- Viralgen, an AAV gene therapy contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) within Bayer Group subsidiary AskBio, has appointed Angela Ochoa Chico as CEO, effective January 1, 2027. She will succeed Jimmy Vanhove, who is moving to a role leading the development and expansion of Bayer’s U.S. Pharmaceutical Product Supply Network.
- The leadership transition follows four years of growth under Vanhove, during which Viralgen expanded its manufacturing capabilities and customer base to more than 70 customers and partners worldwide.
Viralgen, a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy manufacturing, has appointed Angela Ochoa Chico as its next CEO, effective January 1, 2027. Chico will succeed Jimmy Vanhove, who will move to a new role leading the development and expansion of Bayer’s U.S. Pharmaceutical Product Supply Network in New Albany, Ohio. Viralgen is a subsidiary of AskBio within the Bayer Group.
Chico joins Viralgen from Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals Division, where she served as Product Supply Strategy & Excellence Lead. She brings nearly 20 years of international experience across pharmaceutical operations, quality, manufacturing, strategy, and organizational transformation. Earlier in her career, she led manufacturing and quality organizations in Mexico and held global roles in operations, regulatory affairs, supply chain, and strategic network management.
During Vanhove’s four years as CEO, Viralgen expanded its facilities, infrastructure, and process development capabilities. The company now supports more than 70 customers and partners worldwide, providing gene therapy programs with services spanning early development through commercial-scale manufacturing. Based in San Sebastián, Spain, Viralgen employs more than 450 professionals and operates a facility with integrated process development, clinical and commercial production, quality control, and fill-finish capabilities.
Vanhove said he was proud of the company’s growth and its continued commitment to people living with common and rare diseases, as well as patient foundations. Chico said she would work with Vanhove and the Viralgen team over the coming months to support a smooth leadership transition and build on the company’s manufacturing capabilities and gene therapy partnerships.
