Papa’s appointment to the corner office of the Gaithersburg, Maryland-based company went into effect today. He succeeds Haywood Miller, who stepped down from his role as interim CEO today as well. Emergent BioSolutions is known for its Narcan nasal spray offering, which it launched over the counter last year.
The new CEO has more than 35 years of experience in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. He most recently served as CEO and chair at Bausch and Lomb, a global eye health company.
During his time at Bausch and Lomb, Papa led the company’s IPO in 2022 before stepping down in June 2022. Before that, he served as CEO and chair at Bausch Health.
Previously, Papa held the position of chair and CEO at Perrigo, a private-label, over-the-counter pharmaceuticals manufacturer. He also led the pharmaceutical and technologies services division at Cardinal Health. Other positions included president and COO at Watson Pharmaceuticals, following 14 years at Novartis.
Emergent BioSolutions board chair Zsolt Harsanyi called Papa “a recognized industry leader with unparalleled experience.”
“Whether it’s increasing access to Narcan nasal spray, which is helping combat the opioid epidemic, or continuing to deliver important medical countermeasures to customers around the world, Emergent is providing critical products to address global health crises,” said Papa. “I am confident that these important products provide for a bright future ahead as Emergent continues to lead in public health preparedness. I look forward to working with the team to accelerate the company’s progress, continue improving its financial position and drive value for shareholders. It is a privilege to join Emergent and chart a new chapter in this vital space.”
