A spotlight on Laguna Source working on the fight against COVID-19
Jeff Schwartzman
Recruiter/Managing Partner @ Laguna Source | 20+ years experience within Life Sciences, BioPharma & Food/Nutritional industries
In the midst of 2020, it's all hands on deck within the Biotechnology, BioPharma and Pharma industries in the fight against COVID-19. Industry companies, governments and international organizations are racing fast and working together in efforts to develop and manufacture vaccines, therapies and testing capabilities.
As of today, 163 vaccines are in development and 10 are now in clinical testing. In efforts to successfully vaccinate every person around the world, multiple vaccine platforms, technologies and manufacturing processes are necessary, including DNA-Based vaccines, Inactivated Virus Vaccines, Live Attenuated Virus Vaccines and Non-Replicating Viral Vector Vaccines. The following vaccine tracker is a fascinating overview of the development process in real time. https://www.covid-19vaccinetracker.org
Novavax based in Gaithersburg, MD, is a leading innovator of recombinant protein vaccines. Last week, Novavax was awarded $60 million in funding from the US Department of Defense for the manufacturing of NVX-CoV2373, a vaccine candidate engineered from the genetic sequence of SARS?CoV?2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease. https://ir.novavax.com/news-releases/news-release-details/novavax-awarded-department-defense-contract-covid-19-vaccine
Laguna Source is excited to continue helping Novavax recruit top talent and is currently engaged to work on key positions including...
Alliance Program Manager in Gaithersburg, MD. This is an exciting project leadership opportunity responsible for working closely with US Government organizations and Non-Profit Organizations including BARDA, DOD, CEPI and the Gates Foundation.
Novavax is also collaborating with fellow Maryland BioPharma company Emergent BioSolutions in an agreement to utilize contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) services to support development of Novavax’s novel experimental COVID-19 vaccine candidate. Emergent will produce the COVID-19 experimental vaccine candidate within their local CDMO and CMO facilities.
Laguna Source is also excited to help Emergent BioSolutions recruit top talent for key positions in their Bayview MD manufacturing facility including...
Sr Manager, QC Biochemistry in Baltimore, MD. This is a key opportunity to lead a team of employees responsible for QC Biochemistry laboratories, stability testing, and method transfer of therapeutic bulk drug substance and final drug product.
Emergent Biosolutions recently announced an agreement with Johnson & Johnson to support the manufacturing of J&J’s lead vaccine candidate for COVID-19 that leverages the AdVac? and PER.C6? technologies from the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. To support Johnson & Johnson’s goal of supplying one billion doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, a long-term commercial manufacturing agreement is under negotiation for large-scale drug substance manufacturing anticipated to begin in 2021. https://investors.emergentbiosolutions.com/news-releases/news-release-details/emergent-biosolutions-signs-agreement-be-us-manufacturing
We are also working with Emergent Biosolutions on multiple Sr Manufacturing Associate positions for both Upstream Cell Culture and Downstream Purification manufacturing. These are wonderful opportunities for early career professionals to immediately make an impact in the fight against COVID-19. Basic requirements are 1 year of Upstream Cell Culture, Downstream Purification or GMP manufacturing experience.
San Francisco Bay Area Immunology company Vir Biotechnology recently selected South Korea based Samsung Biologics for large-scale production of antibodies to potentially treat Covid-19. Under the terms of the alliance, Samsung Biologics will offer manufacturing services for Vir’s monoclonal antibody (mAb) program targeting the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.
Laguna Source is partnering with Samsung Biologics in Songdo, South Korea and recruiting for Senior level Global Expat positions in Downstream MSAT, Quality Control, Project Management and Business Development.
In the midst of these trying times, Laguna Source is committed to utilize our resources to help our partner companies meet the demands for development and manufacturing of therapies and vaccines. Please reach out if you'd like to learn more about our targeted recruiting services or positions available helping fight against COVID-19.