Genticel appoints Dr Sophie Olivier as chief medical officer

French biopharmaceutical company Genticel has recruited Sophie Olivier as chief medical officer to lead the clinical development of its pipeline, in particular the ProCervix Phase II trial. Dr Olivier has more than 20 years of experience in gynecology, women’s health and regulatory affairs.

Dr Olivier was previously scientific administrator at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in London, UK. She was responsible for assessing Pediatric Investigational Plans, in particular vaccines. As a senior director, Women’s Health and Bone Repair, she was responsible for designing and implementing international clinical development programs in women’s health, leading to FDA and European submissions.

Dr Olivier holds an MD from Aix-Marseille University. She also holds a Master’s degree in Reproductive Biology and a Science and Statistics Masters from Pierre and Marie Curie University.

“We are very pleased to welcome Dr Olivier. Her expertise in drug development, especially in vaccines and gynecology, and her experience at the EMA are considerable assets for Genticel, in particular for the ProCervix Phase II trial,” said Benedikt Timmerman, chief executive of Genticel. “ProCervix is a first-in-class therapeutic HPV vaccine aimed at treating HPV infected women for whom no therapeutic options currently exist and with only ‘watchful waiting’ as an alternative.”

“I am thrilled to join the team at Genticel and to work on the development of these promising therapeutic vaccines,” said Dr Olivier. “The Phase I for the therapeutic candidate vaccine was successful and I look forward to pursuing its development in Europe and abroad.”