RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Kincell Bio said it has promoted Lawrence “Larry” Pitcher to chief executive officer, effective immediately, as the cell therapy contract development and manufacturing organization continues to expand its operations and client programs.
Pitcher succeeds Mark R. Bamforth OBE, who led the company through a period of growth and will transition to the role of executive chair of the board. Bamforth will continue to support the company’s strategic direction and leadership transition.
The company said 2025 has been a transformational year, marked by the addition of new clients at both of its manufacturing sites and the advancement of existing clients’ lead programs into pivotal studies. Since joining Kincell Bio as chief operating officer in March 2025, Pitcher has played a central role in expanding production capabilities, strengthening operational processes, and scaling systems to support pivotal and commercial-stage cell therapies.
Prior to joining Kincell Bio, Pitcher served as vice president and general manager at Catalent’s Maryland gene therapy site, one of the largest in the industry, where he built commercial manufacturing operations and delivered significant gains in revenue and profitability. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Brammer Bio, and RTI Surgical, now Evergen, across both the U.S. and Europe, with responsibilities spanning multiple modalities, manufacturing platforms, and all GMP phases from early development through commercial supply.
Pitcher brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, CDMO operations, and advanced therapies. His background includes site readiness for FDA and global regulatory inspections, as well as a focus on operational efficiency and customer-centered manufacturing solutions. He holds a B.S. in industrial engineering from Western Michigan University and an MBA from the University of Florida.
“Larry has a proven track record scaling cell and gene therapy manufacturing operations and aligning them with client and patient needs,” said Mark R. Bamforth OBE, former chief executive officer and now executive chair of the board. “His leadership of our operational capabilities positions Kincell Bio to better serve our clients as they move into late-stage trials and commercial launch.”
“I’m honored to assume the CEO role at Kincell Bio,” Pitcher said. “Together with our teams, we will continue to expand our clinical development and commercial supply infrastructure, accelerate technology transfer, and strengthen our commitment to delivering life-changing cell therapies efficiently and reliably.”
The company said Pitcher’s appointment reinforces its mission to support innovators from early development through pivotal clinical stages and commercial launch with tailored chemistry, manufacturing, and controls development, manufacturing, and analytical services. Kincell Bio operates cell therapy manufacturing facilities in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and Gainesville, Florida, providing early- and late-stage clinical cGMP manufacturing and process development services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. (Source: IANS)
