Experience

Actelion (now Janssen Pulmonary Hypertension)

• Switzerland
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
• 500 - 600 Employee

• CoFounder

  • Dec 1997 - Present

  In 1997 I co-founded Actelion Pharmaceuticals in Allschwil, together with my four colleagues and friends, Jean-Paul and Martine Clozel, Thomas Widmann, and Andre Müller. Today, the company has over 2,400 employees worldwide and 1,000 employees in Allschwil, 350 of whom are employed in basic research and drug discovery. At present, Actelion has six products on the market for severe medical conditions. In 2001, Actelion’s first drug, Tracleer (bosentan), an endothelin receptor antagonist which was originally discovered at Roche by the Actelion founder team and which was licensed to Actelion, was approved by the US FDA for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a rapid-deterioration disease which was for the most part not diagnosed correctly and for which only cumbersome treatment was available. Tracleer has become a milestone treatment and, thanks to campaigns by Actelion, PAH is a disease that has become much better known. In 2013 the discovery of the second generation endothelin receptor antagonist macitentan (Opsumit) led to its approval by the FDA. This medical breakthrough resulted in a financial success which led to admittance into the SMI market index. In 2009 I relinquished my executive position at Actelion to focus on developing interactions between the public and private sectors, including amongst universities and Swiss Life Science politics. I have served as an external reviewer for academic research departments or major projects for the Swiss National Foundation. As a member of the Life Sciences Commission of the Basel Chamber of Commerce, I have helped to shape and improve the local and national framework for Life Sciences. At the end of 2012 I retired from my executive functions but remain a consultant to Actelion. Show less



Roche

• Switzerland
• Biotechnology Research
• 700 & Above Employee

• Project Leader

  • Aug 1982 - Nov 1997

  Extensive research and drug discovery work in the ANF, renin-angiotensin, and endothelin field. Discovery work by new screening technologies and rational drug design using computer-assisted molecular modelling studies. Discovery, description and EIM of the first peptido-mimetic renin inhibitor remikiren and its follow-up, ciprokiren, together with Jean-Paul Clozel. Major involvement in the extensive clinical pharmacology studies with breakthrough results. Subsequent discovery of the first non-peptide renin inhibitors. Discovery of human EDCF (endothelial-derived constricting factor) together with Martine Clozel, which was later identified as human endothelin. Description of the human endothelin receptors and the discovery of non-peptide antagonist lead structures which were the basis of the first potent non-peptide endothelin antagonists (eg. bosentan and tezosentan). In 1990 I received the Roche Research Award for excellence in research and discovery work. Show less