Bloomington, Ind., May 15, 2009 – Cory Lewis has joined Cook Pharmica, the global biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing division of Cook Medical, as director of business development.  

With over a decade of biopharmaceutical experience, Lewis most recently served as vice president of sales & marketing at Althea Technologies, Inc. supporting the contract manufacturing division. Prior to his work with Althea, Lewis worked for Baxter Healthcare in a variety of global businesses and functional areas spanning across finance, marketing and business development.

“Cook Pharmica's expansion as a full service provider presents tremendous opportunities for the company,” said Lewis. “I'm thrilled to lend my expertise at this exciting time.”

His success in building collaborative teams, focused on delivering high levels of customer service, will serve Cook Pharmica's clients well as the company continues to expand its current active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing facility to include formulation, filling and finishing of parenteral products—both vials and syringes.

“Cory has a strong, cross-functional background including specific experience in contract manufacturing of biologics API and parenteral injectable products. His experience will be of great value to our team and customers as Cook Pharmica furthers efforts to become a full service provider and global leader in the contract manufacturing market,” said Cook Pharmica President Tedd Green.

Lewis earned his undergraduate degree in finance from Indiana University and holds a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

About Cook Pharmica:
Cook Pharmica is a biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) manufacturing mammalian cell culture-based pharmaceuticals for pre-clinical through commercial use. Cook Pharmica also offers cell line/strain development, clone selection, cell line adaptation, media optimization, process development, analytical development, cell banking/storage, stability testing/storage and regulatory submission support, and will be offering parenteral contract filling and finishing in early 2010.

About Cook Medical:
Cook Medical was one of the first companies to help popularize interventional medicine, pioneering many of the devices now commonly used worldwide to perform minimally invasive medical procedures. Today, the company integrates minimally invasive medical device design, biopharma, gene and cell therapy, and biotech to enhance patient safety and improve clinical outcomes in the fields of aortic intervention; interventional cardiology; critical care medicine; gastroenterology; radiology, peripheral vascular, bone access and oncology; surgery and soft tissue repair; urology; and assisted reproductive technology, gynecology and high-risk obstetrics. Founded in 1963 and operated as a family-held private corporation, Cook is a past winner of the prestigious Medical Device Manufacturer of the Year Award from Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry magazine. For more information, visit www.cookmedical.com.