CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- PERCIVIA LLC, (“PERCIVIA”) named Amit D. Munshi, President and Chief Executive Officer. PERCIVIA is a venture formed by Crucell N.V. and Royal DSM N.V., to develop recombinant therapeutic proteins using the PER.C6® human cell line, with a focus on bio-better and bio-similar projects globally. Additionally, PERCIVIA outlicenses the PER.C6®cell line and provides logistical support by training and advising on the methods of recombinant protein production using the technology provided to licensees.
Mr. Munshi will lead the transformation of PERCIVIA from a research organization into a global product-based development and commercialization enterprise. “Amit brings a wealth of industry experience and leadership to PERCIVIA. We look forward to have Amit lead the next stage of evolution for PERCIVIA”, said Dr. Ronald Brus, President & CEO, Crucell and Member, Board of Directors, PERCIVIA.
"Amit brings with him 20 years of experience building successful global businesses. He has demonstrated an entrepreneurial vision both in start-up environments and within larger corporate enterprises - making him uniquely suited to lead PERCIVIA." added Mr. Stephan Tanda, Member of the DSM Managing Board and Member, Board of Directors, PERCIVIA.
Mr. Munshi is a Co-founder and the former Chief Business Officer of KYTHERA Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. During his tenure at KYTHERA, Munshi identified the lead program, ATX-101, played a central role in the raising of over $70 million in institutional financing from global investors, and led the completion of a $373 million ex-US license of ATX-101 to Intendis, a division of Bayer HealthCare AG.
Prior to co-founding KYTHERA, Mr. Munshi was the General Manager of Amgen's European Nephrology Business, with responsibility for Amgen lead product for anemia management. In his tenure at Amgen, his product experience included multiple launches in Europe and the re-launch plan for Amgen’s flagship inflammation product in the United States. His prior experience included sales and marketing and business development roles at Astra Merck and Johnson & Johnson.
Mr. Munshi is also a co-founder and Board Member of Nephrian Inc., and a Board Member of Cynvenio Biosystems, LLC.
Mr. Munshi holds a BA in History and a BS in Economics from the University of California at Riverside and an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker & Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University.
About PERCIVIA LLC
PERCIVIA LLC develops recombinant therapeutic proteins using the PER.C6® human cell line, with a focus on bio-better and bio-similar projects. PERCIVIA has developed a highly efficient protein production platform based on the PER.C6®cell line for the production of human therapeutic proteins with native human characteristics, at extremely high yields. The use of a host human cell line eliminates the risk of having non-human contaminants in biological products used for human therapy. Additionally, PERCIVIA outlicenses the PER.C6® cell line and provides logistical support by training and advising on the methods of recombinant protein production using the technology provided to licensees. The PER.C6® platform encompasses cell line generation technology, cell culture development, and downstream processes.
PERCIVIA LLC is a joint venture formed by Royal DSM N.V., the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company, and Dutch biopharmaceutical company Crucell N.V. (NYSE Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL; SwissExchange: CRX), both headquartered in the Netherlands.
About Crucell
Crucell N.V. is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on research development, production and marketing of vaccines, proteins and antibodies that prevent and/or treat infectious diseases. In 2010 alone, Crucell distributed more than 105 million vaccine doses in more than 100 countries around the world. Crucell is one of the major suppliers of vaccines to UNICEF and the developing world. Crucell was the first manufacturer to launch a fully-liquid pentavalent vaccine (Quinvaxem®). The innovative Quinvaxem® combination vaccine protects against five important childhood diseases. Over 200 million doses have been sold since its launch in 2006 in more than 50 GAVI countries. With this innovation, Crucell has become a major partner in protecting children in developing countries. Other products in Crucell's core portfolio include a vaccine against hepatitis B and a virosome-adjuvanted vaccine against influenza. Crucell also markets travel vaccines, such as an oral anti-typhoid vaccine, an oral cholera vaccine and the only aluminum-free hepatitis A vaccine on the market.
Crucell has a broad development pipeline, with several product candidates based on its unique PER.C6® production technology. Crucell licenses its PER.C6® technology and other technologies to the biopharmaceutical industry. Important partners and licensees include Johnson & Johnson, DSM Biologics, sanofi-aventis, Novartis, Pfizer/Wyeth, GSK, CSL and Merck & Co. Crucell is headquartered in Leiden, the Netherlands, with offices in China, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, Malaysia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, the USA and Vietnam. Crucell employs over 1300 people. For more information, please visit www.crucell.com.
DSM – Bright Science. Brighter Living.™
Royal DSM N.V. is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its unique competences in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSM’s 22,000 employees deliver annual net sales of about € 9 billion. The company is listed on NYSE Euronext. More information can be found at www.dsm.com.
DSM Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections of the management of DSM and information currently available. The statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and therefore DSM does not guarantee that their expectations will be realized. Furthermore, DSM has no obligation to update the statements contained in this press release.
CONTACT:
PERCIVIA LLC
Jeff Kagy, 617-301-8804
[email protected]
KEYWORDS: United States North America Massachusetts
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Biotechnology Pharmaceutical
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