As the nation’s only nonprofit FDA-licensed manufacturer of vaccines and biologics, MassBiologics is a special part of UMass Medical School, one with unique potential to improve the health of people around the globe. With this special mission in mind, Chancellor Michael F. Collins announced that Mireli Fino, MBA, will be the next executive vice chancellor for MassBiologics, beginning in July.
With nearly 30 years of experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing, Fino is an accomplished biotech executive with particular expertise in manufacturing sciences and technology, commercial operations, and bioprocess development. She will join MassBiologics from Protein Sciences, a Sanofi company in Meriden, Conn., where she has worked since 2012 as senior vice president for manufacturing operations. There, she was instrumental in the approval, launch and growth of recombinant vaccines and biologics. Currently, Fino is also the site head for Protein Sciences’ Pearl River and Meriden operations, where she oversees the production of vaccines and biopharmaceuticals at multiple sites and contract manufacturing organizations.
She previously worked for 16 years at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer, Inc., in a variety of senior roles, leading large scale process development and clinical production of viral vaccines; ultimately, she was director of manufacturing sciences and technology for bacterial conjugated vaccines, with a focus on innovation and new technology. She earned an undergraduate degree in biochemical engineering at The Autonomous University of Aguascalientes in Mexico and a Master of Business Administration at MIT.
“Ms. Fino’s deep knowledge of pharmaceutical operations will help MassBiologics build upon its longstanding reputation in research, development and cGMP manufacturing of monoclonal antibody products and vaccines,” Chancellor Collins said. “She will advance research and development of MassBiologics’ internal programs and of UMMS faculty and students while leading its manufacturing facilities in Mattapan and Fall River, and its industry relationships in alignment with the MassBiologics strategic plan.”
Mark Klempner, MD, who has led MassBiologics for the last nine years, will stay on the faculty and continue to lead research into therapies to prevent Lyme disease, diphtheria and enterotoxigenic E. coli.
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