LIFESCIENCELEADER.COM THE CMO LEADERSHIP AWARDS 2017
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arson may be indulging in a bit of introversion
inflation. After all, her career included a suc-
cessful climb through Genentech, starting as
that shy associate engineer and then progress-
ing to leadership roles, including global head of techni-
cal development in business operations (Roche), before
she moved to Achaogen last year. (And does that look
like an introvert on our cover?) In one of my recent con-
versations with Larson she says: "I used to be so cau-
tious. Now it's time to be more open and provocative."
Fortunately, we get both sides of Larson as she
explores the real needs of drug sponsors today. She
offers up thoughts like this: "It's interesting to think
about why the small molecule industry, including
CDMOs and CMOs, hasn't learned or revolutionized
in the way the biologics industry has, even in places
where we have common technology." And this: "If you
can get 200 percent more out of a biologics manu-
facturing process from a CMO, who cares? That's not
what's driving our business decisions."
s o M e s T r a i g h T
T a l k T o c m o s
Achaogen's Tina Larson
opens up on the real
business needs
of sponsors
I spent much
of my career as
an introverted
engineer, only
comfortable
speaking to close
colleagues and
avoiding crowds.
TINA LARSON
VP of Technical Operations
Achaogen
L
L O U I S G A R G U I L O Chief Editor, Outsourced Pharma
@Louis_Garguilo