Raubling, 19 October 2023 – Axplora, a leading partner to Pharma and Biotech companies for complex APIs, is delighted to welcome Dr. Stephan Haitz as President of the Novasep CDMO Business Unit and member of the company’s Executive Committee, effective November 1st, 2023. Stephan will take over from Jean Bléhaut, who leaves the company after a career spanning more than 25 years.
Stephan Haitz has a 20+ years’ business career in the pharmaceutical industry where he held various management positions within global CDMOs such as Solvias, Lonza and Cambrex. He holds a PhD and Master in organic chemistry and a Bachelor of Science in economics. Most recently, Stephan worked as President Drug Substance CDMO Commercial at Cambrex.
“I’d like to warmly thank Jean for many years of service at Novasep and wish him the best for the future. I’m now looking forward to entrusting the reins of the BU to Stephan to further consolidate the company’s position as a leader in the CDMO market, while bringing new energy and ideas,” stated Dr. Sylke Hassel, CEO at Axplora.“Stephan will work closely with the Executive Committee and particularly with Dr. Pere Paton, our Chief Operations Officer.”
“I am thrilled to join Axplora at a time when bringing drugs to patients globally is more important than ever. Thanks to Axplora’s wide range of technical capabilities and manufacturing excellence, the Novasep CDMO BU is well suited to support customers with developing and delivering innovative API´s and intermediates”, said Dr. Stephan Haitz. “I am excited to be a part of such an experienced Management team and working closely with Pere to continue building the organization and driving its growth as a leading CDMO.”
“I look forward to working closely with Stephan to develop and implement our operations strategy and vision within the CDMO BU, strengthening our manufacturing network to serve our clients and their patients,” asserts Dr. Pere Paton.
About Axplora
Coming from the merger between Farmabios, Novasep and PharmaZell, Axplora is the preferred API manufacturing partner to the world’s leading patient-centric pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, delivering top quality active ingredients on time and at scale, to the highest industry standards. Axplora offers CDMO solutions to innovators for their small molecule and biomolecular active pharmaceutical ingredients, as well as products that address respiratory, inflammatory and liver diseases. Axplora is dedicated to serving pharmaceutical companies to make critical medicines faster, reliably, and to sustainably benefitting patients worldwide. Explore more: axplora.com
Press contact
Justine Reynaud
+33 (0)7 60 93 45 80

Latest news
News
March 17, 2026
Biopharma’s Growing Emphasis on Highly Potent Drugs Drives Axplora Manufacturing Expansion
Highly potent drugs now account for over 30% of the global pipeline, with more than 1,000 molecules in development — Axplora’s investments in HPAPI capacity help customers bring these complex therapies to market faster $60 million investment to expand highly potent API (HPAPI) development and manufacturing at Axplora’s Farmabios site in Gropello Cairoli, Italy New […]
News
March 17, 2026
Axplora announces multi-million-euro investment to expand lyophilization at Le Mans and appoints François Houbart as Head of Site
Axplora announces multi-million-euro investment to expand lyophilization at Le Mans and appoints François Houbart as Head of Site 18 February, 2026 – Axplora, a global CDMO Partner for complex small molecules and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), today announced a multi-million-euro investment to expand lyophilization (freeze-drying) capabilities at its Le Mans, France Site strengthening its ability to deliver […]
Press Release
October 08, 2025
Axplora initiates global investments exceeding €100m in 2025
Raubling, 7 October, 2025 – Axplora, a global leader in small molecule API manufacturing and a trusted partner to the world’s most innovative pharmaceutical companies, today announced that the total investments initiated across its global network in 2025 will exceed €100 million. This commitment underscores Axplora’s determination to accelerate growth, strengthen capabilities, and reinforce its […]
We enable our partners to fully realize their ambitions.
Driven by the curiosity, skills and dedication of over 2,000 employees on three continents, Axplora delivers sustainable, technologically advanced API solutions to improve lives worldwide.