SARANAC LAKE, NY – Bionique Testing Laboratories, a global leader in mycoplasma testing and a subsidiary of the Asahi Kasei Group, has announced the appointment of Dr. Andy Bailey as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2026.
The move is a strategic “bridge-building” effort by parent company Asahi Kasei to unify its biosafety testing portfolio, which includes Bionique (New York) and ViruSure (Vienna).
A Dual Leadership Strategy
Dr. Bailey, a virologist with over 30 years of experience, will maintain a unique dual role that signals a shift toward integrated, “one-stop” biosafety solutions for the biopharmaceutical industry:
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Bionique (CEO): Overseeing the global expansion of mycoplasma and biosafety testing services.
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ViruSure (CSO): Serving as Chief Scientific Officer for the Vienna-based sister company, ensuring scientific alignment across viral and prion safety services.
“The company’s reputation for excellence in GMP-compliant mycoplasma testing provides a strong foundation. Together with ViruSure, we are positioned to deliver end-to-end biosafety solutions,” Dr. Bailey stated.
Facility Expansion: Scaling for the Future
The appointment follows the September 2025 grand opening of Bionique’s newly expanded 35,000-square-foot facility in Saranac Lake.
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Capacity: The expansion more than triples the original laboratory footprint.
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Focus: New purpose-built labs are dedicated to Cell & Gene Therapy (CGT), advanced therapeutics, and rapid molecular methods (Real-Time PCR) that significantly reduce testing turnaround times.
The India Connection: Biopharma SHAKTI
While headquartered in the US, Bionique’s expansion is timely for the global market, particularly in India. In the Union Budget 2026–27 (presented February 1, 2026), the Indian government launched the Biopharma SHAKTI initiative:
| Key Feature | Details |
| Outlay | ₹10,000 Crores over 5 years |
| Objective | Build a domestic ecosystem for Biologics & Biosimilars. |
| Infrastructure | 3 new NIPERs and 1,000+ accredited clinical trial sites. |
| Global Standard | Focus on aligning Indian biopharma with global biosafety compliance. |
As Indian firms pivot toward high-value biologics under this initiative, the demand for international-standard testing—like the services spearheaded by Dr. Bailey at Bionique—is expected to skyrocket.
