10 February 2021 - - China- and US-based drug discovery and development services organization BioDuro-Sundia, backed by Advent International, has appointed Haijun Dong, PhD, MBA as chief executive officer, the company said.

Dong will take over from Cyrus K. Mirsaidi, who most recently led the company through its 2020 integration, establishing BioDuro-Sundia as the No. 3 CRDMO in the industry, with more than 2,000 employees and operations in 7 cities across China and the US.

The executive team, now led by Dong, will continue to be co-located in both China and the US, providing balance for the global business units that support all aspects of drug discovery, development, and manufacturing--both drug substance and drug product.

BioDuro-Sundia's team and facilities have seen rapid growth in the past year, with two new sites in China, an R and D base in Wuxi City and a manufacturing center in Bengbu--that add capacity for more than 1,000 new employees.

Dong has been a leading general manager and CEO in China for 10+ years, with experience in large multinational companies, including Roche (OTC: RHHBY) and Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY). He has a strong background and formal training in both technical field and business management, a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Washington, and an MBA from the China Europe International Business School.

Dong has a proven track record of excellence in building and managing companies and business units, all of which have delivered market-leading results. He is also a recognized KOL in drug discovery, development, and services.

BioDuro-Sundia's outgoing CEO, Cyrus K. Mirsaidi, joined the company as BioDuro's CEO in 2015.

Mirsaidi will continue to serve as advisor to BioDuro-Sundia's board of directors and leadership team.

BioDuro-Sundia, an Advent International portfolio company, is a contract research, development and manufacturing organization (CRDMO) that provides biopharmaceutical partners with fully integrated services to support drug discovery, development and manufacturing for both drug substance and drug product.

The company is the industry's third largest, with major operations in China and the US, featuring more than 2,000 employees and 10 global sites.

Founded in 1984, Advent International is a global private equity investor.