perfectly complement NEP's focus on quality, service and culture of continuous improvement.
Gardner, Mass. (PRWEB) October 28, 2008
New England Peptide, LLC (NEP), has named three internationally renowned specialists to its newly formed scientific advisory board.
Vincent Bille, Tomi Sawyer and Ved Srivastava will join the board, created to formalize NEP's network of thought leaders in peptide chemistry. The group will assist in formulating synthesis strategies on challenging projects, and further the company's scientific strategy and product development efforts, according to Dave Robinson, CEO.
"Collaboration with these experts through the board will continue to enhance NEP's ability to efficiently synthesize peptides," says Robinson, noting the company's established reputation in synthesizing difficult peptides. The formation of the scientific advisory board links directly to NEP's mission to serve as an extension of customers' research organizations, adds Robinson. "By choosing to work with NEP, customers will gain access to a network of the world's leading peptide chemists."
Vincent Bille, Ph.D.
Bille is founder and principal of Brussels-based Marble Pharma Consulting (MPC), serving companies in the bio-pharmaceutical industry with primary or secondary process development and manufacturing, supply chain set-up and program management. Prior to founding MPC, Bille's 20 years of operational and general management experience focused on synthetic peptide active pharmaceutical ingredients and parenteral drug products.
He served as director of North American commercial operations and U.S. general manager for UCB Bioproducts (Brussels, Cambridge, Mass. and Augusta, Ga.), and as head of project management with Lonza Braine SA (Braine, Belgium).
Bille holds a Master of Administration and Management degree from Université Catholique de Louvain (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium). He received both his doctoral degree, in biochemistry, and Bachelor of Science degree, in biology, from Facultés Universitaires de la Paix (Namur, Belgium). Bille also was a visiting scientist at the Université Pierre and Marie Curie, Paris VII-Jussieu (Paris, France) in the biological organic chemistry laboratory. There, he worked under Andrée Marquet, Ph.D., in the group of renowned peptide chemist Solange Lavielle, Ph.D.
Tomi Sawyer, Ph.D.
Sawyer is chief scientific officer of Aileron Therapeutics (Cambridge, Mass.), a biopharmaceutical company that is developing stabled peptides, a new class of drugs. Previously, he served as senior director of the Pfizer Research Technology Center (Cambridge) and Pfizer's global chemistry leadership team. Sawyer also has held management and scientific positions in research and development at ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Cambridge), Parke-Davis/Warner-Lambert Company (Ann Arbor, Mich.), and The Upjohn Company (Kalamazoo, Mich.).
Sawyer is the recipient of the Vincent du Vigneaud Award for outstanding achievements in peptide research, the inventor of more than 60 issued or filed scientific patents, an author of more than 200 books, reviews, commentaries and research articles, and the founding editor-in-chief of Chemical Biology & Drug Design. He also is a former president of the American Peptide Society. Sawyer received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, with honors, from Moorhead State University (now Minnesota State University in Moorhead, Minn.), and a doctoral degree in organic chemistry, with distinction, from the University of Arizona, working under Victor Hruby, Ph.D.
Ved Srivastava, PhD.
Srivastava is the associate director of discovery research for Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (San Diego), where he leads the peptide chemistry core team with a focus in discovery, synthesis and development of novel peptide hormones for diabetes, obesity and neuropsychiatric therapies. With more than 20 years of experience in drug discovery, and inflammation and metabolic diseases, Srivastava maintains primary emphasis in medicinal and peptide chemistry. He is a frequently cited journal author, a councilor of the San Diego section of the American Chemical Society, and a two-time recipient of the section's Outstanding Service Award.
Srivastava earned a doctoral degree in organic chemistry from the University of Lucknow in India. Post-doctoral appointments included posts at the University of Georgia and the medical school at the University of Colorado, working under John Stewart, Ph.D.
"These individuals will serve as invaluable resources to NEP and its customers," says Robinson, "bringing depth of experience, industry knowledge and practical perspective to NEP." The backgrounds and leadership styles of each, he continues, "perfectly complement NEP's focus on quality, service and culture of continuous improvement."
About New England Peptide (http://www.newenglandpeptide.com)
New England Peptide, founded in 1998, designs and produces custom peptides and polyclonal antibodies for drug and vaccine discovery organizations worldwide. Headquartered in the Boston metro area in Gardner, Mass., the company's chemists and immunological experts specialize in delivering a full range of services for biotech and pharmaceutical applications.
Peptides are small proteins that play key roles in biochemical regulation of all life systems, helping to fight diseases as diverse as cancer, diabetes, obesity and HIV/AIDS. Peptides' inherent low toxicity and high potency, coupled with improved drug delivery methods and enhanced manufacturing capabilities, are fueling a surge in research and clinical use. All segments of the peptide market - from therapeutics and vaccines to diagnostics and cosmetics - are thriving.
Contact: Dave Robinson, New England Peptide, 978-630-0020, dave.robinson@newenglandpeptide.com
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