LEHI, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Civica Inc. (Civica, Civica Rx) today announced that biopharma industry veteran Jay Benson has joined Civica as Chief Manufacturing and Supply Chain Officer. Benson replaces Russ Gall, who recently announced his retirement.
Benson has 30 years of experience within the biopharmaceutical industry, including clinical and commercial manufacturing, global strategy development, and tech transfer and commercialization of new therapies.
“Jay joins us at a pivotal time in Civica’s history as we prepare to operate our recently constructed sterile injectable manufacturing facility in Petersburg, VA, just outside of Richmond,” said Ned McCoy, Civica’s president and CEO. “His extensive biopharma leadership experience will be a terrific addition to our team as we fulfill our dreams of making essential generic medications to address drug shortages in hospitals and biosimilar insulin to make it more affordable to people living with diabetes across the United States.”
“I am very excited for the opportunity to be part of the Civica team,” said Benson. “I look forward to helping deliver on the Civica mission to make essential medications accessible and affordable for patients in need.”
Prior to joining Civica, Benson was with Thermo Fisher Scientific, most recently serving as the Vice President of Global Operations for the Clinical Diagnostics Division and prior to that serving as Vice President/General Manager North America Operations, Biologics.
Prior to joining Thermo Fisher, Benson spent four years with Takeda, leading multiple Biologics Drug Substance manufacturing facilities and eleven years with Bayer Pharmaceuticals in multiple roles supporting Biologics technical operations and strategy development.
“Jay takes the torch from Russ Gall, who has been with Civica from inception,” added McCoy. “We thank Russ for his many years of service to Civica, our partners and patients and wish him well in his retirement.”
About Civica
Civica Inc. (Civica Rx, Civica) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(4) social welfare organization established in 2018 by health systems and philanthropies to increase the reliability of the drug supply chain by reducing drug shortages and related high prices in the United States. An experienced team of healthcare and pharmaceutical industry leaders is at the helm of the organization.
Civica’s mission is to ensure that quality generic medications are accessible and affordable to everyone. Today, more than 55 health systems have joined Civica. They represent more than 1,550 hospitals and one-third of all U.S. hospital beds. Most recently, Civica announced its plans to provide affordable medications for consumers in an outpatient setting, including affordable insulin. Civica insulin will be available to people with diabetes at significantly lower prices than insulins currently on the market - no more than $30 per vial and $55 per pack of five pens.
Civica has completed construction of an essential medicines manufacturing facility in Petersburg, Virginia, to produce sterile injectable medications used in hospitals for emergency room and intensive-care unit treatments, surgeries, and to treat other serious conditions. This facility will also manufacture insulin vials and prefilled pens for nationwide distribution.
