Almac Group Appoints Dr. Shirin Khambata Ford as VP Product Development

March 3, 2015

Dr. Shirin Khambata FordDurham, N.C., USA, – 2 March 2015 – Almac Group, the global contract development and manufacturingorganization has announced the appointment of Shirin Khambata Ford, PhD to the position of Vice President Product Development for their Diagnostic Services’ Business Unit.

Dr. Ford is a renowned scientific executive with extensive experience in the global pharmaceutical industry having held senior oncology biomarker focused posts in BMS, Roche and Novartis. Until recently, Dr. Ford was the Global Head of Correlative Sciences in Oncology Global Development at Novartis Oncology. She led a group that is focused on developing Oncology Biomarkers and supporting translational research activities for Oncology full development programs. Prior to this Dr. Ford was a Senior Biomarker & Experimental Medicine Leader at Roche Pharma Research & Early Development. Previously she was the Director of Clinical Biomarkers Oncology at Bristol-Myers Squibb where she led a group responsible for the discovery, validation and strategic implementation of pharmacodynamic and predictive markers for the late stage oncology portfolio (Phase I/II through Life Cycle Management).

Her key accomplishments include being the lead researcher on the team that discovered that EGFR ligand gene expression and K-ras mutation status are predictive markers of benefit from cetuximab (anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody therapy) in metastatic colorectal cancer. This work was published in a seminal publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology and has been validated by her team and others in multiple large retrospective studies.  The biomarker research from her group has led to additional publications in journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, multiple presentations at major international oncology conferences including ASCO, AACR and ESMO meetings and numerous patent applications.  As the Biomarker Lead for cetuximab, Dr. Ford was a key participant in regulatory and diagnostic activities in addition to providing scientific leadership and expertise.

“We are delighted to welcome Shirin Ford to the Almac team. We have brought her on board to take over the management of our internal product pipeline. Many of these products are now close to commercialization and her unparalleled experience in the industry will be invaluable as we drive forward these products.” said Professor Paul Harkin, President of Almac’s Diagnostic business unit.

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