From the first spark of scientific discovery to the moment a therapy changes a life, every link in the chain of innovation matters at Bristol Myers Squibb. The Global Product Development and Supply (GPS) team stands at the center of this journey, transforming breakthrough science into potentially life-changing therapies for patients worldwide.
GPS serves as the backbone of bringing new medicines from bench to bedside. With a network of manufacturing facilities strategically located across North America, Europe, and Asia, GPS oversees the complex path that begins in research labs and ends in hospitals and clinics. From handling raw materials to producing, testing, packaging, and distributing therapies, GPS ensures that every medicine meets rigorous quality, safety, and regulatory standards.
This work supports a diverse portfolio of innovative treatments, from cutting-edge cell therapies to potentially life-saving pharmaceuticals for patients with cancer, autoimmune conditions, and beyond.
Inside manufacturing facilities like the Summit West site, GPS team members handle patient materials — cells, tissues, and other critical components—with expert care and precision. Every vial and every cell processed is handled to meet the highest standards of quality and safety. For many employees, that impact often feels abstract—unless they have the rare opportunity to meet the very people whose lives are touched by their work.
That connection became real at Summit West this year, when the team met a fellow colleague whose own cells had been processed at their facility as part of manufacturing a cell therapy treatment. For many, it was the first time they saw the tangible, human outcome of their work — a colleague receiving a therapy they helped deliver.
Hearing a patient describe his journey — from the uncertainty of diagnosis to the hope sparked by innovative treatment — brought the team’s work sharply into focus. The gratitude expressed for their efforts resonated throughout the room, reminding every team member that their dedication makes a direct impact on individual lives.
“Our team understands that behind every vial, every procedure, is a person relying on us,” said Mark Piskadlo, vice president, Cell Therapy and Summit West campus leader. “Meeting a patient whose journey we supported brings an entirely new level of meaning to our work.”
The encounter was more than a celebration of scientific achievement — it was a testament to the profound power of human connection and underscored GPS’s critical role in the company’s mission.
"It's that passion for patients that drives the team,” said Zechariah Pertuz, senior director, Manufacturing Shared Services. “The teams on the floor feel it, they understand it, and they believe in it.”
Beyond just relevant information about Bristol Myers Squibb's therapeutic areas and innovation, Our stories offer a window into the work our employees do every day for patients.
Moments like this inspire the GPS team and remind them of the patients they are working for. “Everyone feels energized, excited, and more ambitious than ever to deliver on our mission,” said Piskadlo.
Every step of the GPS journey — from early scientific breakthroughs to therapies delivered worldwide — is guided by a single purpose: transforming patients’ lives through science. The personal connections forged at Summit West reveal the real-world impact of this work, showing team members that their dedication shapes not only the future of medicine but the future of patients themselves.
Looking ahead, the human-to-human connections made at facilities like Summit West will continue to fuel Bristol Myers Squibb’s mission and remain at the heart of every breakthrough.
Human connections driving innovation & impact at GPS
Narrator
Every day, the GPS team at Bristol Myers Squibb works to transform patients’ lives through science. Behind every life-changing therapy is an extraordinary team. Problem solvers and innovators who may never see the faces of those they help. This is the story of their impact brought to life through an extraordinary connection.
Zechariah Pertuz
The manpower that we put into it is what makes us, you know, strive to do better so we can do more in the future as we move forward.
Narrator
Most GPS employees never meet the patients whose lives they touch. But for one team, that changed when a colleague became a patient, the patient's journey offers a rare glimpse into the far-reaching impact of the GPS team's dedication.
Mark Piskadlo
By design, we assign each patient a join number so that we don't have any access to the patient's direct information.
Narrator
We had a rare opportunity to connect the people who made the treatment with the person who received it.
Mark Piskadlo
It was a really special message that came across. And at first, I was like, is this actually allowed? Are we allowed to know who the patient is? And then as they explained the scenario, we thought, what a great experience this would be.
Steve Coyle
It's amazing for me to think about that. I work for the company that produced the medication that I'm on. When you see the process and you see how much goes into managing these cells, it's just an amazing amount of steps, coordination, work that goes into doing this. I mean, I couldn't believe it when I actually saw it. And I think at one point you mentioned 24/7 somebody’s here just amazed me. Just the level of dedication everybody showed.
Mark Piskadlo
We want to make it available to as many patients as possible. To hear more stories like your own. Yeah. So, for the last several years, we've been ramping and ramping up production.
Zechariah Pertuz
The teams on the floor feel it, they know it, they understand it, they believe in it.
Steve Coyle
All I want to say to every person that was here, thank you for what you do. You guys are making a difference. You're making a difference in people's lives like myself.
Mark Piskadlo
Today, it went full circle seeing you at the site and then hear your story. Now that you've actually received the medication, and they can hear how you responded to it was an amazing experience for them.
Steve Coyle
We often talk about, who are you working for? Today, you're working for a patient like me.
Narrator
This patient's story is one of many. The GPS team's work continues delivering on the BMS promise every day for patients everywhere. This is the power of teamwork. This is the impact of GPS.
Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. As global citizens, we work sustainably and responsibly to create a positive impact in the communities where we live and work.
