Dr. Kristin DeFife has been named director, Biologics Manufacturing, and Jack Wright has been named vice president, Sales and Marketing, at Althea Technologies. Dr. DeFife will be responsible for leading Althea’s microbial biologics manufacturing operations, which include upstream and downstream process development and cGMP bulk drug substance manufacturing. Mr. Wright will oversee the Sales and Marketing group, and focus on strategic growth and driving new business development.

“I am delighted to welcome two such highly regarded and experienced professionals to Althea,” said Rick Hancock, President of Althea. “I know that both Kristin and Jack will add enormous strength to our already outstanding management team.”

Dr. DeFife has more than 10 years of successful leadership and biologics development and manufacturing experience in the biotechnology industry. Most recently, she served as vice president of Operations at PacificGMP where she was responsible for all aspects of company operations. Prior to that, she held the position of vice president of R&D at MediVas, LLC, where her efforts resulted in a multi-million dollar collaboration with a major pharma company. In addition to MediVas, LLC, Dr. DeFife held increasingly senior positions at Immusol and CyThera.

Mr. Wright has more than 15 years of experience in corporate sales and business development in the pharmaceutical industry. He joins Althea after serving as vice president of Business Development for Oral Technologies at Catalent Pharma Solutions. Prior to his tenure at Catalent/Cardinal Health, Mr. Wright was with Rhodia Inc, Mutual Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharm Pharmaceutical Services.