On August 21, 2017, Shire, a biotechnology company focused on developing therapies for rare diseases, announced that chief financial officer (CFO) Jeff Poulton will be leaving the company at the end of the year to serve as CFO at Indigo, a start-up company based in Boston that uses the plant microbiome to improve the productivity and sustainability of agriculture.
Poulton will continue to serve as CFO as the board conducts a formal search for his successor. During this transition period, Poulton will also remain on the company’s executive committee and board of directors, and will continue to support the company’s on-going business review.
“It has been a privilege to work for Shire and to have played a part in the exceptional growth story of such an inspirational company. It has been a difficult decision, but in departing Shire, I wanted to join a smaller organization where I can play a role in building a new company,” said Poulton, in a company press release. “As Shire finalizes the integration of Baxalta and focuses on paying down debt, this also presents a perfect time for me to begin this transition. I know I leave Shire well positioned to pursue its strategy and deliver value for shareholders, supported by a strong Finance team.”
Effective immediately, the company also announced Joanne Cordeiro as their new chief human resources officer and member of the executive committee. She takes over the role previously held by Ginger Gregory. Cordeiro joined Shire in March 2011 and has been serving as interim head of human resources since March 2017.
Source: Shire
CureVac and the University of Texas’s MD Anderson Cancer Center have announced a co-development and licensing agreement to develop novel messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)-based cancer vaccines. The strategic collaboration will focus on the development of differentiated cancer vaccine candidates in selected haematological and solid tumour indications with high unmet medical needs.
FUJIFILM Corporation is planning to invest $1.2 billion to expand the planned FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies manufacturing facility in Holly Springs, North Carolina, US. This news follows the organisation’s announcement of a $2 billion investment in the facility in March 2021. This additional financial boost totals the investment to over $3.2 billion, FUJIFILM confirmed.
Sanofi’s global restructuring and downsizing is now fully underway, with layoffs stretching to the company’s Belgian offices. Belgian newspaper De Tijd reports that 67 employees have been laid off at a site in Ghent and 32 jobs are on the chopping block at Sanofi’s Belgium HQ in Diegem.
