Stefan-Alexander Albrecht, MD, PhD

Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at Merz Therapeutics - Leading R&D and Medical for tomorrow´s pharma solutions

Frankfurt Rhine-Main Metropolitan Area

About

Stefan Albrecht is the Chief Scientific & Medical Officer and Managing Director Global R&D and Medical at Merz Therapeutics. He has led teams of over 450 scientists and experts in Europe and the USA. Currently he oversees all global R&D operations across the therapeutic fields of Merz products. He brings over twenty-five years of experience in Pharma and Healthcare, leading international R&D and medical teams including Regulatory Affairs, Product Safety and Project Management. He and his teams have advanced multiple development projects through international registration and successful launch. Under Stefan’s leadership, Merz has since 2015 achieved about 30 Rx drug approvals and medical device clearances by US FDA, EU EMA, Japan PMDA and several local regulatory authorities in up to 120 countries. In his current role he provides scientific guidance on company strategy and operating decisions, setting pipeline development and performance goals for the global R&D and medical teams. Stefan received his medical degree and doctorate in clinical pharmacology from the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany where he was also board certified as Neurologist. He started his career as a practicing medical doctor, moved later into pharma industry taking on roles of increasing seniority in Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim and Merz, mastering challenges and taking the chance to contribute to improving the treatment options of many patients. Creating an open culture, taking care of his teams, achieving ambitious goals together, guiding and developing colleagues with a cohesive leadership style, that is what he is passionate about. Always with an eye on, achieving “better outcomes for more patients”.

Experience

  • Board Member Vensica Medical at Vensica Medical
    Jun 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 2 mos

  • Merz Therapeutics (6 yrs 4 mos)
    • Chief Scientific and Medical Officer. Managing Director Merz Therapeutics
      Mar 2022 - Present · 4 yrs 5 mos

      Area of responsibility: Global R&D and Medical Affairs, Project Management, Regulatory Affairs, Product Safety and QA.

    • Chief Scientific and Medical Officer / SVP Global R&D & Medical Affairs / Global Leadership Team
      Apr 2020 - Mar 2022 · 2 yrs

      Area of responsibility Global R&D, Clinical Development, Non-clinical Development, Biotechnology, Regulatory Affairs, Product Safety, Project Management, Medical Affairs and QA, world wide for the Merz Therapeutic Business. HC = 160. Budget responsibility approx. 50 MEUR

  • Merz Pharma Group (10 yrs)
    • Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) / Senior Vice President Global R&D / Merz Pharma Board Member
      Feb 2015 - Apr 2020 · 5 yrs 3 mos

      Global Research & Development and Medical Affairs Global accountability for R&D pipeline, international R&D sites (USA / Germany), portfolio and LCM strategy, global medical affairs strategy. Area of responsibility: non-clinical sciences, biotechnology, clinical development and operations, project management, QA, regulatory affairs, product safety, medical affairs departments. Medical Device product development. People Management (HC >450)/ Budget responsibility > 140 MEUR Board certified Neurologist

    • Head Global R&D CNS and Clinical Development Operations. Vice President
      May 2014 - Jan 2015 · 9 mos

      The Vice President of Global R&D CNS and Global Clinical Development Operations (GCDO) leads and manages the international drug research and development teams consisting out of the following groups: Non-clinical Science, Biological Analytics, Outcome Research, Clinical Research, Clinical Operations, Biostatistics, Public Disclosure and Scientific Information. Main responsibilities of the position include the drug pipeline and development strategy. A major accountability is to maintain and drive the standards of scientific and operational excellence in the corporate R&D organization on international level. The Head of Global R&D CNS and GCDO reports directly to the CSO, is a member of the Global R&D leadership team and the Merz project and portfolio review boards. The Head of Global R&D CNS & GCDO leads a group of around 85 people (incl. 8 direct reports).

    • Head of Global R&D CNS. Executive Director
      Jan 2014 - Apr 2014 · 4 mos

      The Executive Director of Global R&D CNS leads and manages the international drug research and development teams consisting out of the following groups: (Safety-)Pharmacology, Toxicology, Biological Analytics, Outcome Research, Clinical Research, Scientific Information. Main responsibilities of the position include the drug development strategy and innovation. A major accountability is to maintain and drive the standards of medical and scientific excellence in the corporate R&D organization on global level. The Head of Global R&D CNS reports directly to the CSO, is a member of the global R&D leadership team and the project and portfolio review boards. The Head of Global R&D has disciplinary responsibility for a group of 40 (incl. 7 direct reports).

  • Senior Corporate Medical Director CNS at Boehringer Ingelheim
    2005 - 2010 · 5 yrs

    International responsibility for the medical/scientific management of Pramipexole (SIFROL; MIRAPEX).

  • Senior Medical Advisor at Pfizer
    2001 - 2005 · 4 yrs

    National responsibility for the medical/scientific management of Sildenafile (VIAGRA) and Urology franchise products.