
ABOUT US
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, 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

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
Steve Kappenthuler, PhD
CBO & Co-Founder
Steve joined the team in 2019, playing a pivotal role in crafting the company’s business plan ahead of its official founding in 2020. Leveraging his interdisciplinary expertise in science and economics... more

Board of Directors

Thomas Meier, PhD
Chairman
Thomas has over 25 years of entrepreneurial, strategic and operational experience leading innovative biopharmaceutical companies through transitional periods in their corporate development and to rapid growth. more

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
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

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

Advisory Board

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

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
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

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


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

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
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

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

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

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
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

Nicolas Steinke, MSc
Head of Manufacturing
Nicolas joined the team as a GMP Production operator in September 2019. Having been a core part of the team which finalized the GMP- compliant process and manufactured the clinical batches for MUVON's clinical trials... more


Marcy Schürmann, PhD
Innovation Associate
Marcy joined MUVON’s Innovation Team in January 2025, bringing a wealth of expertise in molecular biology and translational science. After earning her PhD from the University of California-Riverside... more
Regulatory & Quality Affairs

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

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
Rita Pettinello, PhD
Senior 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

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

Clinical Trial Management & Medical Affairs

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

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