Lonza Group AG

Life sciences executive search firm partners with Telegraph Hill Partners to identify an independent director with extensive biopharmaceutical manufacturing and operations experience. HERNDON, Va., Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CollectiveMinds LLC, a retained executive search firm specializing in life sciences and healthcare, today announced its role in supporting Telegraph Hill Partners (THP) in identifying independent director candidates for Argonaut Manufacturing Services, including J.D. Mowery, who has been appointed to Argonaut's Board of Directors. Argonaut, a portfolio company of THP and NewVale Capital and a U.S.-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) providing sterile fill-finish services for injectable biologics and pharmaceuticals, announced the appointment on September 30, 2026. Continue Reading CollectiveMinds LLC CollectiveMinds partnered with the board to identify candidates with deep general management, CEO, and operations experience to support Argonaut's continued growth. "A board search starts with understanding the experience and perspective a company needs for its next stage," said Tara Kochis, CEO and Founder of CollectiveMinds. "J.D. brings leadership experience on both sides of biopharmaceutical manufacturing, from companies developing therapies to the CDMOs producing them. That perspective, combined with his knowledge of Argonaut through the KBI partnership, made him a strong fit. The right board member changes what a company can see coming, and J.D. brings exactly that to Argonaut." Mowery brings more than two decades of leadership experience across global biopharmaceutical manufacturing, CDMO operations, and biotechnology. Most recently, he served as President of the global CDMO division at Bora Pharmaceuticals. Previously, he served as President and CEO of KBI Biopharma and as a Corporate Officer of its parent company, JSR Corporation. His career includes senior operational leadership roles at AGC Biologics, Juno Therapeutics, and Lonza, spanning biologics, cell therapy, and aseptic manufacturing. He has led organizations through capacity expansion and the transition from clinical development to commercial manufacturing. "J.D.'s experience with both innovator companies and CDMOs brings valuable perspective and operational expertise to Argonaut's board," said Alex Herzick, Board Member at Argonaut Manufacturing Services. "He will be an excellent complement to our talented management team and further strengthen the company's position as a leading, customer- and quality-focused sterile fill-finish partner." Mowery also serves in board and advisory roles across aseptic manufacturing, life sciences infrastructure, automation, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology. About CollectiveMinds CollectiveMinds LLC is a retained executive search firm partnering with life sciences and healthcare companies and their investors to recruit board members, CEOs, and senior leaders. The firm combines more than 80 years of life sciences experience with machine learning to expand the candidate pool beyond established networks, then personally contacts and evaluates each candidate. Every search considers the organization's goals and culture alongside the experience and leadership approach the role requires. Learn more at collectivemindsllc.com. About Argonaut Manufacturing Services Argonaut is a California-based CDMO specializing in clinical through commercial aseptic fill-finish for injectable biologics and pharmaceuticals. Its filling capabilities support vials, prefilled syringes, and cartridges. Its two isolator-based filling lines provide advanced contamination control and sterility assurance in compliance with global regulatory standards, including EU Annex 1. Learn more at argonautms.com. SOURCE CollectiveMinds LLC 21% more press release views with Request a Demo

MILAN, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from GeneOnline. Continue Reading From left to right: Patty Wang, President of the Medical and Pharmaceutical Industry Technology and Development Center; Dr. Maggie Lu, Vice President and General Director of the Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboratories, ITRI; Riccardo Tsan-Nan Lin, Director General of the Taipei Representative Office in Milan; Anne Schumacher, Group Director of Events and Business Development of Informa Markets Amid rapid restructuring in the global pharmaceutical supply chain, drugmakers around the world are increasingly prioritizing supply reliability, manufacturing quality and diversified partnerships. To address these evolving industry demands, Taiwan has brought together 22 leading biotech and pharmaceutical companies at CPHI Milan 2026. Supported by Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and organized by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), the Taiwan Pharma Pavilion demonstrates the region's comprehensive capabilities, seamlessly integrating its advanced technology sector with pharmaceutical manufacturing to offer resilient solutions for the global market. Taiwan has established a strong foundation as a trusted partner in the international pharmaceutical ecosystem. Supported by continuous investments in manufacturing workflows and novel drug development, over 170 pharmaceutical manufacturers in Taiwan currently operate under stringent PIC/S GMP standards. The region exports more than 90% of its active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), while finished pharmaceutical products consistently reach highly regulated markets, including Japan and the United States, underscoring its capacity for high-quality, scalable production. "The global pharmaceutical supply chain is undergoing a strategic realignment," said Dr. Maggie Lu, ITRI's Vice President and General Director of Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboratories. "Global pharmaceutical companies are looking beyond manufacturing capacity alone. Quality certifications, supply chain resilience, advanced R&D capabilities, and manufacturing flexibility are now the key criteria for selecting strategic partners. Taiwan's strengths in these areas are helping its pharmaceutical industry play a greater role in the global pharmaceutical supply chain." Rather than competing solely on volume, the Taiwan Pharma Pavilion highlights collaborative opportunities across three core areas: AI-Driven Drug Discovery & Preclinical Research: Leveraging Taiwan's profound ICT prowess, participating companies showcase advanced AI platforms and R&D tools designed to accelerate target identification, drug screening, and preclinical validation. APIs & CDMO Services: Addressing the industry's need for supply chain diversification, Taiwanese manufacturers offer reliable raw material supply, scalable process development, and flexible contract manufacturing services backed by international certifications. Innovative Therapeutics & Advanced Formulations: Taiwan brings cutting-edge capabilities in novel drugs, 505(b)(2) high-barrier generics, and advanced drug delivery technologies, opening doors for co-development, technology licensing, and global market expansion. Taiwan's engagement at CPHI Milan extends beyond the exhibition floor to the executive level. Demonstrating the region's growing industry influence, Dr. Maggie Lu has been invited to deliver the opening remarks at the prestigious CPHI Leadership Summit. This platform allows Taiwan to engage directly with senior executives from global pharmaceutical leaders such as Boehringer Ingelheim, FUJIFILM, and Lonza, bringing Taiwan's integrated strengths into high-level strategic dialogues on the future of pharma. From early-stage AI drug discovery to commercial-scale manufacturing, the "Team Taiwan" approach consolidates its comprehensive pharmaceutical value chain. By expanding partnerships in raw material supply, contract manufacturing, co-development, and global licensing, Taiwan is ready to play a pivotal role in the next generation of global healthcare. 21% more press release views with Request a Demo

Agilent Technologies, a Santa Clara, California-based life sciences and analytical technology company, has added laboratory space in Boulder, Colorado to support development and scale-up of manufacturing technologies for oligonucleotide therapeutics. The new laboratory, part of Agilent’s Advanced Therapeutics Division, initially will focus on enzymatic ligation, an approach that uses enzymes to join shorter oligonucleotide fragments into longer therapeutic molecules. Agilent said initial customer programs are expected to begin in November, subject to applicable operational and regulatory requirements. According to the announcement, Agilent provides development and current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) manufacturing services for oligonucleotide therapeutics including small interfering RNA (siRNA) and antisense oligonucleotides. The Boulder laboratory reportedly will complement Agilent’s existing oligonucleotide operations in Colorado and its manufacturing capabilities in Canada. Agilent said the additional laboratory capacity will provide a dedicated environment for evaluating customer enzymatic ligation processes and developing the technology for potential scale-up. Enzymatic ligation is being evaluated as a complement to solid-phase phosphoramidite synthesis, an established method for oligonucleotide manufacturing. According to the company, using both manufacturing approaches could provide greater flexibility in selecting production processes based on a program’s scale and technical requirements. The expansion comes as demand for outsourced oligonucleotide manufacturing continues to grow. A MarketsandMarkets report cited by Pharma Manufacturing in July estimated the global oligonucleotide CDMO market will increase from $2.51 billion in 2024 to $6.73 billion by 2029. The report attributed the projected growth to factors including increasing demand for oligonucleotide therapeutics and the complexity of manufacturing requirements. Agilent was among the leading companies identified in the report, alongside Bachem, Lonza, Thermo Fisher Scientific and WuXi AppTec. Other recent developments include Bachem’s expansion of large-scale oligonucleotide manufacturing capacity in Switzerland and the construction of oligonucleotide-focused facilities by WuXi AppTec in China and Singapore .