Peter Hertig is a highly experienced entrepreneur, investor, and business strategist with a distinguished career spanning multiple industries, including private equity, real estate, automotive, and pharmaceuticals. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors at RDP Pharma AG, leveraging his decades of leadership experience to guide the company’s strategic direction.

His entrepreneurial journey began in the 1960s, leading him to acquire and transform TOGO AG into a key supplier for the automotive industry before successfully selling it to the EMS Group and serving as board member for several years and leading corporate projects.

Beyond corporate leadership, Mr. Hertig has been actively involved in private investments, particularly in real estate and agriculture in the U.S. and Brazil. His international experience extends to chairing BrancoCel SA’s high-yield pulp M&A projects in Brazil and partnering with GermanCapital GmbH, a private equity fund based in Munich.
A lifelong advocate for executive education, Mr. Hertig has attended senior executive courses at IMD Lausanne and Management Center St. Gallen. He has also been a long-time member of influential leadership organizations such as YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization) and CEO (Chief Executives Organization).

Dr. Michael Ahrweiler, PhD is a seasoned life sciences entrepreneur and business leader with decades of experience in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and business development. As Co-Founder, Board Member and Head of Business Development at RDP Pharma AG and Valdospan GmbH, he plays a pivotal role in shaping strategic growth and innovation in the biopharmaceutical sector.

With a strong foundation in chemistry, Dr. Ahrweiler earned his Chemistry Diploma and later his Doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.) from Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg. His expertise spans business development, strategic management, and life sciences investments, gained through leadership roles in companies such as CellProtect Patent AG, and TUBE Pharmaceuticals GmbH. Additionally, he has extensive experience in corporate sales and client relations from his tenure at Carbogen AMCIS AG and Parexel GmbH.

Beyond his corporate engagements, Dr. Ahrweiler is an active member of key industry associations, including the Drug Information Association (DIA), the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker (GDCh), and Dechema’s Biotechnology Section. He also serves on the board of RDP Pharma AG.

Dr. Christian Kühne, PhD, is the Founder of Valdospan GmbH, Chief Scientific Officer and board member of RDP. His extensive career in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries includes founding MRIT lab srl in Italy and leading Adriacell SpA as CEO and Chairman from 2008 to 2012. Prior to these positions, he was the Chief Scientific Officer and Founder of Adriacell Srl.

Dr. Kühne's academic credentials are equally impressive, with a PhD obtained from the Institute for Tumorbiology in Vienna, and postdoctoral research conducted at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel. His career began in notable scientific roles, including a staff scientist position at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology and a civil servant role with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

Susanne Oellrich is a highly accomplished entrepreneur and executive leader with extensive experience in the life sciences, clinical research, and pharmaceutical industries. As Co-founder and CEO of RDP Pharma AG, she plays a key role in shaping the company’s strategic vision and business growth.

With a strong background in mathematics, Susanne Oellrich began her career as a Statistician in the pharmaceutical and clinical research sectors. She co-founded and managed biodat GmbH, a data management and statistics focused CRO which she later sold to PAREXEL International, marking the start of a distinguished 20-year tenure at PAREXEL International. There, she held multiple high-ranking positions, including Corporate VP of Clinical Research Services, Head of Operations for Asia Pacific, and Corporate VP of eClinical Solutions & Training and she was a member of the Executive Committee.

Dr. Markus Muellner, PhD, is an accomplished scientist, entrepreneur, and research leader specializing in life sciences, drug discovery, and biotechnology. As the CTO at RDP Pharma AG and Valdospan GmbH, he drives cutting-edge innovation in biologics and pharmaceutical research.
Dr. Muellner holds a PhD in Life Sciences from the Institute for Medical Chemistry in Vienna and an MSc in Life Sciences from the University of Vienna. With a strong foundation in bioinformatics, mechatronics, and robotics, he combines computational and experimental approaches to advance drug discovery.
His extensive career spans leadership roles across academia, startups, and industry. He previously served as CSO and Head of R&D at Celeris Therapeutics GmbH, where he led strategic research initiatives. Prior to that, he was CTO and Head of R&D at Phoremost Ltd in Cambridge, where he spearheaded key partnerships and technology development. His consulting firm, Muellner Consulting, provided business and technology strategy services to biotech companies.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Muellner was a Senior Postdoc at CeMM (Sebastian Nijman Lab) and worked as a bioinformatician at the Medical University of Vienna, applying computational techniques to public health research.

Dr. Wolfgang Meyer, PhD, board-certified pharmacist and pharmacologist by training, is a seasoned pharmaceutical executive with almost four decades of experience in all relevant areas of late-stage drug discovery and international drug development. Among many other things, he served as Qualified Person for Drug Release in the EU and as responsible Drug Safety Officer (“Stufenplanbeauftragter” according to the German Drug Law), and he was responsible for the international regulatory strategy for several early and late-stage drug development projects. As a Co-founder of RDP Pharma, he is an Advisor to the Company.

Wolfgang worked for several Big Pharma firms and biotech companies, encompassing Wyeth, Fujisawa/Klinge Pharma, GPC Biotech, Wilex, Micromet, and Onconova. During his long industry career, he held various managerial and leadership positions. He also worked as consultant for Big Pharma and biotech companies. He was instrumental in the international development and approval of several blockbuster drugs, including venlafaxine, tacrolimus, bendamustine, and blinatumomab, and he was also deeply involved in major indication/formulation extensions for some established cancer and CNS drugs. He worked on numerous anti-cancer drugs in later stage discovery and preclinical/early clinical development.. Next to RDP Pharma, Wolfgang was a co-founder of three other biotech start-up companies, including Valdospan.

He is an active member of DIA, ASCO, DGPharmMed, DPhG, DGRA, and TOPRA.

Dr. Udo Kiessling, M.D., Dr. rer. nat., Dr. med. habil. is a distinguished medical and pharmaceutical expert with extensive experience in clinical development, pharmacovigilance, and medical affairs. As the Chief Medical Officer at RDP Pharma AG, he oversees clinical strategy and regulatory compliance, ensuring the highest standards in drug development and patient safety.

With a medical degree from Moscow State University, followed by doctoral degree in virology, Dr. Kiessling has dedicated his career to advancing biomedical research and pharmaceutical innovation. He received a habilitation degree in medicine and has been a faculty member at the Medical School of Hanover since 1993 and has contributed extensively to the fields of oncology, virology, and pharmacology.

Dr. Kiessling spent 15 years at PAREXEL International, where he held senior leadership roles, including Corporate Vice President & Chief Medical Officer. He played a pivotal role in shaping global medical affairs, clinical research, and regulatory strategy. Prior to that, he led clinical research at Essex Pharma/Schering-Plough in Germany.

Since 2012, he has been a consultant in clinical development and pharmacovigilance through his firm, Kiessling Pharma Consulting. His expertise in regulatory strategy, drug safety, and clinical trial oversight has been instrumental in advancing innovative therapeutics.

Dr. Kiessling is an active member of ASCO.

Dr. Luis Bettinelli, PhD, is a highly experienced clinical research executive with over 35 years of leadership in the biotech, pharmaceutical, and medical device sectors. He holds a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine and a PhD in Pathology. Dr. Bettinelli has played a pivotal role in developing innovative development strategies from discovery to commercialization, with a focus on cutting-edge technologies.

He has held senior positions, including VP of Strategic Programs at ICON plc, and VP at CureVac AG, where he led global clinical operations during the development of an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine. As COO at RDP Pharma AG, he oversees research activities related to antivirals and oncology. Dr. Bettinelli is adept at integrating digital health solutions, AI, and real-world data to streamline complex, patient-centric clinical trials. His expertise encompasses regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, health technology assessment, health economics and outcomes research , and market access, all of which support comprehensive go-to-market strategies.

As the founder of QaliKay Lifesciences, he fosters innovation through operational modeling and digital transformation.

Dr. Martin Bolli, PhD, is a strong research professional who received his training in synthetic organic chemistry from the ETH Zürich, University of Bern, The Scripps Research Institutes, and the University of Cambridge. He has collected more than 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry in various management positions in drug discovery chemistry. With his team, Dr. Bolli discovered drugs drugs like Macitentan (Opsumit) for pulmonary arterial hypertension, Aprocitentan (Tryvio) for resistant hypertension, and Ponesimod (Ponvory) for multiple sclerosis and a number of molecules that are in preclinical and clinical testing. As an expert in medicinal with more than 100 scientific papers and patent applications he is supporting RDP’s efforts to discover and develop novel drugs.

An advocate for team empowerment, Dr. Bolli fosters a collaborative research environment that emphasizes growth and success. He is known for his strong leadership, strategic insight, and effective communication skills, facilitating successful project outcomes and scientific advancements.

Dr. Florian Kellner, PhD is a distinguished immunologist and molecular biologist with a strong background in both academia and industry. He currently serves as the Head of the Biology Department at RDP Pharma AG in Switzerland and Valdospan GmbH in Austria, where he leads research and development efforts. Prior to that appointment he was heading Valdospan’s Biologics Unit, focusing on the development of therapeutic large molecules.

Dr. Kellner earned his PhD in immunology from the Medical University of Vienna, building on a Master’s degree in molecular biology with a specialization in molecular medicine from the University of Vienna. His academic foundation also includes a Bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Vienna and a high school diploma from the Federal Secondary College for Chemical Engineering.

Dr. Antony Crisp, PhD, is an accomplished researcher in the field of organic chemistry and currently serves as Head of the Chemistry Department at Valdospan GmbH and RDP. With deep expertise in both small molecule and oligonucleotide chemistries, he is driven by a passion for leveraging ever-evolving tools and strategies of organic chemistry to advance innovation in biotech. Prior to his current role, Dr. Crisp held a position as a Research Scientist, and Head of Quality Control at Baseclick GmbH, Germany. He holds a Doctorate in Natural Sciences from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and graduated earlier with First-Class Honors in Organic Chemistry from the Australian National University.

Dr. Katharina Strasser-Urbanek, PhD, is a distinguished biomedical scientist and expert in clinical experimental oncology. Formerly Head of the Oncology Unit at Valdospan GmbH, she transitioned into a key role in project management, contributing to the planning and execution of programs focused on the discovery and preclinical development of innovative cancer therapies.

Dr. Strasser-Urbanek earned her PhD in Clinical Experimental Oncology from the Medical University of Vienna and she holds a Master of Science in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine from FH Technikum Wien (University of Applied Sciences), Vienna, Austria, and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science from FH Campus Wien (University of Applied Sciences), Vienna, Austria.. She has gained extensive research experience through positions at the Medical University of Vienna, BIDMC/Harvard Medical School, and CBmed, specializing in cancer biology, immunology, and biomarker research.

Dr. Paulina Pacak, PhD is a Computational Scientist specializing in computational structural biology, cheminformatics and applied data science. . At RDP Pharma, she leads computational chemistry initiatives focused on drug discovery, specializing in advanced modeling techniques, simulation-based analyses, and optimization strategies to support the development of therapeutic solutions.

With a strong background in interdisciplinary research, Dr. Pacak has collaborated with academic institutions such as the ETH Zurich, University of Basel and industry partners, including Swiss startups in the biotech sector. In addition to her Doctor of Sciences ETH Zurich degree, she holds an M.Sc. in In-silico Drug Design from the University of Paris Diderot and a B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis. Active in the Swiss bioinformatics community, Dr. Pacak is a board member and organizes scientific events to foster collaboration and innovation.

Nathan Ehrlich is a Business Development Manager at RDP Pharma AG, where he focuses on identifying and cultivating strategic partnerships to drive business growth. His expertise spans across biotechnology, life sciences, and quality management, providing valuable insights into both technical and commercial aspects of business development.

Nathan holds an MBA from Webster University, Vienna, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Pittsburgh. His previous roles include Technical Key Account Manager at Platomics GmbH, Quality Manager and Business Development Manager at Smile Projektentwicklungs GmbH, and Laboratory Manager at Max F. Perutz Laboratories.

His career also includes research positions at Molecular Biology Research Institutes such as Magee-Womens Research Institute and West Penn Allegheny Health systems. He is also the Chief Editor of English Technical Editing, where he supports researchres and academics in producing scientifically accurate and polished content.

Dr. Kilian Schärli, PhD is our Secretariat of the Board and a Partner and Attorney at Law at MLL Meyerlustenberger Lachenal Froriep in Zug/Zurich, Switzerland, where he also serves as a Civil Law Notary of the Canton Zug. With a strong background in international business and trade law, Kilian has built a distinguished career in legal practice, having worked in a range of prestigious roles since 2008.

He began his career at UBS Investment Bank as a Legal Intern before progressing through various positions, including Junior Associate at Bär & Karrer and Associate Attorney at Global Trade Expertise in Chicago. Since 2012, he has been a pivotal part of MLL, moving from an Associate to a Partner by 2019. In addition to his law firm work, Kilian holds several important academic qualifications, including a Dr. iur. PhD in Law from the University of Lucerne and an LL.M. in International Business and Trade Law from The John Marshall Law School, Chicago.

He is an active member of professional organizations, including the Licensing Executive Society (LES), the Swiss Institute for IP Rights (INGRES), and the Bar Association of the Canton Zug.

Lucia Helbig is a researcher with expertise in disease biology, toxicology, and molecular biology. At RDP Pharma AG, she contributes to quality management and scientific project support, especially in the MYC research project.
She gained first experience in biomedical research through her Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Konstanz and an internship at Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research in Basel.

For her achievements in the Bachelor’s degree, she was awarded a competitive grant for the “Disease Biology” Priority Track within the Master’s degree program. This allowed her to gain hands-on experience in pharmacology and toxicology, immunology, as well as protein research. The Master thesis focused on investigating developmental toxicants using high-throughput in vitro methods, including neural crest cell migration assays and high-content imaging.

Stefanie Langner is an experienced professional with a diverse background in marketing, administration, and project management. She currently works as a Senior Project Manager at RDP Pharma AG.

Stefanie's career began in 2003 with an apprenticeship at UBS AG. She later joined BDO AG in Zurich, where she held various roles from 2008 to 2020, ultimately serving as the Head of Marketing and Administration for Zurich and Eastern Switzerland. During her career, she has also worked at C-Matrix Communication as a Junior Consultant and at Odgers Berndtson as the Marketing, Communication, and Administration Manager and in the security department of the canton of Zurich.

Stefanie holds several academic qualifications, including a CAS in Marketing and Customer Management from the University of St. Gallen, a CAS in Marketing and Corporate Communication from ZHAW School of Management and Law, and a Bachelor in Economic and Political Science from ZHAW.

Ulrich Siegenthaler-Stucki is a seasoned finance professional with over 40 years of experience in accounting, financial management, human resources administration, and IT solutions. He has held key positions at distinguished companies, including Schott-Forma Vitrum AG, Migros, Eftec AG, Oertli Instrumente AG, HPH Hardegger AG and Sunnen AG.

His expertise encompasses the implementation of financial systems such as Abacus and SAP as well as adherence to international accounting standards, including IFRS and US GAAP.

With a solid foundation in Controlling, he is proficient in accounting and VAT, enhancing his ability to manage complex financial data. Ulrich holds a Controller’s Diploma and has completed numerous leadership courses. He is a native German speaker, is fluent in French, and conversational in English.

Prof. Dr. Axel Zander is a distinguished medical professional with extensive experience in hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplantation. As the Chief of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Center at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany, a position he has held since 1990, Prof. Zander has led pioneering advancements in the field. He also serves as a Scientific Advisor at RDP Pharma AG, Romanshorn, Switzerland, and holds a Guest Professorship at Tongji Medical University, Wuhan, China.

Prof. Zander’s illustrious career includes numerous academic and leadership roles. He has served as Interim Chief BMT and Visiting Professor at the University of Utah's Huntsman Cancer Center, and held Visiting Professorships at MD Anderson, USA, and St. Petersburg State Pavlov Medical University. He has been actively involved in organizations such as the German Society for Hematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO), where he served as President (2005–2008), and as a member of the executive committee of CIBMTR.

His educational journey began in Munich and Lübeck Medical School, followed by medical internships in Berlin and an extensive residency and fellowship training in the United States. Throughout his career, Prof. Zander has contributed to global medical research and innovation, earning international recognition as a Fellow at the American College of Physicians and as an active member of esteemed organizations such as the American Society of Hematology, the Transplantation Society, and the International Society of Experimental Hematology.