#USA #Rockville #John Chiminski #Karen Flynn #Ascend Therapies

Ascend Advanced Therapies Strengthens Leadership with Strategic Appointments

Ascend Advanced Therapies (Ascend), a prominent partner specializing in the development and manufacturing of gene therapies, has announced key appointments to its leadership team, appointing John Chiminski as Chair of the Board and Karen Flynn as an independent director. These strategic moves are set to bolster Ascend’s capabilities and reinforce its position in the advanced therapy sector, particularly as the company gears up for significant growth.

Leadership Experience of John Chiminski

John Chiminski brings over three decades of extensive experience in the healthcare and pharmaceutical services industry. Previously, he was the CEO of Catalent from 2016 to 2022 and its President from 2009 to 2015. His leadership turned Catalent into a top-tier Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO). Under his tenure, Catalent expanded its capabilities, playing an increasingly critical role in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology development ecosystem. Chiminski currently serves on the board of QuidelOrtho and is a senior advisor at Abingworth. He expressed enthusiasm about his new role, stating, “Ascend is at a pivotal point in its growth, and I am excited to support the team in building a world-class gene therapy CDMO.”

Karen Flynn’s Expertise and Contributions

Joining Chiminski is Karen Flynn, who also boasts over 30 years of experience in business operations and strategy. Most recently, she served as the interim president of biomaladies at Catalent, having held roles as the commercial director and president of biopharmaceutical products. Flynn has experience with West Pharmaceutical Services as well, where she was a Senior Vice President and Commercial Director, leading the company’s pharmaceutical packaging systems division. Currently, she is also a board member of several organizations, including Quanterix Corporation and Sotera Health. Flynn emphasized the strategic capabilities that Ascend is developing, noting the enhanced support for gene therapies, oncolytic treatments, vaccines, immunotherapies, and government clients from development to manufacturing.

Strategic Implications for Ascend’s Growth

The appointments of Chiminski and Flynn are positioned to drive Ascend's vision of becoming a leading partner for advanced therapies. As Ascend continues to strengthen its capabilities, especially with the recent partnership with EW Healthcare Partners that expanded its reach with ABL, Inc, the company is set to provide comprehensive support to clients in gene therapy, oncolytics, and related fields. Flynn pointed out the operational excellence and world-class quality control capabilities being developed at Ascend's facilities in Munich, Germany, and Alachua, Florida. “This is a world-class offering designed to support long-term customer relationships,” she stated.

Mike Stella, CEO of Ascend, expressed optimism regarding the recent developments, saying, “We are thrilled to welcome John and Karen to the board. Their leadership, strategic expertise, and industry knowledge will be vital in shaping our future.”

Ascend’s Future Focus

Ascend Advanced Therapies specializes in the lucrative market of high-quality, cost-effective gene therapies, combining its in-depth knowledge with a collaborative CMC approach to guide clients from clinical phases to commercialization while balancing performance, quality, and cost.

Investors like EW Healthcare Partners, Abingworth, and others have shown interest in Ascend’s potential in the evolving landscape of advanced therapies. The advancements in their operational capacities could set a strong trajectory for Ascend, enabling them to respond to the complex demands of the biopharmaceutical industry.

As the world of healthcare technology advances, Ascend’s strategic shifts signal a commitment to lead in the gene therapy space. For industry updates or to engage with Ascend, visit Ascend's website or connect on LinkedIn for further insights into their innovative journey.