Month: July 2020

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. – Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation, one of the fastest growing pharmaceuticals companies in the country, today announced a new hire and promotions of two key executives.

Rita Boucher has been hired as Nephron Chief Quality Officer, Jamie Shuster will take on the role of Chief Projects Officer, and Stephanie Simmonds will be Chief Clinical Officer.

“Rita, Jamie and Stephanie are rock stars,” said Nephron CEO Lou Kennedy. “As Nephron continues to grow, we are only as good as the vision, work ethic and leadership of those around us. I am confident that Rita, Jamie and Stephanie are equipped with all of the tools needed to take Nephron to the next level. I couldn’t be more excited to be working with them.”

Rita Boucher, Chief Quality Officer

Rita Boucher has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for more than 25 years. She has worked at AstraZeneca, Genzyme, and Pfizer and held positions in Quality Assurance, Formulation, Cold Chain Distribution, Operational Excellence, and Remediation.  Boucher has been married for 26 years and has one son, who recently finished his freshman year at UNC-Chapel Hill. She spends her free time reading, exercising, traveling with her family, and spending time outside.

Jamie Shuster, Chief Projects Officer

Jamie Shuster has been a member of the Nephron family for more than four years. Prior to taking on the new projects role, Shuster served as Senior Vice President of Quality at Nephron. Shuster has an extensive background in public health and public policy. Governor Nikki Haley named Shuster as Director of Budget and Policy in the governor’s office. Next, she served as State Director of Public Health, one of the top deputies to the Director of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. Shuster earned a Master’s Degree in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in public health from UNC-Chapel Hill. She enjoys spending time with her fiancé and three dogs, and traveling.

Stephanie Simmonds, Chief Clinical Officer

Stephanie Simmonds joined the Nephron team in 2018. She served as Chief of Marketing Operations and was responsible for overseeing the inside and outside sales and marketing team. Before arriving at Nephron, Simmonds was the Market Chief Nursing Officer for Providence Health, a role she held at one of S.C.’s largest health systems for more than eight years. She also held leadership roles at Banner Health’s McKee Medical Center and Torrington Community Hospital. Simmonds holds a Master’s degree in nursing administration from Regis University.  Stephanie is currently serving as the American Heart Association Board Chair.  In her free time she enjoys running, traveling and spending time with her three children, Morgan, Zachary and Taelyn.

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. – One of the fastest-growing pharmaceuticals companies in the country, headquartered in Lexington County, today announced several major expansion and investment projects. 

Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation plans a new $215 million investment in Lexington County, bringing 380 new full-time jobs to the area by 2024, and adding new office, warehouse and vaccine production space in the county’s Saxe-Gotha Industrial Park.  

The climate for business development in South Carolina is better than ever because Governor Henry McMaster, members of the General Assembly and business leaders such as S.C. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ted Pitts have worked together and laid a strong foundation for economic growth. 

Team Nephron looks forward to working with the governor, lawmakers and business leaders to build on the economic development momentum that makes South Carolina a state to which companies want to move and where existing businesses can flourish.

“Our team is extraordinarily grateful for the opportunity to grow in South Carolina,” said Nephron CEO Lou Kennedy. “Thanks to our partnerships with state and local officials, and the trust they have placed in us, we have been able to provide life-saving medications to patients around the world and establish ourselves as the global leader in what we do. We are proud of these achievements and more, and we know our best days are ahead of us. That is what makes this latest announcement so special.”

These projects will be critical additions to the Nephron initial $313 million investment that brought the company headquarters and production facility to South Carolina, generating more than 1,800 full and part time jobs over the last five years. 

“We are proud to have Nephron Pharmaceuticals in South Carolina,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “Since coming here they have become an integral part of the community, and recently have been vital in the fight against COVID-19. This new investment of more than $215 million creating 380 new jobs in Lexington County is a great win for Team South Carolina.”

A West Columbia, S.C.-based company, Nephron develops and produces safe, affordable generic inhalation solutions and suspension products.

The company also operates an industry-leading 503B Outsourcing Facility division which produces pre-filled sterile syringes and IV bags for hospitals across America, in an effort to alleviate their drug shortage needs. 

Nephron fills the needs of patients and health care professionals as they arise nationwide, and recently opened a CLIA-certified diagnostics lab.

“We are excited to continue to partner with such an innovative and forward-thinking company like Nephron Pharmaceuticals,” Lexington County Council Chairman Scott Whetstone said. “We know that Lexington County is a great place to establish and grow a business, and Nephron’s continued success is a testament to good government-business relations.”  

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. – Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation, one of the fastest-growing pharmaceuticals companies in the country, today announced a new collaboration with Methapharm.

As a part of this collaboration, Nephron will produce kits of methacholine chloride sterile inhalation solution in ready-to-administer concentrations for bronchoprovocation challenge testing when diagnosing respiratory illnesses, such as asthma. 

“Methapharm will be a fantastic partner,” said Nephron CEO Lou Kennedy. “Patients deserve access to the very best respiratory tests available, that’s what this collaboration will offer, and that’s why we are looking forward to working together with Methapharm.” 

Working together with Methapharm, Nephron will be able to supply stable room temperature solution kits, ensuring that testing facilities can continue to rely on the quality and reliability of Provocholine for their bronchoprovocation testing needs. 

“Through this partnership with Nephron, Methapharm continues its mission to help reduce barriers to testing, provide the level of quality our customers expect, and contribute to better healthcare outcomes for our patients,” said Craig Baxter CEO of Methapharm. “We’ve been impressed by Nephron’s capabilities and professionalism.”

Provocholine® is the only FDA-approved methacholine chloride powder for use in humans. Methapharm, the manufacturer of Provocholine, has always tried to be responsive to needs of our testing partners. For example, in response to the revised ERS technical standard, Methapharm initiated a comprehensive nebulizer characterization study to support the recommendation of PD20 as a clinical endpoint. This was published in a technical bulletin earlier this year.  

A West Columbia, S.C.-based company, Nephron develops and produces safe, affordable generic inhalation solutions and suspension products. The company also operates an industry-leading 503B Outsourcing Facility division which produces pre-filled sterile syringes and IV bags for hospitals across America, in an effort to alleviate their drug shortage needs. Nephron fills the needs of patients and health care professionals as they arise nationwide, and recently opened a CLIA-certified diagnostics lab.