susan Dexter

Prior to moving into the business of science in biotechnology contract manufacturing services, Susan worked in a research setting performing early-stage animal studies and mammalian cell-culture-based research, and small-scale biological manufacturing. She has been engaged in programs ranging from gene expression / cell-line development, pre-clinical studies, and process development through commercial manufacturing as part of CMC-related services for biotherapeutics made in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell systems.

Ms. Dexter has supported multiple start-up companies as well as established biotech, pharmaceutical, and technology companies, performing senior management roles (VP and C-level, Board of Directors), strategic business development at VP and C-level, technology licensing, due diligence of biologics products and facilities, and mergers and acquisitions.  

While a Managing Director at Latham Biopharm, a life sciences consulting group, Susan ran the CMC business unit and team of process and quality / regulatory subject-matter experts, providing business development and CMC consulting services to biotechnology clients.

Susan has done four start-up CDMOs for biologics manufacture of drug substances and drug products, all of which were integrated into larger entities including Celltech Biologics to Lonza, Collaborative BioAlliance to The Dow Chemical Company, Xcellerex to GEHealthcare (now Cytiva), Laurate Pharma to Gallus Pharmaceuticals, and Kalon Biotherapeutics to FujiFilm Diosynth. In addition, she supported the development pipeline for an emerging gene therapy company through acquisition.

Ms. Dexter has also negotiated and managed significant biologics development and commercial supply agreements, as well as multiple gene expression technology licenses.  

Since 2015, Susan has served as a non-executive member of the board of directors for Sartorius Stedim Biotech (SSB). In 2023, she was excited to join ViroCell’s board of directors as a non-executive director.