Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
I am an experienced drug hunter in Pharma and Biotech with proven successes in all preclinical development aspects, moving small and large molecule projects from initiation to clinics and beyond. My scientific focus is on on neuromuscular diseases, rare diseases and neurology. For more than 20 years, I have been scientific leader of multiple preclinical programs (mRNAs, ASOs, therapeutic proteins and small molecules), with several INDs and clinical entries, and one molecule (Risdiplam) being approved 2021 as first and only small molecule splicing modifier. Risdiplam is a safe, oral and chronic treatment for spinal muscular atrophy rescuing lives of multiple patients. With 15 years at ROCHE including leadership of the Rare Disease Discovery Group, and more than 6 years as co-founder and CEO and CSO at VERSAMEB from startup to IND, I have gone through all aspects (drug discovery, team leadership & management) and processes of implementing a scientific idea up to clinical maturity. I am retired Professor in Neurobiology at the University of Freiburg, and received my PhD degree in Biology in Tübingen, Germany, in pharmacology, open to support startups, Biotechs, Pharma and patient organizations as advisor, SAB or board member. Please contact me upon interest.
Skyhawk Therapeutics is a drug discovery and development company focused on revolutionizing disease treatment with small molecules that correct RNA expression. The Skyhawk founders are leading experts in small molecule therapeutics development for RNA-based disease, and the first drug candidates are targeted towards cancers and neurological conditions. The company is based in Waltham, Massachusetts, with a subsidiary in Basel, Switzerland. For more information, please visit: www.skyhawktx.com.
I am supporting companies in their preclinical efforts to advance small molecules, mRNAs, ASOs or therapeutic proteins towards clinical development. My scientific focus is on neuromuscular diseases, neurology and rare diseases.
- Lecturing in neurobiology, synaptic plasticity and neurological diseases - Recruitment of interns and Master students for industry fellowships - Mentoring of Master and PhD students
- Lecturing in neurobiology, synaptic plasticity and neurological diseases - Recruitment of interns and Master students for industry fellowships - Mentoring of Master and PhD students
Basic research - Neuronal development - Neuronal morphology - Protein kinases and growth factor signaling Lecturing and supervision of seminars and courses - Synaptic plasticity - Anatomy and histology
Libra Therapeutics is focused on developing novel disease-modifying therapeutics that can restore the cellular balance disrupted in neurodegenerative diseases. These include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease, which are all characterized by cellular disequilibrium caused by the production and decreased clearance of neurotoxic proteins. The company’s therapeutic platform is uniquely positioned to discover and develop small molecule drugs with distinct molecular approaches that can 1) increase autophagy to more rapidly clear toxic proteins and 2) attenuate the production of neurotoxic proteins.
VERSAMEB is a Swiss company located in Basel, Switzerland, developing a novel Generation of mRNA therapeutics. VERSAMEB has developed its VERSagile platform to optimize RNAs for protein expression and cellular targeting, thereby strongly enhancing RNA potency. With a large number of potential targets, VERSAMEB currently focuses on local applications to accelerate healing responses and prevent chronic complications in oncology and urology, and evaluates further options in various other therapeutic areas.
VERSAMEB is a Swiss company located in Basel, Switzerland, developing a novel Generation of mRNA therapeutics. VERSAMEB has developed its VERSagile platform to optimize RNAs for protein expression and cellular targeting, thereby strongly enhancing RNA potency. With a large number of potential targets, VERSAMEB currently focuses on local applications to accelerate healing responses and prevent chronic complications in oncology and urology, and evaluates further options in various other therapeutic areas.