Particles for Humanity Taps Finance Veteran for Commercial Leap in Global Health

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – January 13, 2026 – Particles for Humanity, a public benefit corporation focused on global health, has appointed biopharmaceutical finance veteran Marcus Chapman as its Senior Vice President and Head of Finance. The move signals a critical transition for the organization as it prepares to shift from a philanthropically funded research and development entity to a commercial enterprise, with the planned 2026 launch of its first product, PFH-VAP, in Africa.

Chapman’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment. He is tasked with building the financial architecture to support the launch of a highly stable vitamin A formulation designed to combat malnutrition on a massive scale. His leadership is central to the organization's strategy of creating financially sustainable solutions to persistent global health crises.

"We're thrilled to welcome Marcus Chapman to Particles for Humanity," said Sherri Oberg, President and CEO of Particles for Humanity, in a statement. "Marcus combines operating rigor with strategic insight, and his leadership will be instrumental as we advance our mission."

A New Weapon Against 'Hidden Hunger'

At the heart of this strategic shift is PFH-VAP, a product designed to tackle vitamin A deficiency (VAD), a form of 'hidden hunger' that is the leading cause of preventable childhood blindness and a major contributor to mortality from common illnesses like diarrhea and measles. According to global health data, an estimated 190 million preschool-aged children and 19 million pregnant women are affected by VAD, with the highest concentrations in Africa and South Asia. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, nearly half of all children were deficient as of 2013.

While food fortification is a proven, cost-effective strategy to deliver essential micronutrients, its success in tropical regions has been hampered by a key technical challenge: vitamin A is notoriously unstable. It degrades quickly when exposed to the heat, humidity, and light common during storage and cooking in many parts of Africa, meaning far less of the nutrient reaches the people who need it.

Particles for Humanity’s PFH-VAP, developed with technology licensed from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), was engineered specifically to solve this problem. The product uses a spray-drying technique to encapsulate vitamin A in a protective polymer shell. This coating shields the nutrient from degradation but is designed to dissolve in the digestive tract, releasing the vitamin for absorption.

Studies have demonstrated the technology's remarkable effectiveness. In one test simulating storage conditions in Africa (40°C and 75% relative humidity), PFH-VAP retained 70% of its vitamin A content in bouillon cubes after 12 months. In contrast, a leading commercial formulation retained only 15%. This suggests PFH-VAP is over four times more stable, potentially delivering significantly more bioavailable vitamin A at a comparable cost.

To confirm these benefits, the organization received approval in late 2023 to begin a human absorption study in Zambia, a collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Tropical Diseases Research Centre. This trial will provide critical data on how the enhanced stability translates to actual nutrient delivery in the human body.

From Philanthropy to Sustainable Impact

Particles for Humanity operates on a unique model that straddles the line between traditional non-profit work and commercial enterprise. While it is currently funded entirely by philanthropy, with significant grants from organizations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, its stated goal is to create "financially sustainable product opportunities." This positions it as a social enterprise, aiming to use market-based mechanisms to achieve a humanitarian mission.

The commercial launch of PFH-VAP is the first major test of this model. Instead of relying on a continuous cycle of grants to produce and distribute its product, the organization plans to sell PFH-VAP to food manufacturers for use in staples like bouillon, wheat flour, and sugar. The revenue generated is intended to cover operational costs and fund future initiatives, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of impact.

This approach seeks to overcome a common pitfall in global health: the dependency on donor funding, which can be inconsistent and limit the long-term scalability of interventions. By building a sustainable business, Particles for Humanity aims to ensure a reliable, long-term supply of its life-saving technology to the markets that need it most. Chapman's appointment is a clear indicator of the organization's commitment to building the robust financial strategy required for this hybrid model to succeed.

The Biopharma Veteran Steering the Commercialization

Marcus Chapman brings more than two decades of experience steering companies through complex financial landscapes, from early-stage ventures to global commercial operations. His background makes him uniquely suited to guide Particles for Humanity through its transition.

Most recently, as a Senior Vice President at Flagship Pioneering, he specialized in leading finance for early-stage life science companies, guiding them from inception through their initial rounds of venture capital financing. This experience is directly relevant to nurturing a nascent commercial operation within Particles for Humanity.

Prior to that, his tenure in the biopharmaceutical industry provided deep experience in commercial-stage finance. He served as Principal Financial Officer at Seres Therapeutics, a commercial-stage company, and spent years at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, where he rose to become Head of Finance for the Oncology Business Unit. At Takeda, he oversaw the financial functions supporting U.S. and global marketing, sales, and manufacturing—precisely the areas Particles for Humanity must now build out.

This blend of early-stage venture acumen and large-scale commercial pharmaceutical experience provides the strategic and operational financial leadership needed to launch a novel health product in complex international markets.

Navigating the Path to Market

The 2026 launch in Africa represents a significant opportunity, but it is not without challenges. The food fortification landscape in many countries is fragmented, with hurdles including inconsistent regulatory enforcement, complex supply chains, and the difficulty of reaching small-scale, informal food producers. Success will depend not only on a superior product but also on navigating these local market dynamics.

Particles for Humanity's strategy aligns with a broader global push toward public-private partnerships to strengthen nutrition programs. Organizations like the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and the Food Fortification Initiative (FFI) have long advocated for collaboration between governments, NGOs, and the private sector. A more stable and cost-effective fortification ingredient like PFH-VAP could serve as a powerful catalyst for these partnerships, making national fortification mandates more effective and impactful.

The appointment of Chapman and the impending launch of PFH-VAP represent the convergence of cutting-edge science, an innovative social enterprise model, and seasoned commercial leadership. This multi-pronged approach may offer a new paradigm for how the world develops and deploys solutions to its most enduring public health challenges.