ProBioGen, the Berlin-based contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO), has appointed Dr Simon Johannes Bulling, PhD, as Chief Operating Officer (COO). The appointment signals a strategic intensification of the company’s operational ambitions across biologics, viral vectors, vaccines, and cell and gene therapies.

In his new role, Dr Bulling assumes responsibility for ProBioGen’s operational business and oversees manufacturing across the company’s expanding portfolio. His remit spans proteins and viral vectors through to cell and gene therapy products, reinforcing the company’s position within the global biopharmaceutical supply chain.

An experienced hand in complex manufacturing environments

Dr Bulling brings considerable senior leadership experience from across the global biopharma and CDMO sector, with a background encompassing both drug substance and drug product environments. Prior to joining ProBioGen, he served as Site Head at Celonic and as a member of its Executive Committee. Earlier roles included senior positions at Recipharm, Rentschler Biopharma, Vetter Pharma, and Sandoz, where he held responsibility for operations, manufacturing, organisational development, and performance improvement within highly regulated, multi-site environments.

Most recently, he provided advisory services to biopharma organisations on manufacturing strategy, operational scale-up, and organisational development in good manufacturing practice (GMP) settings. Dr Bulling holds a PhD from the Medical University of Vienna.

“ProBioGen has built real differentiation through its science, technology and the standards it brings to execution,” said Dr Bulling. “I look forward to building on that foundation by further strengthening operations in ways that support quality, delivery, scalable execution, and a strong customer focus across the company’s growing portfolio.”

Dr Simon Bulling,
COO, ProBioGen

Strategic timing and manufacturing capacity growth

Dr Alfred Merz, Chief Executive Officer of ProBioGen, commented: “Simon brings a proven track record of scaling complex manufacturing organisations and delivering at both clinical and commercial scale, precisely the experience this next stage of ProBioGen’s development calls for. I am delighted to welcome him and look forward to the contribution he will make to our partners and to ProBioGen.”

The appointment coincides with a period of notable capital investment and infrastructure expansion at ProBioGen. The company has made significant investments in manufacturing capacity for proteins and viral vectors to ensure supply continuity for clinical trials. Of particular note is a forthcoming GMP manufacturing facility for cell therapies, to be established and operated at the Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapy (BC GCT). This facility represents a substantial extension of the company’s service offering, complementing expanded virus production capabilities.

A foundation built on three decades of biopharmaceutical science

Founded in 1994 as a spin-off from the Charité hospital in Berlin, ProBioGen has grown to employ approximately 300 staff across three manufacturing lines in the German capital.
The company applies proprietary technologies to the development and manufacture of biopharmaceutical active ingredients, viral vectors, and vaccines, supporting partners from early clinical development through to commercial manufacturing and market launch.

For more information, visit: www.probiogen.de