Oxford Biomedica plc, a gene and cell therapy group, has appointed Dr Frank Mathias as CEO.
Dr Mathias will take up the role and a position on the board from March 2023.
Since 2016 he has served as CEO of Rentschler Biopharma SE, tripling revenues and enhancing profitability at an even faster level. He led the acquisition and rapid integration of a new site from Shire in Milford near Boston, US, and the establishment of a new gene therapies unit in Stevenage.
Prior to Rentschler, Dr Mathias was CEO of publicly listed Medigene AG, an immuno-oncology company focusing on the development of T-cell-based cancer therapies.
Over the course of his 30-year career, Dr Mathias has also served in senior roles at leading global pharmaceutical companies including Amgen, Servier and Hoechst AG. In 2019 he was crowned EY Entrepreneur of the Year in Germany.
Dr Roch Doliveux will remain as interim CEO until March then resume the role of non-executive chair.
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“Frank is an outstanding patient-centric leader with impressive experience from a top-end CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation) as well as from innovative biopharma companies,” said Dr Doliveux.
“He has a strong track record of delivering growth and driving performance and innovation which are core strengths required to implement our strategy of becoming an innovative global viral vector leader.
“I know that Frank will drive our viral vector leadership to unleash the potential of cell and gene therapy for biopharma companies to save many lives.”
Dr Mathias added: “Oxford Biomedica is a world-leader in the innovative development and manufacture of viral vectors for life-saving cell and gene therapies, demonstrated by the ever-expanding customer base of now more than 20 programmes across all vector types.
“With momentum continuing to build across the business, I am excited by the potential for the company. I look forward to joining Oxford Biomedica and working with all of the staff, the board and partners to execute the strategy and deliver the next phase of growth as a world-class, innovation-led CDMO helping to improve the lives of patients.”
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