Basel - The Board of Directors of Bacthera AG has today appointed Lukas Schupbach as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) as of February 1, 2020.
Lukas Schupbach (50) comes from a position as global head of Strategy and Operations at Emavant Solutions, was co-founder of Innojection and has previously held senior leadership positions at Syngenta and Novartis. He holds a master's degree in Business from the University of Basel and a master's degree in Economics from the HEC in Lausanne.
CEO of Chr. Hansen and Chairman of the Board at Bacthera, Mauricio Graber says: 'Lukas comes with a proven track record of delivering results and visionary leadership. Bacthera gets a CEO with a rounded profile, from an entrepreneurial mindset to building and aligning cross functional teams in large organizations. I am convinced his pharma experience, and extensive network, will be very valuable for Bacthera's growth plans and the company's ambition to be a pioneer in the emerging live-biotherapeutic market.'
Lukas Schupbach says: 'Leading Bacthera on the exciting journey that the company has embarked on is a great opportunity. Bacthera is a pioneer in an emerging industry and I am excited, yet humble, about becoming part of this venture. The nature of the company allows me to combine my experience from the life-sciences industry and the biotech start up scene, contributing to ultimately realize Bacthera's strong purpose of bringing life-changing treatments to patients. I really look forward to getting to know the business in depth, meeting the dedicated employees and starting to engage with companies innovating in this field.'
Bacthera's interim CEO, Christian Bigum continues as acting CEO until Lukas Schupbach takes up his new position on February 1, 2020. Christian Bigum comments: 'Lukas and I have already planned a solid transition that will ensure full alignment on Bacthera's strategy and priorities while maintaining the strong business momentum we have right now. I am pleased to handover the torch to Lukas - he is not only a strong business builder and charismatic leader, but also sincerely inspired by Bacthera's purpose of shaping the future of medicine.'
About Bacthera
Bacthera a combination of the words bacteriology, therapeutics and era is a 50/50 legally controlled joint venture between Chr. Hansen and Lonza.
The company operates from its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland and has production facilities in Denmark and Switzerland.
Bacthera aims to pioneer manufacturing for the live biotherapeutic products (LBP) industry and offers customers leading competences in handling, characterizing, formulating, manufacturing and encapsulating strict anaerobe bacteria into a drug.
Bacthera is the first CDMO globally to provide a full supply chain offering manufacturing of drug substance and drug product for biotech and pharma customers.
About Lonza
Lonza is an integrated solutions provider that creates value along the Healthcare Continuum. Through our Pharma Biotech & Nutrition segment and our Specialty Ingredients segment businesses, we harness science and technology to serve markets along this continuum. We focus on creating a healthy environment, promoting a healthier lifestyle and preventing illness through consumers' preventive healthcare, as well as improving patient healthcare by supporting our customers to deliver innovative medicines that help treat or even cure severe diseases.
Patients and consumers benefit from our ability to transfer our pharma know-how to the healthcare, hygiene and fast-moving consumer goods environment and to the preservation and protection of the world where we live.
Founded in 1897 in the Swiss Alps, Lonza today is a well-respected global company with more than 100 sites and offices and approximately 15,500 full-time employees worldwide at the end of 2018. The company generated sales of CHF 5.5 billion in 2018 with a CORE EBITDA of CHF 1.5 billion.
Contact:
Dr. Kristin Koehler
Tel: +41 61 316 8782
Email: kristin.koehler@lonza.com
Additional Information and Disclaimer
Lonza Group Ltd has its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. It has a secondary listing on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited ('SGX-ST'). Lonza Group Ltd is not subject to the SGX-ST's continuing listing requirements but remains subject to Rules 217 and 751 of the SGX-ST Listing Manual.
Certain matters discussed in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and estimates of Lonza Group Ltd, although Lonza Group Ltd can give no assurance that these expectations and estimates will be achieved. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty and are qualified in their entirety. The actual results may differ materially in the future from the forward-looking statements included in this news release due to various factors. Furthermore, except as otherwise required by law, Lonza Group Ltd disclaims any intention or obligation to update the statements contained in this news release.
CHRISTIAN HANSEN 
