Molecule to Market: Inside the outsourcing space

From R&D to CRO CEO

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Dr. Fozia Saleem, Chief Executive Officer at Magnitude Biosciences.

Your host, Raman Sehgal, speaks with Fozia about the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain, including:

• How her early roles shaped her focus on applying science and innovation in a practical way
• The contrast between working in tobacco and vape R&D and traditional pharma research
• How a post-COVID reckoning led her to a CEO role at a university spin-out
• The commercial potential of worms, the WormGazer® technology platform, and why Magnitude Biosciences is far from a cookie-cutter CRO
• Fundraising, tripling the team, doubling lab space, and navigating the life of a scrappy CRO
• How the company is helping clients with novel therapies get better insights earlier and faster amid a tough market environment

Dr. Fozia Saleem is the CEO of Magnitude Biosciences, a leading contract research organisation serving the pharmaceutical, health, and nutrition sectors to better understand the effects of drugs and nutraceuticals on healthy ageing, longevity, and neurodegeneration.

With more than 15 years of experience across the FMCG and pharmaceutical industries — including leadership roles at GSK, BAT, and Broughton — Fozia has led global product launches, driven high-growth commercial strategies, and delivered transformative organisational change.

Beyond her role at Magnitude Biosciences, Fozia is a passionate advocate for women’s leadership and inclusive innovation. She previously co-chaired The Lifted Project – Newcastle Board, supporting high-growth female founders, and was named on the We Are Power Future List 2024 in recognition of her business leadership.

 

Molecule to Market is sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and Charles River Laboratories, and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues, and help us celebrate the value of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

M&A Roundtable Q4 2025 – Reflections and Predictions

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with:

• Andrew Gigax, Head of European Pharma Services M&A at William Blair
• Jennifer Chadwick, Founder and Principal at Jennifer Chadwick Consulting
• Sabina Ouimet Storrs, Principal at GHO Capital Partners
• Jason Foss, Head of Corporate Development at Bora Pharmaceuticals

Your host, Raman Sehgal, speaks with his guests about the pharmaceutical and biotechnology ecosystem, including:

• How market stabilisation has been overtaken by the need for adaptation in times of uncertainty
• Disciplined and deeper M&A, with heightened scrutiny, buyer and seller disconnect, and a sharper focus on operational efficiency
• The growing demand for bispecifics, radiopharma, isotopes, and other emerging segments
• Why the “picks and shovels” that serve multiple modalities are where opportunity lies in pharma services
• Why the US remains the hottest market, and how AI adoption has mainly focused on workflow so far
• The shifts and trends that could reshape pharma services in the years ahead

Molecule to Market is sponsored by Bora Pharma, Charles River and Lead Candidate, and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues, and help us celebrate the value of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

From Pharma to CRO entrepreneur

In this episode of Molecule to Market, your host Raman Sehgal discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Jean-François Brepson, Chief Executive Officer at PathoQuest.

The conversation covers:

• Navigating 20 years of global leadership roles at Ipsen before moving from the corporate world into an investor-led entrepreneurial adventure
• The tough decision to refocus PathoQuest from diagnostics into a pure play CRO and pharma services business
• How a major strategic partnership transformed the company’s trajectory and why Jean sees partnerships as a competitive weapon
• Riding the tailwind of the FDA’s move away from animal testing and offering something game-changing in the CMC and GMP space
• The opportunities ahead for CROs and CDMOs in helping unlock the next wave of innovation

Jean-François Brepson is a dedicated leader with deep experience in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. Since becoming CEO of PathoQuest in 2015, he has built the company into a leading global CRO specializing in quality control of biological drugs using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). Over his career, he has advanced innovative technologies and solutions that bridge scientific progress with real-world application.

Prior to joining PathoQuest, Jean was Senior Vice President at Ipsen, where he led the global GI-Oncology and Endocrinology franchise.

 

Molecule to Market is sponsored by Bora Pharma, Charles River, and Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues, and help us celebrate the value of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

The CEO leading Ensera's evolution

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Jason Anderson, Chief Executive Officer at Ensera.

 

Your host, Raman Sehgal, speaks with Jason about the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain, covering:

• Why he chose BASF over law school, and why McKinsey ultimately was not for him
• Moving from corporate life into a venture-backed polymer technology start-up before a major exit
• The search for a PE-backed specialty manufacturing role that led him to Ensera (formerly SteriPack)
• The importance of appreciating local knowledge when entering new markets
• Similarities and differences between outsourced services in pharma and medical devices
• How today’s changes, pain, and uncertainty in the markets are creating opportunity

Jason Anderson is CEO of Ensera (formerly SteriPack), a global contract design and manufacturing organization serving the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. He has led the company through a period of significant growth and change, including the integration of new design and product development capabilities with Ensera’s core manufacturing services, and the launch of the new Ensera trading name.

 

Prior to Ensera, Jason held global business unit leadership roles at DJO/Enovis and at Saint-Gobain, overseeing businesses ranging from finished medical devices to customized, high-value components for biopharma and medical device industries. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at pre-revenue polymer technology start-up Novomer, at McKinsey and Company, and at BASF.

 

Jason has lived and worked in North America, Asia, and Europe. He holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

 

Molecule to Market is sponsored by Bora Pharma, Charles River, and Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues, and help us celebrate the value of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

CPHI 2025 wrap-up

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with our host Raman Sehgal, who discusses the themes and vibe of CPHI 2025 in Frankfurt.

 

 

Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharma and Charles River, and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

20 years of CPHI - Veterans Guide

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll hear wily old wisdom, golden nuggets and invaluable insider tips about CPHI. The nuanced stuff from Veterans of CPHIs gone by you’ll never find in a generic AI-written playbook. The show features:

• James West, Managing Director, Bourne Partners
• Arul Ramadurai, CCO at Axplora
• Christine Fuerst, Director Key Account Management Europe, Vetter Pharma International GmbH
• Dan Stanton, leading pharma/biopharma industry journalist 
• Jeremy Drummond PhD, retired VP Sales and Marketing Exec.

 

Molecule to Market is sponsored by Bora Pharma, Charles River, and Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues, and help us celebrate the value of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

Themes from PBOA Conference 2025

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Gil Roth, President, at Pharma & Biopharma Outsourcing Association (PBOA).

Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Gil, covering:

How planned FDA budget cuts and the ongoing US government shutdown are impacting the industry. And the potential outlook if those issues remain unresolved...

Why positive early-phase clinical trial activity could signal a stronger year ahead

Real-life applications of AI and machine learning for GMP in CDMOs through signal and pattern recognition

Why Gil is feeling more optimism across the CDMO community

And yes… you can also see Gil and Raman together on stage at the industry’s very own “Super Bowl” of conferences

Gil Roth is the Founder and President of the Pharma & Biopharma Outsourcing Association (PBOA), a nonprofit trade group that advocates for the regulatory, legislative and general business interests of the CMO/CDMO sector. In this role, he brings CDMO perspectives and education to FDA, the US Congress, and other bodies, and brings CDMOs together to share best practices, develop policy positions, and provide briefings on government positions that impact that sector. He also organizes and hosts PBOA's annual members-only Meeting & Conference. Previously, he was the Founding Editor of Contract Pharma magazine. In his alleged free time, he produces a weekly cultural conversation podcast called The Virtual Memories Show (https://chimeraobscura.com/vm).

 

Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharma (boracdmo.com) and Charles River (www.criver.com), and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

The understated CDMO CCO

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with JB Agnus, Chief Commercial Officer at Bora Pharmaceuticals.

Your host, Raman Sehgal, speaks with JB about the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain, including:

How his global roles taught him the importance of bridging cultures

What attracted him to Bora Pharmaceuticals and the company’s remarkable trajectory

The value of intentionality, taking charge of your own career, and prioritising physical and mental wellness

What it really looks and feels like to be a CDMO CCO, and the realities of stepping up into the role

Why it matters not to conform to the norm and instead stay true to yourself

Prior to joining Bora, JB held senior leadership roles in business development at AGC Biologics, Ajinomoto Bio Pharma Services, Novasep, and Isochem. He holds a bachelor’s degree in organic chemistry from Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III in Toulouse, France, and a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Centrale Méditerranée in Marseille, France.

 

Molecule to Market is sponsored by Bora Pharma, Charles River, and Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues, and help us celebrate the value of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

The CEO driving change at Curia

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Philip Macnabb, Chief Executive Officer at Curia.

Your host, Raman Sehgal, speaks with Phil about the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain, covering:

Over 25 years of working with private equity — and why PE is ultimately about building sustainable value.

The common threads he looks for as a CEO of any new organisation, and why employees often know the answer first.

Navigating the COVID comedown at Curia, making major network changes, and refocusing on biotech clients.

Why CDMOs are really selling trust as the service, not just manufacturing — and how that plays into customer intimacy and reputation.

Betting on the trend toward small batch sizes and personalised medicines in biotech and pharma.

Phil leads Curia in pursuit of its mission to improve patients’ lives, applying end-to-end capabilities and deep scientific expertise to advance customers from idea to impact.

He brings more than 20 years of private-equity leadership experience to Curia, including the last decade in healthcare. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer at Epsilon Global, a company he co-founded. In addition to his healthcare experience, he has held senior positions in technology, distribution, and consumer products. Phil has a proven track record of sharpening companies’ core value proposition, enhancing the customer experience, and building organisations with real, lasting value.

Phil earned an MBA from the University of Chicago and a BS in Business Administration from Purdue University.

 

Molecule to Market is sponsored by Bora Pharma and Charles River, and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your colleagues, and help us celebrate the value of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

The People-first CEO of FUJIFILM Biotechnologies

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Lars Petersen, President & Chief Executive Officer at FUJIFILM Biotechnologies.

 

Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Lars, covering:

• The difficult decision to leave Novo Nordisk and make the jump from one great company to another in Genentech/Roche.
• How leaving a Biogen site led him to step away from big pharma after 25 years and transition to the CDMO side.
• How Fujifilm’s culture of innovation, technology, quality, and people runs through the Biotechnologies division — and why empowerment and culture should never be compromised.
• Why the duplication of its CDMO sites globally, all running on the same kojoX platform, is truly differentiating.
• Why he believes the need to standardise, scale, and globalise drug production in a consistent, efficient, and traceable way is key to the future of the supply chain.

Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharma (boracdmo.com) and Charles River (www.criver.com), and supported by Lead Candidate. 

 

Lars Petersen, CEO of FUJIFILM Biotechnologies, is recognized as a visionary leader in the life science sector, commanding a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with nearly 5,000 employees spread across Denmark, UK, USA, and Japan. 

 

Distinguished for his strategic vision and a "people first" philosophy, Lars has profoundly impacted the company and the industry. His leadership journey saw him rise from Chief Operational Officer & Senior Vice President at the Danish site, where he established an empowering culture, to CEO, promoting transparency across all operations. Since his global leadership appointment in June 2023, Lars has been instrumental in cultural transformation, integrating a "people first" approach across FUJIFILM Biotechnologies’ global facilities regardless of geographical differences.

 

Prior to his appointment as CEO, Lars was responsible for the Global Large Scale Commercial operation including full profit and loss accountability as well as the responsibility for over $6.2 Billion global expansions both in Hillerød, Denmark, and Holly Springs, North Carolina, USA.   Previously, Lars has held leadership positions with Biogen, Genentech/Roche, Novo Nordisk, Novozymes and NNE, and he has successfully executed projects in Europe, China and the US.   Lars holds a master’s degree from the Technical University of Denmark.

 

Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!