Cellipont Bioservices, a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in cell therapies and gene-modified cell therapies, has appointed Stella Vnook as chief scientific officer.
 
Vnook is a biopharmaceutical executive with 20+ years of leadership experience driving transformational change for global clinical development portfolios from early-stage R&D to commercialization. She has extensive background in cell therapy, as a company founder and patent owner of multiple cell-therapy inventions, such as xenotransplantation of islet cells. 
 
Vnook has built companies around CAR-T, CAR-NK and gene-editing technologies. With extensive experience in manufacturing and commercialization of products, Vnook brings a keen understanding of how to properly position and value products to patients, providers, and payers to successfully launch new drugs and position for patient access and reimbursement coverage.
 
Vnook has a diverse background as an innovative leader overseeing the full product lifecycle for companies of all sizes. Her prior experience includes pharmaceutical research and development as well as work as a Registered Pharmacist specializing in Oncology before she transitioned to executive leadership roles. She was co-founder and CSO of MaiCell Therapeutics and co-founder and CEO of NAKI Therapeutics.  Vnook also held prior leadership roles at Catalent and Merck & Co.
 
“Stella brings to Cellipont decades of scientific experience in cell therapies. Her expertise will be a great asset for the clients we support, as well as for our internal teams.  In addition, with Stella’s past success in both large organizations and as a biotech entrepreneur, she has lived through the challenges our clients face every day. We look forward to her sharing that experience as we move forward,” said Cellipont President & CEO Deborah Wild.
 
Vnook holds a B.A. in microbiology and an R.Ph. in pharmacy from Temple University and an M.B.A. from LaSalle University. She is a candidate for a Ph.D. in Healthcare Administration/ Economics.