Altasciences has named Peter Varney, pharma development strategy advisor, and Hazel Clay, who will be charged with supporting the development of innovator pharmaceutical assets.

Varney has more than 40 years of experience in commercial development, strategic alliances, and relationship management at Covance, while Clay has more than 30 years of experience in supporting the development of innovator pharmaceutical assets at Covance, where she will play a key role as drug development advisor in Altasciences’ European expansion.

Varney and Clay will be based in Altasciences’ offices in Harrogate, UK.

“With their extensive experience and keen strategic vision, Peter and Hazel are important assets to Altasciences’ expansion into the European market,” said Chris Perkin, Altasciences’ CEO. “We wanted to provide our European clients access to in-depth knowledge on early phase drug development to help them get better drugs to market faster.”

In addition, Lisa Biegel has been named Altasciences’ senior scientific director, preclinical services, at the company’s Columbia, MO, facility, and Annette Kenser joins Altasciences as senior director of quality assurance, preclinical research.

“We are pleased to welcome Lisa and Annette to Altasciences and look forward to benefitting from their talents and contributions in the preclinical space,” said Andy Brown, site sirector at Altasciences’ Columbia, MO., preclinical facility.