UK-based SCM Pharma will open its first U.S. office after appointing industry veteran Thomas J. Puskar as vice president of Business Development in North America.

SCM secured its first U.S. client this summer, and has hired Mr. Puskar to promote its specialist sterile fill/finish services among U.S. pharma and biopharma firms. The company can perform cGMP sterile fill of radio-labelled compounds also produces highly potent products such as cytotoxics for both clinical trials supply and small volume supply of licensed commercial products. SCM recently introduced Sterility and Bacterial Endotoxin Testing (BET) to its facility, to supplement its existing analytical, stability and microbiological testing capabilities.

Dianne Sharp, managing director at SCM Pharma, said, “The move to bring Tom on board and increase our presence in the U.S. market is a major step forward in the growth of the business. Being able to attract someone of the Tom’s caliber speaks volumes for the work our team has done over the last few years.”

Mr. Puskar has almost 35 years in contract manufacturing in the pharmaceutical, biotech and diagnostic industries both in the U.S. and internationally, including around 15 years working specifically in business development for fill-finish CMOs.