Yposkesi announces the appointment of Morad El Gueddari as production director, gene therapy operations. Gene therapy, the new forefront in therapeutic innovation, is creating demand for increased biomanufacturing capabilities. Viral vector manufacturing is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20% over the next few years to reach $1.4 billion by 2026.
Morad El Gueddari will oversee production at one of Europe’s largest and most modern CDMO manufacturers of lentivirus and AAVs (Adeno-Associated Virus). Yposkesi today operates a state-of-the-art 50,000ft2 (approx. 5,000m2) facility featuring four independent manufacturing suites conducting adherent or suspension processing for bulk drug substance using large-sized single-use bioreactors and operated at biosafety level 2. The facility also includes two Fill&Finish suites for aseptic filling. The company plans to double its global footprint to 100,000 sq.ft (approx. 10,000m2) with the addition by Q4 2021 of two production suites each equipped with two 1,000 L bioreactors. Morad El Gueddari will be responsible for Yposkesi’s global GMP production activities.
“We are pleased to appoint Morad as production Director. He is a specialist in cell and gene therapy with years of bioproduction experience. He has the technical skills to lead our high-quality teams who are client-oriented and focused on delivering operational excellence,” said Alain Lamproye, CEO of Yposkesi.
Morad El Gueddari has close to 15 years’ bioproduction and cell and gene therapy experience gained in various managerial roles in quality and GMP manufacturing at European pharmaceutical companies, including LFB and CELLforCURE (now part of Novartis).
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to head gene therapy production at Yposkesi,” said M. El Gueddari. "The company has a strong track record in serving gene therapy innovators by providing state-of-the-art facilities and technologies to manufacture highly complex viral vectors.”