WILMINGTON, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pharmaceutical Product Development, LLC (PPD) today announced that Hacene Mekerri has joined the global contract research organization (CRO) to serve as vice president of its central laboratory organization.
“Hacene has a unique combination of data management and systems expertise, as well as extensive global central laboratory management experience, which make him ideally suited to lead our central laboratory organization,” said David Johnston, Ph.D., executive vice president of global laboratory services for PPD. “Hacene’s leadership will advance PPD’s integration of laboratory and clinical data to meet our customers’ research needs.”
PPD’s service offerings span clinical development, with Phase I-IV services integrated with PPD® Laboratories, offering the most comprehensive lab services available in the industry. PPD Laboratories combines world-class scientific expertise with state-of-the art technologies supported by a commitment to exceptional quality. From early development through late stage research, clients benefit from comprehensive lab services, including bioanalytical, vaccine sciences, GMP, central lab testing and biomarkers.
PPD’s central laboratory operations are supported by a comprehensive set of data solutions in Preclarus®, PPD’s award-winning clinical data platform. This capability enables study sites to access clean central lab data in real time, improve inventory management and order tracking, facilitate patient management and safety, and establish complete chain of custody for samples.
Mekerri has more than 15 years of management experience in the drug development industry, including with laboratory companies, CROs and pharmaceutical companies. In his most recent posts, he served as managing director for the Asia Pacific region of a large CRO, as well as global director of data management and country head for a global central laboratory focused on late stage clinical trials. His expertise and successful track record have established Mekerri as a recognized industry leader.
Mekerri received his bachelor’s degree in business management at the Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines in France.
About PPD
PPD is a leading global contract research organization providing comprehensive, integrated drug development, laboratory and lifecycle management services. Our clients and partners include pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, academic and government organizations. With offices in 46 countries and more than 15,000 professionals worldwide, PPD applies innovative technologies, therapeutic expertise and a firm commitment to quality to help clients and partners bend the cost and time curve of drug development to deliver life-changing therapies that improve health. For more information, visit www.ppdi.com.
Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations and assumptions, including statements, expectations and assumptions about the appointment of Mekerri Hacene and the future performance of PPD Laboratory’s central laboratory unit, contained in this news release, are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Although PPD attempts to be accurate in making these forward-looking statements, it is possible that future circumstances might differ from the assumptions on which such statements are based and could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Other important factors that could cause future results to differ materially include the following: the ability to attract, integrate, retain and train key personnel; risks associated with and dependence on strategic relationships; risks associated with acquisitions and investments; competition in the outsourcing industry; PPD’s ability to win new business; overall global economic conditions; economic conditions, research and development spending, and outsourcing trends in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and government-sponsored research sectors; loss, delay or modification of large contracts; higher-than-expected cancellation rates; the rate of conversion of backlog into revenue; consolidation in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries; rapid technological advances that make our services or capabilities less competitive; the ability to control SG&A spending; compliance with drug development regulations; changes in the regulation of the drug development process; and actual operating performance. PPD assumes no obligation and expressly disclaims any duty to update these forward-looking statements in the future, except as required by applicable law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing PPD’s estimates or views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof.
