Avid Bioservices, a subsidiary of Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, has appointed Pete Gagnon as the company's vice president of process sciences. As one of the biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry's leading experts and innovators in the purification of biologics, including recombinant proteins, viruses and DNA plasmids, he brings more than 30 years of experience to his new role with Avid. In his new position, Mr. Gagnon's responsibilities will include developing and optimizing innovative technologies for cell culture, purification and analysis, designed to support Avid's expanding manufacturing operations.

Prior to joining Avid, Mr. Gagnon spent 25 years as the founder and president of Validated Biosystems, an international consultancy specializing in hands-on development of biological manufacturing processes.

"We are excited to add Pete to the talented team of manufacturing professionals who are driving the impressive and consistent revenue growth that we are experiencing at Avid,” said Steven W. King, president and chief executive officer of Peregrine Pharmaceuticals and Avid Bioservices. “He brings unique expertise in high-value manufacturing disciplines that fit nicely with our recently opened state-of-the-art commercial biomanufacturing suite. Specifically, Pete's position as one of the industry's thought leaders in the area of cell line process sciences, which is critical for ongoing innovations in the manufacture of biosimilar products, provide opportunities for the continued growth of our biosimilars manufacturing business. This is one particular area on which we'll be focused with the increased manufacturing capacity made possible by our new facility and we look forward to the contributions that Pete will make."

Peregrine recently commissioned a new state-of-the-art commercial biomanufacturing suite in Tustin, CA, and cGMP production is currently underway. The new 40,000 square foot biomanufacturing facility, which is being operated by Avid Bioservices, is outfitted with single-use equipment to accommodate a fully disposable biomanufacturing process for late Phase III clinical and commercial production of biologics. A range of innovative features are incorporated into the new suite including monolithic modular clean room walls, dedicated support utilities for each key processing area, and the industry's most advanced single-use production systems. Uni-directional process flows separating personnel and materials provide assurance that the design meets the most stringent regulatory requirements for commercial biologics API manufacturing.