Vision

“We are enhancing quality of life by providing ground-breaking therapies.”

Leadership

TOPADUR Pharma AG is built on a Leadership Team.

Dr. Reto Naef

Founder | CEO a.i.

Reto Naef is the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) a.i. of TOPADUR Pharma AG. He has more than 30 years of leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He is author of 15 patents and made key contributions to several drugs on the market. Dr. Naef holds a PhD in chemistry from the ETH Zurich and an MBA from the University of Zurich.

PD Dr. Matthias Schäfer

CIO | Deputy CEO a.i.

Matthias Schäfer is Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) and Deputy CEO a.i. He brings over 20 years of experience in the Life Science sector. As seasoned international executive he combines management and in-depth research skills. PD Dr. Schäfer is also a consultant and a lecturer at the ETH Zurich. He holds a PhD in Biology and has (co-)authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications.

Dr. Hermann Tenor

CSO

Hermann Tenor is the Chief Science Officer (CSO). He accumulates over 25 years of industrial drug discovery and development experience. Dr. Tenor was involved in the non-clinical characterization of a first-in-class marketed product. He is co-author of 50 scientific publications and holds an MD from the Martin-Luther University Halle Wittenberg.

Dr. Christian Ludin

CDO | Head of Legal

Christian Ludin is the Chief Development Officer (CDO). He has more than 20 years of experience in preclinical and clinical drug development. Dr. Ludin is co-inventor of 13 patents and author of 15 publications and made significant contributions to the development of several drug candidates. He holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Freiburg i. B. and an LLM in Law from the University of Zurich.

Board of Directors

Dr. Reto Naef

Chair since 2015

Prime Force consultant for scientific affairs, Novartis.
February 2015 – Now
CEO & Founder TOPADUR Pharma.
2015 – 2023
Head Research Operations Switzerland, Novartis.
January 2004 – February 2010

Prof. Dr. Günther Wess

Member since 2015

Chairman, Aventis Foundation.
Former Director of the Helmholtz Center in Munich till 2018.
Cardiovascular diseases, Diabetes and Oncology, Former Europe Head Research Höchst, Aventis.

Pascal Brenneisen

Member since 2015

Member Board of Directors, BioCopy.
September 2019 – Now
Chairman of the Board & Co-Founder, Bottmedical AG.
May 2019 – Now

Dr. Dominik Escher

Member since 2018

Chairman, CDR-Life.
January 2017 - Now
Managing Partner Pureos Bioventures.
2017 - Now‍
CEO & Founder, ESBATech.
September 1998 - 2016

Silvia Scherer

Member since 2020

CEO, Hairstetics.
2016 – Now
CEO, Medaesthetis.
January 2014 – Now
Managing Director & General Manager, Anteis.
2003 – 2013

Dr. Daniel L. Vasella

Member since 2020

Honorary Chairman of the Board of Directors, Novartis.
2013 - Now
Chairman of the Board, Novartis.
April 1999 – February 2013
CEO, Novartis.
May 1996 – February 2010

Dr. Christian Ludin

Secretary of the Board

Chief Development Officer & Head of Legal, TOPADUR Pharma.
February 2019 – Now
Head of IP & Contracts, Polyphor Ltd.
January 2002 – February 2018
Group Leader, DSM.
September 1996 – January 2002

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History

TOPADUR Pharma AG was founded in 2015 by R&D experts with significant experience in pharmaceutical industry.

2024

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

2023

January

February

March

April

Pascal Brenneisen: new Chief Executive Officer

May

June

July

August

September

TOP 100 Scale-ups

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October

Innosuisse grant awarded

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November

December

Transnational project launch with South Korea
Start-up Innovation Project funding from Innosuisse received

2022

January

February

March

The European Patent Office granted a patent covering TOP-N53 used for the treatment of chronic wounds.

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April

Innosuisse grant awarded

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May

Innosuisse grant awarded

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June

July

August

September

TOP 100 Scale-ups

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October

November

December

2021

January

Innosuisse grant awarded

‍

February

March

April

May

June

July

Submission to EMA of Orphan Drug Designation application for TOP-N53

Completion of TOP-N53 First-in-Man Study

August

September

October

Positive results from TOP-N53 FIH study

EMA granted TOP-N53 ODD for the treatment of Digital ulcers in Systemic sclerosis

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November

December

2020

January

February

March

April

May

Filing of fourth patent

June

July

Dr. Daniel Vasella: new Board Member

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August

September

Dosing of First Healthy Subjects in Phase 1 Clinical Study of TOP-N53
Top100 Swiss Startups

October

November

December

2019

January

February

March

Filing of third patent

April

May

Innosuisse grant awarded

June

July

August

September

Winner of the 6th Dong Sheng Entrepreneurs Cup in Beijing, China
Top100 Swiss Startups

October

November

Winner of the Young Entrepreneur Award

December

2018

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

Winner Swiss Innovation Challenge

September

Successful Series B Financial Round
Top100 Swiss Startups 2018

October

Innosuisse grant awarded

November

Winner of the prestigious Swiss Economic Award

December

2017

January

CTI grant awarded

February

March

April

Filing of second patent

May

June

July

August

September

Top100 Swiss Startups

October

November

December

2016

January

EUROSTARS grant awarded

February

March

CTI grant awarded

April

Successful Series A Financial Round

May

June

CTI Certification

July

August

Winner Venture Leaders Life Science

September

Top 100 Swiss Startups

October

November

December

Winner IMD Startup

2015

January

February

March

Foundation Topadur Pharma AG

April

Technical Closing Seed funding

May

June

Co-Winner Pitching Battle CEO day

July

Coaching Acceptance granted by CTI Committee

August

September

October

November

Filing of first patent for TOP-N53

December

Headquarters / Labs established in Schlieren, Switzerland
Finalist Swiss Innovation Challenge

2009-2015

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Experimental research phase

2009

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Foundation TOPADUR GmbH

National & International collaborators

Switzerland

France

Germany

Spain

South Korea

Switzerland

Prof. Oliver Distler and Prof. Gabriela Kania| University of Zurich
Lung Fibrosis

Prof. Nicole Lindenblatt| University Hospital Zurich
Angiogenesis in wounds of diabetic mice

Prof. Matthias Turina| University Hospital Zurich
Colorectal Cancer

Prof. Georgios Imanidis| FHNW University of Applied Sciences
Formulations development

Prof. Jörn Dengjel| University of Fribourg
Proteomics

Prof. Botond Roska| Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel
Human retinal circuits / Ophthalmology

Prof. Christian Grimm| University of Zurich
Retinal cells / Ophthalmology

Prof. Martin Prushy| University of Zurich
Colorectal Cancer

Prof. Michael Scharl| University Hospital Zurich
Colorectal Cancer

Prof. Sabine Werner| ETH Zürich
Wound healing diabetic mouse model

France

Prof. Jean-Luc Cracowski| University Grenoble Alps
Skin perfusion mouse model

Germany

Prof. Ralf Ludwig| University of Lübeck
Skin fibrosis models

Spain

Prof. Javier Milara and Prof. Julio Cortijo| University of Valencia
Skin fibrosis models | Rat aortic rings

South Korea

Prof. Hyungil Jung and Prof. Ohsang Kwon| Yonsei University & Seoul National University
Microneedles | Hair Loss