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ABOUT US

History

About MUVON

Therapeutics

MUVON Therapeutics is a clinical stage Life Science Spin-off from the University of Zurich developing a novel therapy platform for the regeneration of skeletal muscle tissue based on autologous cells. We aim to provide safe,  effective and affordable treatments to millions of patients suffering from seriously debilitating diseases by not only repairing damaged tissue but also increase the regenerative potential of weakened muscles. Our initial area of focus is the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women, supporting them respectfully throughout their journey to a healthy life.

The History

The research behind our technology began over 12 years ago in the laboratory of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of the University of Zurich. Following the completion of preclinical Proof of Concept studies demonstrating the efficacy and safety of our therapy for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in 2015, an international consortium led by the University of Zurich was established with the goal of transferring these results from the lab to the clinic. This project was given the acronym MUS.I.C. www.music2020.ch and is completely funded through a H2020 grant from the European Union. Having completed all necessary documentation and the GMP validation of the production process, the first in-human trial using our novel therapeutic approach began in January 2020 at the University Hospital of Zurich and was completed successfully in September 2021.

To ensure that this promising therapy and technology is developed further clinically as well as commercially and made available to the millions of patients in need, we decided to intensify our efforts and found a startup. Thus, MUVON Therapeutics was born.

MUVON is currently being accelerated by the Wyss Zurich Translational Center, which enabled the setup and initiation of a phase II clinical trial, which is currently ongoing.

Management

Deana Mohr CEO MUVON

Deana Mohr, PhD

CEO & Co-Founder

Deana has been central to the development of the science behind MUVON from the very beginning. The results of her seminal PhD thesis were the final step before the authorization... more

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Jenny Prange, PhD
CTO & Co-Founder

Jenny joined the MUS.I.C. project in February 2017 and was responsible for the setup of the GMP-compliant production of muscle precursor cells as well as management of the production team... more

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Managemet

Steve Kappenthuler, PhD

CBO & Co-Founder

Steve joined the team in 2019 during the last year of his PhD and since March 2020 is fully committed to the growth of MUVON.With his interdisciplinary background in science and economics... more

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Marcus Droege, PhD MBA
CCO

Marcus is a globally accomplished biopharmaceutical executive with extensive experience directing integrated commercialization initiatives of innovative medicines. He has contributed to global launches... more

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Board of Directors

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Chris Jäggi

Chairman

Chris holds a Bachelor's degree of Science and a Master's degree in Business Administration. He supports the team with his extensive experience in the areas of strategy, market analytics, ... more

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Jonathan Grahm

Jonathan studied Business Administration at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) and holds a Master’s degree in Marketing, Services & Communications Management. He is currently CMO ... more

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Deana Mohr, PhD

Deana has been central to the development of the science behind MUVON from the very beginning. The results of her seminal PhD thesis were the final step before the authorization... more

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Branimir Brankov, PhD
 

Branimir Brankov is a Pharma industry leader, a Medical Doctor with 30+ years of Pharmaceutical industry experience.  His experience includes... establishing and turning around business in multiple therapies ... more

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Advisory Board
 

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Prof. Christopher R. Chapple,
BSc MBBS MD FRCS (Urol) FEBU DHC

Christopher Chapple is a Consultant Urological Surgeon at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Honorary Professor at University of Sheffield and Visiting Professor at Sheffield Hallam University. He is particularly interested in... more

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Dorothea Ledergerber, PhD

Dorothea is a C-Suite and Board level experienced Pharmacist with extensive practice in research, development, manufacturing and supply of pharmaceutical products. Her background spans a
wide range of accountabilities in the field of small molecules and cell & gene therapies....
more

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Prof. Grannum R. Sant,MA, MB BCh BAO (Hons), MD, FRCS, FACS

Grannum is Professor and former Chair of Urology and Urology Residency Program Director at Tufts University School of Medicine. He graduated MB, BCh, BAO (Hons.) and M.D. (by thesis) from...  more

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Christine Günther, MD PhD

Christine Günther has more than 30 years of experience developing cell therapies from bench to bedside including more than 12 yrs experience as CEO and Medical Director of Munich-based Biotech apceth (now Minaris)... more

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Prof. Daniel Eberli, MD PhD

Prof. Daniel Eberli, MD, PhD, is Senior Attending Physician at the Department of Urology (University Hospital Zurich) since 2011. He founded the Laboratory for Stem Cell Therapy and Tissue Engineering (2008) ... more

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Cornelia Betschart, PD Dr. med

PD Dr. med. Cornelia Betschart Meier, MD completed her specialist training in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2006. For her subspecialty training in Urogynecology she did a Research Fellowship from 2011-2013 ... more

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Prof. Stergios Doumouchtsis,

MD PhD

Prof. Stergios Doumouchtsis is currently a Consultant Obstetrician Gynaecologist and subspecialist Urogynaecologist in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust... more

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Christoph Herwig, PhD

Christoph Herwig is a distinguished bioprocess engineer with a Dipl. Ing. from RWTH Aachen and a PhD in bioprocess identification from EPFL, Switzerland. From 2008 to 2023, he served as a full professor of biochemical engineering at the Vienna University of Technology...more

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Innovation &
Production

Giacomo Cattaruzzi,  PhD
Innovation Director

 

Giacomo joined the team in September 2023 to to identify areas where innovation can be leveraged to create novel products, processes and services... more

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Beatrix Rauch,  MAS MTEC
Innovation Manager
 

Beatrix joined the team in the beginning of 2021. With her broad work experience in many R&D labs internationally and her interdisciplinary background... more

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Paul Kroll,  PhD
Bioprocess Engineer
 

Paul joined MUVON in October 2023 to intensify the teams process development efforts.He is a passionate process engineer with a strong focus... more

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Yvonne Neldner, Dipl. Ing.
GMP Technician & Clinical Trial Coordinator

Yvonne joined MUVON in October 2021 to support the production and R&D team. After finishing her studies in Biotechnology at the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences she gained experience in basic research.... more

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Nicolas Steinke, MSc
GMP Manager & Deputy Production Team Leader

Nicolas joined the team as a GMP Production operator in September 2019. He has since helped finalize the GMP-compliant process and is a core member of the production team... more

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Matthias Graf, MSc
GMP Manager & Deputy Production Team Leader

Matthias joined MUVON in December 2023 to support the GMP production team. After completing a Bsc in Biotechnolgy he acquired hands on experience in the manufacturing of CAR-T cell therapies and... more

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Natalie Hensky, MSc GMP Technician

Natalie joined the MUS.I.C. project as a GMP production operator in October 2020 and is now a core member of the MUVON production team. Additionally, ... more

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Abiram Gopalakrishnan, MSc R&D Associate

Abiram joined MUVON in September 2024 to strengthen the teams R&D efforts. After finishing his MSc studies in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at Zurich University of Applied Sciences, he gained... more

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Regulatory & Quality Affairs

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Milena Brankov, MSc, MBA
Regulatory Affairs

 

Milena joined the team as an external consultant in July 2021 to lead the regulatory work related to Muvon’s innovative products and technologies. Milena has a strong scientific and business background... more

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Ivan Maggio, Dipl. Ing.
Quality Director

Ivan joined MUVON in October 2022 to support the team in quality affairs. After moving to Switzerland in 2001, he started working in the pharmaceutical and diagnostics industry,... more

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Rita Pettinello, PhD
Quality Manager

Rita joined MUVON in March 2022. After completing her BSc in Biological Sciences at the University of Lausanne, she continued her studies at the university of Aberdeen, where she completed her PhD... more

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Heike Herbert
Executive Assistant & Regulatory/Quality Affairs Associate

Heike joined MUVON in February 2023. She is supporting the team in her double role as Executive Assistant and RA & QA Associate. She has worked 12 years in several Medical Device companies and...more

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Clinical Trial Management & Medical Affairs

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Markus Veit
Clinical Trial Manager

Markus joined the Team in April 2021 towards the end of the MUS.I.C. project and is responsible for the coordination between the GMP team and the hospital team. For this he could rely both on his experience form being a trained nurse... more

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John Coelho
Medical Affairs

 

John joined MUVON in June 2022  to support the team in medical affairs. John’s career has focused on enterprise medical strategy for global diversified pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies ... more

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Olga Olst
Clinical Data Manager

Olga joined MUVON in April 2024, taking on the role of Clinical Data Manager. With an MSC in Molecular Biology and Genetics earned from Imperial College London, Olga brings extensive experience from the pharmaceutical industry in both the UK and Switzerland.... more

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