GRAND RAPIDS–Corium Pharma Solutions Inc., a contract developemnt and manufacturing firm providing new delivery technologies for prescription drugs and consumer products, has named Kevin Ostrander chief business officer and Niraj Vasisht chief technology officer.
Ostrander brings more than 30 years of experience as both a research scientist and business development professional in the pharmaceutical industry, having worked for several small to mid-sized brand and generic companies. Prior to joining CPSI, Ostrander was vice president of business development for ApiJect Systems, a privately held medical device company in the sterile injectables market. Before ApiJect, he was senior vice president of business development at BioDelivery Sciences International, where he was responsible for concluding the acquisition of the company by Collegium Pharmaceutical. Ostrander earned a Backelor of Science in biology from the State University of New York at Albany, a Master of Science degree in pharmaceutical quality assurance and regulatory affairs from Temple University’s School of Pharmacy and an MBA in International Business from St. Joseph’s University.
“Having worked together at BDSI, I am excited to team up with Kevin again and I know he will play an instrumental role in shaping our long-term growth strategy,” said Mark Sirgo, CEO of CPSI. “Working closely with myself, members of the leadership team and our investors, we will focus on leveraging our current capabilities and identifying potential complimentary acquisitions that will allow us to extend our footprint in the specialty contract manufacturing space.”
Vasisht brings more than 25 years of experience as an executive, entrepreneur, and technology key-opinion-leader in drug delivery to the pharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining CPSI, Vasisht was president and CEO of Avior Bio Inc., a clinical stage pharmaceutical company that was using drug delivery to reinvent proven therapeutics for rare diseases. Before Avior, he was the chief technology officer at BDSI, where he spent 13 years in multiple roles and oversaw the development, approval, intellectual property creation and manufacturing of three FDA approved products using a novel drug delivery platform. Vasisht earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology and a PhD in chemical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He has over 25 patents, numerous publications, and wrote a book on microencapsulization and controlled release.
“I worked closely with Niraj for many years at BDSI and am excited to have the opportunity to partner with him again,” Sirgo said. “As chief technology officer, Niraj will play a critical role overseeing the formulation development work behind all of our CPSI platforms. In addition, he will be leading the assessment of complimentary platforms for potential acquisition that will allow CPSI to maintain a leadership role in the specialty development and manufacturing sector.”
Founded in 1995 in Grand Rapids, Mich., Corium Pharma Solutions currently manufactures a variety of over the counter and prescription products, including Proctor & Gamble Co.’s entire Crest Whitestrips franchise, Agile Therapeutics Inc.’s Twirla, and Corium LLC’s Adlarity, a once-weekly transdermal donepezil patch for Alzheimer’s patients.