Speakers

Arvind Natarajan, PhD, MBA, is Senior Vice President of Process and Analytical Development at Iovance Biotherapeutics, where he has worked on development and commercialization of AMTAGVI™ (lifileucel), the first approved T cell therapy for solid tumor cancer. He has 25 years of CMC experience in cell and gene therapies, biologics, and vaccines.

Prior to joining Iovance, Dr. Natarajan was Global Head of Program Management and Strategy, Cell & Gene Technical Development and Manufacturing at Novartis. Prior to that, he was the Global CMC Lead for Kymriah®, the first FDA-approved CAR-T therapy.

Prior to Novartis, Dr. Natarajan worked at Merck and Co for 15 years. While at Merck, he worked in biologics on tech transfer and approval of Keytruda®, and in vaccines, supporting development, approval, and commercial manufacturing of Zostavax®, ProQuad®, and Varivax®.

Dr. Natarajan earned an MBA from Wharton, a PhD in Chemical Engineering from University of Minnesota, a Masters in Microbial Engineering from University of Minnesota, and a Masters in Biology and BE in Electronics and Electrical Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani in India.  

Ben Shaffer serves as the Senior Director, Cell & Gene Therapy Enterprise Business Partnerships for Biopharma Services at Cencora. In his role, Ben is responsible for working closely with Cell & Gene manufacturers and clinical trial sites to ensure they have knowledge, insight and access to Cencora’s comprehensive end-to-end clinical trial and commercialization support services.

Ben has been with Cencora for over 12 years and has held various roles prior to joining the Cell and Gene team.  Most recently, Ben served as the National Vice President of Distribution Business Development and Client Strategies for the U.S. market.   Before this role, he spent over 7 years providing consultative solution sales supporting Cencora’s 75 largest Integrated Delivery Networks across the U.S.  

Before joining Cencora, Ben spent over 14 years in various Health System leadership roles, including Pharmacy operations and Business Development, both as a Director of Pharmacy and also as a Director of Business Development leading ambulatory expansion for Oncology, Neurology, Urgent and Primary care services.

Ben received his Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Ohio Northern University, and his Master of Business Administration in Healthcare from Columbia Southern University. 

Darin DeCarlo is the Chief Commercial Officer for Orsini, a leading national specialty pharmacy focused on rare disease and cell and gene therapy.  In this role his responsibilities include business development, marketing, commercial operations, and sales. Darin has over 35 years of industry experience spanning both big and small pharma, consulting, and specialty pharmacy.  

His 26 years in pharma and biotech experience include about 20 years between Eli Lilly and Roche in various commercial leadership roles mostly in sales and marketing. Most recently he served as Vice President of Sales and Managed Markets at Acadia Pharmaceuticals.  Darin also spent five years at IQVIA, primarily leading launch and commercial consulting before joining Orsini in 2022. 

Eric Schier serves as the Senior Manager of Personalized Supply Chain for Cencora World Courier. In his role, Eric is responsible for leading the design and development of solutions for the CGT and DTP service lines for both clinical and commercial commodities. Ensuring that the VOC (Voice of the Client) is well understood through the multiple internal channels that Eric liaises with on a daily basis.

Eric brings a unique perspective from his 20+ years in biotech, pharma, CGT space working for sponsors, CDMOs, and specialty logistics providers seeing the need and solution from every angle. Most recently, Eric served as a Senior Manager in the supply chain at Bristol Myers Squibb CGT division. 

Guillaume is qualified as a Pharm D and has two master degree in biologic sciences and biostatistics as well as an Executive MBA from leadings European Business Schools. He spent 4 years as a resident in the Parisian hospitals and afterwards joined the pharmaceutical industry. He started in clinical research and rapidly moved to evolving senior positions in international strategic marketing and local sales for 12 years.

Guillaume joined Walgreens Boots Alliance and moved to the UK in 2012, to lead the development of professional services through digital, medical and pharmaceutical services. He led a series of cross divisional work streams on innovations identification and deployment as well as influencing activities on the pharmacy regulatory environment both at the country and international level. Guillaume was also member of the Healthcare Innovation Platform, the cross-divisional team developing digital innovation for healthcare within WBA.

After this role, Guillaume was in charge of the strategic partnerships with the pharmaceutical industry (branded) for Europe to strengthen the synergies and ensure an efficient launch of their drugs.

Guillaume is now VP of International Commercialization Services and leads the operationalisation of global specialty launches within the International Commercialisation team, develops the company offers by opening new services and coordinates regional and local business teams.

Guillaume is an lifelong elected member of the French National Academy of Pharmacy.

John Arena, President of Global Pharma Services, was previously in the role of Senior Vice President of Enterprise Strategy and Solutions and serves as the key executive contact for top global biopharma companies on behalf of Cencora. With a deep understanding of the challenges biopharma companies face, John and his team connect pharma partners to Cencora's broad range of experts and offerings to support product success and patient access worldwide.

Prior to joining Cencora, John held leadership roles at Lundbeck, Johnson & Johnson, and Eli Lilly & Company. His professional track record is marked by strong enterprise thinking and bold leadership across operations, marketing, sales, and new product planning.

Kevin Chinn serves as Vice President and Head of the Cell & Gene Therapy Service Line for Cencora. In his role, Kevin is responsible for leading Cencora’s strategy to support cell and gene therapy developers in commercializing their innovative products. Kevin also leads the team responsible for developing strategic partnerships with cell and gene therapy companies. Under Kevin’s leadership, his team positions themselves as a full end-to-end commercialization partner for cell and gene therapy companies, assessing the necessary resources at the appropriate time along their commercialization journeys. 

Kevin Chinn serves as Vice President and Head of the Cell & Gene Therapy Service Line for Cencora. In his role, Kevin is responsible for leading Cencora’s strategy to support cell and gene therapy developers in commercializing their innovative products. Kevin also leads the team responsible for developing strategic partnerships with cell and gene therapy companies. Under Kevin’s leadership, his team positions themselves as a full end-to-end commercialization partner for cell and gene therapy companies, assessing the necessary resources at the appropriate time along their commercialization journeys. 

Prior to his role at Cencora, Kevin held various leadership roles at CVS Health. Most recently, Kevin was responsible for commercialization, go-to-market strategy, and sales for their Home Health division. Before his time with Home Health, Kevin led Health System Alliances, where he created mutually beneficial business relationships with provider groups and IDNs across the country, utilizing all of CVS Health’s assets. Kevin has also held sales leadership roles at Medtronic and Abbott. 

Kevin received his Bachelor of Science in Business Economics from the University of Arizona.  

Louis earned his Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Arizona and his Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Biology from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Over the past eight years, he has dedicated his career to the fields of immunology and CGT drug development, encompassing a wide range of focus areas from research and development to clinical study planning and execution, as well as commercialization strategy and implementation. 

Mark Kelley serves as Senior Director, CGT Enterprise Partnerships at Cencora. In his role, Mark is responsible for new business development with Cell & Gene therapy companies. Mark’s role is to position Cencora as a full end-to-end commercialization partner for Cell & Gene therapy companies, assessing the necessary resources at the appropriate time along their commercialization journeys.

Prior to his role at Cencora, Mark held various roles at CVS Health. Most recently, Mark was responsible for business development and sales for their Home Health division. Before his time with Home Health, Mark led the Specialty Pharmacy relationships, with the world’s Blue Chip pharmaceutical manufacturers for CVS Health where he created mutually beneficial contracting relationships focused on market access and value. Mark has also held marketing and sales leadership roles at ThermoFisher Scientific, McKesson, and initially began his career with AmerisourceBergen.

Mark received his Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of California, San Diego and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California.