Lonza Endotoxin Expert Appointed Chair of ASMFC Horseshoe Crab Panel

Allen Burgenson, Global Subject Matter Expert for Endotoxin Detection at Lonza, has been appointed Chair of the Horseshoe Crab Advisory Panel of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). Mr. Burgenson was elected to this position in September in recognition of more than 35 years of experience in the biomedical use of horseshoe crabs. The appointment also follows his10-year service as a member of the Horseshoe Crab Advisory Panel.

The blood of horseshoe crabs is used in bacterial endotoxin testing workflows to help verify the microbial purity of vaccines, injectable drugs and medical devices. The viability of global horseshoe crab populations calls for sustainable collection approaches for LAL production and acceptance of recombinant technologies for endotoxin detection to maintain the safety of the world’s injectable pharmaceuticals.

The mission of the ASMFC Horseshoe Crab Advisory Panel is focused on the conservation of the horseshoe crab, while also maintaining availability of this important species to the biomedical industry, the birding community and fisheries. The horseshoe crab is one of the 27 nearshore species of which the conservation and management is coordinated by the ASMFC. 

"It is a great honor to have been chosen to chair this group of dedicated professionals, with whom I share the same principles," Mr. Burgenson said. "This appointment marks a very special milestone in my journey as a horseshoe crab conservationist, which started when I was a child flipping stranded horseshoe crabs on the beach during the spawning season while my dad fished on the New Jersey shore. I look forward to working with the panel to further protect this important species."

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