Appointments

Move of the month

Berlin-based ProBioGen has appointed its former chief operating officer (COO) Alfred Merz to be its new chief executive officer (CEO), a role he had previously been holding on an interim basis.

He has over 30 years’ worth of experience in manufacturing, operations and strategy development. Before joining contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) and technology provider ProBioGen in 2024, Merz was senior vice president and head of medical device operations at Bayer Pharmaceuticals and had also served as the company's head strategy and excellence product supply.

“ProBioGen has a strong legacy of innovation and excellence in CDMO services and technologies. I am honoured to lead this outstanding team as we accelerate our growth, expand our capabilities, and continue delivering high-quality solutions for our pharma and biotech partners,” Merz said.

Wafik Bardissi, chairman of ProBioGen’s supervisory board and chief executive officer of its parent company Minapharm Pharmaceuticals, added: “Alfred embodies impressive leadership and business acumen. His strategic expertise is vital to accelerating ProBioGen’s growth, advancing therapeutic innovation globally through proprietary technologies, and fostering impactful partnerships while enhancing operational excellence.”

ProBioGen specialises in active pharmaceutical ingredients, viral vectors and vaccines. It also develops and out-licenses proprietary technologies for improving product quality and features.

Founded in 1994 as a spin-off of the Charité hospital, ProBioGen now employs almost 300 people across its three locations in Berlin.