Biotech Company Adds to Leadership Team
Indianapolis-based Assembly Biosciences Inc. (Nasdaq: ASMB) has added several senior-level leaders, including a new chief scientific officer. The company says the new hires will focus on advancing its expanding microbiome platform.
Miguel Barbosa will now serve as CSO of the Microbiome Program. Barbosa previously served as global head and vice president of immunology research and external innovation at New Jersey-based Janssen Research & Development, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ).
"We are especially pleased that Miguel Barbosa has chosen to join Assembly as scientific leader of our microbiome program," said Derek Small, chief executive officer of Assembly. "Miguel is a respected pioneer and opinion leader in the microbiome arena, having played a major role in establishing Johnson & Johnson’s early efforts in the field. We believe his expertise will be invaluable in advancing our program, including helping to identify the optimal therapeutic strains for many of the unmet medical needs that could benefit from a healthy gut microbiome."
Assembly has also made the following hires:
- George Grandolfi – Vice President of Drug Product and Formulation
- Steven Cockrill – Senior Director of Analytical Development and Quality Control
- Christopher Hartnett – as Senior Director of Process Development
- Viktoria Gontcharova – as Principal Scientist, Bioinformatics
- Christopher Howerton – as Senior Director of Strategy
Assembly says its goal is to develop oral therapeutics for disorders related to the human microbiome and the treatment of the Hepatitis B virus.