Country for PR: United Kingdom
Contributor: PR Newswire Europe
Friday, January 10 2020 - 18:01
AsiaNet
Dr. Mark Bittinger Joins Sai Life Sciences as Global Head of Biology
HYDERABAD, India, Jan. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/--

    Sai Life Sciences, one of India's fastest growing Contract Development & 
Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs), today announced the appointment of Dr. 
Mark Bittinger as Vice President and Global Head of Biology. Mark will be based 
out of the company's new Discovery Biology facility in Cambridge, 
Massachusetts, USA, which provides exploratory biology capabilities to the 
expanding array of start-up and biotech companies in the region.

    Mark Bittinger is an acknowledged leader in the area of oncology drug 
discovery / translational science and has over 25 years of experience across 
immune-oncology, epigenetics, and tumor cell metabolism. With over 20 research 
publications to his credit, Mark has had a stellar track record in research, 
innovation & cross-functional leadership in organizations such as Merck 
Research Labs, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Agios Pharmaceuticals, and 
Novartis Institute of BioMedical Research. Mark received his B.A. from The 
Johns Hopkins University and followed with a Ph.D. in Cellular & Molecular 
Biology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

    Located in the heart of the Cambridge/Boston biotech ecosystem, Sai's new 
8,500 square feet lab in Kendall Square creates opportunities for biotechs to 
have face-to-face collaboration with Sai scientists, and to accelerate the pace 
of their externalized research by reducing cycle-times. The lab provides 
exploratory biology capabilities using state-of-the-art platforms and 
technologies such as high-content microscopy, CRISPR-mediated genome editing, 
flow cytometry/sorting, and high-throughput patch-clamp platforms to address 
unique client needs. These activities include new target and biomarker 
identification and/or validation and establishing in vitro and cell-based 
assays for established targets. 

    The Cambridge lab serves as a vital bridge, enabling seamless integration 
with rest of the company's service offerings across UK and India, spanning the 
drug discovery and development continuum including medicinal chemistry, DMPK 
and toxicology, process chemistry and analytical development, and commercial 
scale manufacturing.

    Sai Life Sciences is currently in the midst of an organization-wide 
initiative, Sai Nxt that is aimed at transforming the company into a new 
generation CDMO. With investments of over US$150 million between 2019 and 2023, 
the focus is on three key areas – people & culture, processes & automation, 
infrastructure & scientific capabilities.

    About Sai Life Sciences

    Sai Life Sciences is a full-service CDMO driven by a vision to support the 
launch of 25 new medicines by 2025. It works with innovator pharma and biotech 
companies globally, accelerating the discovery, development and manufacture of 
complex small molecules. A pure-play CDMO, Sai Life Sciences has served a 
diverse set of NCE development programs, consistently delivering value based on 
its quality and responsiveness. Today, it works with 7 of the top 10 large 
pharma companies, as well as several small and mid-sized pharma & biotech 
companies. Sai Life Sciences is privately held and backed by global investors, 
TPG Capital and HBM Healthcare Investments. www.sailife.com

    For further information:
    Sriram Gopalakrishnan
    contact@sailife.com

    Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1064779/Mark_Bittinger.jpg  
    Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1044186/Sai_Life_Sciences_Logo.jpg

    Source: Sai Life Sciences
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