Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL) has appointed David Ebdon to the newly created role of Senior Group Leader for Biological Sciences. The move comes at a time of growth and expansion for the scientific consultancy, as it continues to strengthen its position as a leading provider of analytical services to the pharmaceutical industry.

Ebdon joins RSSL from Britannia Pharmaceuticals and brings over twenty years’ leadership experience in contract development and manufacturing. With overall responsibility for both the Microbiology and Biomolecular Analysis teams, he is tasked with driving continued growth of the group in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) sectors.

“I am delighted to be joining RSSL at a particularly exciting time for the Biological Sciences group. Sterility and biopharma are particularly important focus areas for developments going forward and I am committed to ensuring RSSL’s capabilities continue to closely match market needs,” said Ebdon.

The company’s purpose-built and recently MHRA-approved sterility suite in Wokingham is a central part of this strategy.

This full-service facility provides the operational space to handle greater capacity, accommodate a broader pool of talented scientists and explore new opportunities - such as delivering rapid microbiological test methods to support the recent rise in novel ATMP developments.

Managing the expansion of the Biomolecular Analysis team and services is also a significant part of Ebdon’s brief; the introduction of capillary electrophoresis and bioassay method development, validation and testing is already planned for 2020.

Commenting on the appointment, Jacinta George, managing director at RSSL, said:
“David is a hugely positive addition to the RSSL family. Having spent his career working for, and with, CDMOs, he can offer unique insights and a 360-degree view of the pharmaceutical industry which will be extremely valuable - both for the teams he works with and our clients. We believe his extensive knowledge and commercial understanding will help shape the continued success of our Biological Sciences group.”

As part of its drive to support organisations through the complexities of sterile products manufacturing, control testing and release, RSSL is running a series of webinars - Manufacturing Sterile Pharmaceuticals. The three, complimentary, hour-long webinars tackle some of the key challenges and provide guidance on best practice.