XBiotech, the developer of True Human therapeutic antibodies, has named Kelly Thornburg as senior vice president of operations. Mr. Thornburg brings more than 30 years of pharmaceutical operations experience to XBiotech, the prior 16 years spent at Amgen.

Mr. Thornburg will oversee manufacturing operations for the production of the company’s True Human therapeutic antibodies. Among his duties, he will oversee the transition from Phase 3 clinical manufacturing to launch of commercial production. This will include oversight of the completion and validation of XBiotech’s commercial manufacturing facility now under construction.

“Instrumental to our vision of redefining the paradigm for antibody therapeutics is our unique manufacturing system. We are replacing the massively complex plant and equipment infrastructure used by other manufacturers with a simple, disposable bioreactor technology,” said John Simard, President and CEO of XBiotech. “We believe that this will enable commercial-scale production of novel antibodies at a fraction of the cost, and with shorter lead-time and greater production flexibility than normally required. Kelly’s significant operational and quality experience gives him an excellent combination of skills necessary to lead our operations as we transition to commercial production.”

Prior to joining XBiotech, Mr. Thornburg spent 16 years at Amgen where he held a variety of senior level positions. He served as an executive director, quality site head at Amgen’s Colorado facility, where he managed all aspects of Amgen’s quality functions with responsibility for two protein drug substance manufacturing plants and GMP warehouse facilities.