Phi Pharma, management

Management

Franco Merckling, PhD (Chief Executive Officer)

Dr. Merckling brings more than 20 years of experience in biotech with both young biotech companies and large pharma including in the field of oncology. Among his past achievements, he successfully sold Kenta Biotech AG, a monoclonal antibody biotech company active in the field of treatment-resistant severe infections. He brings a wealth of experience in company management, commercial affairs and product development. Dr. Franco Merckling has a Master in Chemistry from the University of Basel, and a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Zurich.

Christophe Bonny, PhD (Co-founder, Board member and Scientific Advisor)

Dr. Bonny has over 20 years’ experience in the field of molecular biology and signalling pathways, has authored over 70 scientific publications and is an inventor on several patents. He works as CSO of Enterome in Paris France since 2016. He discovered D-JNKI, a cell permeable peptide inhibitor of the JNK protein, which formed the basis for the creation of the biotechnology company Xigen SA in 2003. In 2005, he received the Pfizer Research Prize for this discovery and the molecule is currently in Phase III clinical trials for hearing loss. Between 2012 and 2016, he was CSO of Bicycle Therapeutics in Cambridge UK. Between 2006 and 2011, he was CSO of Xigen SA (Switzerland). Previously, he also held the position of Head of Research of the Medical Genetics unit at Lausanne University Hospital (Switzerland) and a prior to this was a Research Fellow at Northwestern University (US). Dr. Bonny obtained a PhD from the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland), and completed a business and entrepreneurship program at Babson College (US).

Dirk Weber, MD (Medical Advisor)

Dr. Weber is an MD, PhD with 12+ years of Pharma Industry experience in oncology drug development from global leadership positions (Merck, Novartis, Takeda). He has worked in early- and late-stage clinical development programs which included interactions with all major regulatory authorities, dossier filing and successful lead of submission teams. He also has extensive experience in conducting Medical Affairs activities to prepare markets for commercial launches. He has longstanding oncology drug development expertise with major brands (Afinitor, Patupilone, Sandostatin, Erbitux, Matuzumab, Adcetris, Ixazomib, Alisertib, Mepact). He has excellent regulatory filing and launch experience throughout career. His extended leadership experience he gained by leading clinical teams at Merck and Novartis as well as by leading the EM regional office of Takeda Oncology as Medical Director with managing the medical strategy of the oncology portfolio in 30+ Emerging Market countries. He is co-founder of Aurealis Pharma and Cellestia Biotech SA and represents both companies as Chief Medical Officer.

Fabrice Chenaux (Co-founder and Chief Intellectual Property Officer)

Fabrice Chenaux has over 18 years of experience in the Management, Quality/Regulatory and Design and Development of medical devices. He has more than 10 years of experience in the Intellectual Property strategy and portfolio management and has filed over 50 patents, including 20 patents or patent pending as the inventor. Fabrice Chenaux has co-founded and is active in several startup companies. He holds a Master in Microtechnical engineering.