to the full journey from concept to commercialisation.
- Why stepping into a smaller organisation gave him the practical tools and confidence to start his own venture.
- How following market signals into regulatory consulting, while being a stay at home dad, became the foundation for Accelagen.
- Why trust, referrals and long term relationships have driven sustainable growth.
- How Australia’s clinical trial ecosystem offers quality, speed and tax advantages that attract global innovators.
- What it takes to guide small to mid sized biotech companies from discovery all the way to market.
Greg Plunkett is the Founder and CEO of Accelagen, a full service regulatory affairs and clinical development CRO headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. His career spans almost 30 years across both big and small pharma and biotech organisations before founding Accelagen in 2010. He has supported local and international companies in developing new technologies from discovery through to commercialisation.
Greg leads a highly experienced team across Australia, New Zealand and the United States, united by a mission to make a meaningful difference to the future of human health.
He holds a Masters of Medical Science from the University of New South Wales and postgraduate business qualifications.
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
From big pharma manufacturing lead to CDMO CEO
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Joerg Ahlgrimm, CEO SK pharmteco. Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical …
Shownotes
In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Joerg Ahlgrimm, CEO SK pharmteco.
Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Joerg, covering:
- His journey from East Germany to leading global manufacturing organisations.
- How building and integrating acquired CDMO relationships ultimately led him to Lonza, where he helped scale the manufacturing network from fifteen to thirty five sites worldwide.
- What he learned about the “sticky” nature of the CDMO business, and the unforgiving reality of being a CDMO partner when execution does not go to plan.
- The leap from the scale and structure of Lonza in Basel to becoming employee number four at a CDMO start up in Philadelphia.
- Why his vision for a small molecule CDMO is to be easy to work with and present across the key global manufacturing regions.
- Why, despite the rise of blockbuster GLP one therapies, he believes the future lies in small volume, highly targeted, and complex to manufacture personalised medicines.
Joerg Ahlgrimm is a global operations and supply chain executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience across the biotech, pharmaceutical, vaccines, and medical device industries. As CEO of SK pharmteco, he leads the company’s strategic growth and operational excellence across its global manufacturing network.
Prior to SK pharmteco, Joerg served as Head of Global Operations, Pharma and Biotech at Lonza AG, where he oversaw 37 sites worldwide. Earlier, he led the manufacturing network for Baxter Bioscience/Baxalta, managing a broad global footprint and extensive CMO operations.
Driven by a passion for advancing patient care, Joerg is recognized for building high-performing teams and navigating complex global supply chains. He was recently appointed to the inaugural Strategic Advisory Board of BioPhorum, joining senior industry leaders to help shape the future of pharmaceutical manufacturing and supply chain resilience.
Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!
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