Advanced Medicine Partners
Gretchen Smith is an accomplished professional in the biopharmaceutical manufacturing field, currently serving as SVP Manufacturing and Site Head at Advanced Medicine Partners since January 2024. Prior to this role, Gretchen held various leadership positions at Jaguar Gene Therapy, including Vice President and Sr. Director of Process Sciences. Experience also includes serving as Director of Manufacturing at bluebird bio and as Executive Director and Sr. Director of Manufacturing at Humacyte. Additionally, Gretchen was Head of Downstream Manufacturing at Seqirus and occupied multiple roles at Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, ultimately leading as Head of Manufacturing Support. Early career experience includes positions at CRB Consulting Engineers, Marshall Contractors, and Perigon International, Inc. A graduate of Tulane University with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering, Gretchen has demonstrated extensive expertise in manufacturing and process engineering across diverse biotechnology companies.
Advanced Medicine Partners
Advanced Medicine Partners’ aims to set a new standard for manufacturing and testing innovative medicines that can potentially transform the lives of patients and families. The company delivers process development, manufacturing, analytical development and testing for advanced therapy products, including gene therapies. The company has the experience and capabilities to work with multiple platforms and modalities, including adeno-associated virus (AAV), lentivirus and other delivery systems. Advanced Medicine Partners leverages one of the most experienced genetic medicines teams – at all levels, from bench to boardroom – in the industry, and its exclusive manufacturing platform consistently produces yields that are among the highest in the industry and purity profiles that push the boundaries of what’s possible. The company’s proprietary adeno-associated virus (AAV) manufacturing process minimizes process and product-related impurities and consistently generates industry-leading functional full capsid ratios and best-in-class yields. This manufacturing process prioritizes patient safety while reducing cost of goods and will strive to set the standard for what regulatory agencies expect and patients deserve. Advanced Medicine Partners brings extensive operational experience from Jaguar Gene Therapy and other biotechnology companies. The Advanced Medicine Partners team has manufactured upwards of 350 total non-GMP batches and supplied over 20 preclinical studies, including initial new drug application (IND) enabling efficacy and good laboratory practice (GLP) toxicology studies. The company distinguishes itself from CDMOs by its partnership philosophy. Traditionally, CDMO operations work independently of their clients. Advanced Medicine Partners changes that dynamic by acting as a client’s extended workbench, removing CMC activities from the critical path, and offering real-time data to help clients drive decisions and accelerate their programs.