Feb 21 (Reuters) - Emergent BioSolutions said on Wednesday it has appointed former Bausch + Lomb CEO Joseph Papa as head of the life sciences company, effective Feb. 21.

Shares of the company were up nearly 5% before the bell.

Papa has 35 years of experience in the healthcare industry and most recently served as CEO and Chairman at global eye health company Bausch + Lomb.

Shares of Emergent have fallen about 90% in the last 12 months, hitting a 16-year low in August, as the company struggled due to weakness in its contract research business.

(Reporting by Christy Santhosh; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)