ViraTherapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company developing virus-based immunotherapeutics, which is backed by Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund (BIVF), has appointed Dr Heinz Schwer as CEO.
He takes over the position from interim CEO and co-founder Professor Dr Dorothee von Laer, who will remain a scientific adviser.
Schwer is a biotech executive with strong experience in strategic leadership, business development, M&A and drug development.
Prior to joining ViraTherapeutics, Schwer served as CEO of Lanthio Pharma at the time the company was acquired by MorphoSys. He was previously founder and CEO of Sloning BioTechnology, which was sold to MorphoSys, where he stayed to manage the integration of the Slonomics technology platform.
“I am very happy that we could attract Dr Schwer to join ViraTherapeutics as CEO. Fueled by our strong R&D partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim, ViraTherapeutics is transitioning from a pre-clinical stage company to a clinical stage company. We are convinced that Dr Schwer, with his experience and track record, is the right person to lead ViraTherapeutics into the future,” says Dr Klaus Schollmeier, chairman of the supervisory board of ViraTherapeutics.
Prof. Dr Dorothee von Laer says: “I am pleased that I can hand over my CEO responsibilities to a senior industry leader like Heinz Schwer. This will give me the time to fully concentrate on driving the science forward and ensuring that all research work at the Medical University of Innsbruck, at the Christian Doppler lab, at ViraTherapeutics and at our industry partner Boehringer Ingelheim is fully coordinated.”
Schwer says: “It is a pleasure to join an organisation that combines world-class scientific innovation, supportive venture capital and the experience of big pharma. I am very much looking forward to leading a great team of senior scientists and industry experts to develop a new immunotherapy platform to treat cancer.”