Ormond Beach, FL, March 24, 2026 — Germfree Laboratories (“Germfree”), a leading provider of integrated cGMP infrastructure, equipment, and services for advanced therapies and hospital manufacturing, today announced the appointment of Carol Houts as Chief Executive Officer. Kevin Kyle, Germfree’s previous CEO, will transition to an advisory role with Germfree and EW Healthcare Partners.

Carol brings 30 years of healthcare and life sciences experience to the role, with a career spanning clinical development, global regulatory strategy, cGMP operations, quality systems, and commercial leadership at organizations including Pfizer, Stryker Biotech, and CROs executing clinical trials globally. At Germfree, she has been serving as Chief Commercial & Strategy Officer and member of the Board, where she has helped shape the company’s strategic growth agenda and expand its partnerships across pharmaceutical and healthcare markets. During her tenure, she has led key commercial initiatives across decentralized manufacturing, global partnerships, and the company’s expanding solutions portfolio, including pharmaceutical isolators, Smarthood™ IV workflow systems, and mobile and modular GMP platforms.

As CEO, Carol will focus on strengthening execution, operational performance, and scaling Germfree’s services capabilities to support a growing global customer base. With the commercial launch of Smarthood and increasing demand for Germfree’s isolator and modular GMP solutions, the company is entering a significant new phase of growth. Germfree is currently delivering some of its most complex turnkey programs to date, including purpose-built ATMP manufacturing solutions designed to be operationally ready from day one.

“What we have built at Germfree, the partnerships, the platform, and the pipeline puts us in a strong position to lead this industry forward,” said Carol Houts, Chief Executive Officer of Germfree Laboratories. “My focus is on deepening the customer relationships at our core, relentless focus on execution, and scaling our services capabilities across the full portfolio from advanced therapy manufacturing to hospital pharmacy and beyond.”

“We are excited to have Carol at the helm of Germfree,” said Evis Hursever, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of EW Healthcare Partners. “Over nearly a decade, she has been at the center of Germfree’s commercial growth, helping build the partnerships, platform, and pipeline that define the company today. She brings the operational discipline and strategic clarity needed to scale the business, making her the ideal choice to lead the company as it enters this next phase of growth. EW Healthcare Partners is fully committed to supporting Germfree’s ambitious plans.”

“The board and I are thrilled to welcome Carol as Germfree’s CEO,” said Andy Thomson, Chair of the Board of Germfree and Operating Partners with EW Healthcare Partners. “Carol is a seasoned global healthcare executive who brings tremendous experience and knowledge in commercial and operation excellence. Her expertise and leadership will be critical in successfully executing the ambitious commercial and operational plan as Germfree strives in its mission as the partner of choice in the manufacturing of advanced therapies.”