QPS Holdings has expanded its executive team as part of an effort to enhance its medical, regulatory and biotechnology services offering.
The Newark, new Jersey-based contract research organization (CRO) hired Heather Messenger as head of global services this month, explaining she will lead efforts to expand QPS clinical execution services and capabilities, with a focus on Biotech clients.
QPS also appointed a new global medical affairs head.
The appointee, Dr Sarah Cross, has 14 years of experience in medical affairs, across the areas of immunology, oncology and women's health focused clinical research, asset development, product launch, diagnostics and technology transfer, will lead expansion of the division.
The third new hire is Kimberley Buytaert-Hoefen, who was named head of regulatory affairs. The firm predicted her 25 years of preclinical and clinical regulatory experience and previous experience as an US FDA investigator would be an asset.
QPS Executive VP, global head of Clinical Research Services John Musante framed the appointments as part of an effort to meet increased market demand for flexible drug development services.
"These enhanced capabilities and newly appointed leadership positions will further bolster our Pharma and Biotech clients' abilities to develop drugs in an agile and flexible manner, by fully integrating these services into the custom-built QPS drug development packages."
He added, “These new executives will ensure that QPS has the skills and capabilities to fully implement global Pharma and Biotech drug development projects.”
The appointments are in keeping with QPS’s strategy of appointing talent to lead the expansion of its services business. In February, for example, contractor named Manuela Prokesch as the head of the neuropharmacology department of its subsidiary QPS Austria.
At the time QPS said Prokesch, who joined the firm in 2001, would work with Robert Wronski, senior director and head of EU Late Phase Clinical Development division to manage QPS Austria.
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