Wesström: SwedenBIO important for Sobi
Christine Wesström, Head of Global Manufacturing & Infrastructure, is also Deputy Chair and a Board Member of SwedenBIO, the Swedish life-science industry organisation.
Can you tell us about SwedenBIO? What are its main priorities?
SwedenBIO has more than 300 Swedish pharma and biotech companies as members. It has been around for some time now: Sobi’s predecessor Biovitrum was one of the founding members back in 2002. The work is based on three pillars: creating networks between companies; being the industry’s voice in discussions with the Swedish government; and establishing and nurturing different working groups to create and share knowledge. Most of the activity is done through working groups in different areas, run by the member companies themselves.
The annual Nordic Life Science Days are one of the biggest activities, a conference where the Nordic countries come together to share knowledge around life science. Our next one is in April, which will be the first physical event since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The next big event is the SwedenBIO Summit on 8 December, where Ola Sandborgh (Head of Commercial Operations, Immunology & Specialty Care) will take part in a panel discussion on rare diseases.
You have been Deputy Chair for a year now, after being an alternate board member last year. What are your thoughts on being part of SwedenBIO?
It is interesting. Most of the big life-science companies in Sweden are on the Board, together with a few smaller biotech companies.
I see it as playing a valuable role for Swedish pharma and biotech, which have both evolved over recent decades. Back in the 1990s, we had really big companies, but now the landscape is dominated by many smaller ones which are building important networks.
For the medium and larger sized companies with a global footprint, like Sobi, SwedenBIO is a great way to stay in touch with developments in Sweden and create a positive vibe for the local life-science climate. It is also important that we contribute to nurturing the life-science culture in Sweden and increasing the competence base. That has a direct benefit for us.
What are the benefits for Sobi of being part of industry bodies like this, not just in Sweden but in elsewhere too?
This type of organisation is one place where we find new partners and new ideas. And to be relevant, you have to know what people are talking about, and build on each other’s competence. During the pandemic, we have seen that collaboration takes us forward. Influences from the outside also give us perspective and inspiration.
SwedenBIO also collects views and input from the industry when it comes to legislation affecting the life-science industry in Sweden. The ability to speak with one strong voice towards the government benefits Sobi and all life-science companies operating in Sweden.
In your role as Head of Global Manufacturing & Infrastructure (part of Technical Operations), you have responsibility for all our manufacturing, internal and external. Does this give you a special perspective on working with other companies?
All of Sobi’s products are manufactured by external partners, and my team is responsible for our partnership management and delivery from up to 30 different contract manufacturing organisation (CMO) and contract laboratory organisation (CLO) providers, who manufacture and analyse drug substances, APIs, drug products and finished products for our medicines. We also have our internal manufacturing operations in Sweden where we manufacture commercial drug substance for another company.
Our success has always been built on partnership: we work with other companies for all our products. I think partnership will always be an integral part of our business.
