Stefan König
CEO, Merz Therapeutics
Neurology-focused pharmaceutical company accelerates research into neurological treatments with equitable access.
Medical innovation is accelerating at an unprecedented scale. Harnessing the full ecosystem of patients, caregivers, clinicians and payors is quickly becoming an essential component in the development of treatments that are not only effective but practical and accessible.
Ecosystem of neurological product development
Stefan König, CEO of Merz Therapeutics, discusses the importance of this for product development. “The patient is our north star, meaning our approach to innovation is always guided by the question: what does this bring to the patient?”
He cites the example of a Parkinson’s disease product, where patients often struggle with fine motor skills.
“With this in mind, we developed easy-peel packaging that allows medication to be accessed more easily,” explains König. “We develop solutions with a 360-degree approach, consulting clinician and patient advisory boards before moving into practical development while collaborating with payors to ensure broad access and quick delivery to patients.” This approach aims to centre each step of design with real patient challenges in mind.
We develop solutions with a 3
60-degree approach, consulting
clinician and patient advisory boards
before moving into practical development.
Balancing heritage with driving innovation
Merz Therapeutics is a company of the Merz Group, a privately held, family-owned German company founded by Friedrich Merz. Grounded in more than 115 years of health and innovation expertise, the company has evolved to become a global leader in neurological solutions and therapy.
“Our heritage provides a strong foundation for continued adaptation and growth,” explains König.
“We combine innovation, patient centricity, agile long-term decision-making and a strategic investment approach to ensure our company is future-proofed and well-positioned for sustainable growth.”
Beyond product development, they offer a number of digital health solutions, with nurse-led patient support programmes guiding patients in the management of complex neurological conditions.
The role of strategic partnerships
With an array of global partnerships, including esteemed research institutions and universities, the company continues to lead the development of patient-led solutions. “Being a mid-sized organisation allows us to stay close to patients and better understand disease areas that may be too small for big pharma companies to address while maintaining the ability to propel neurological innovation on a global scale,” explains König.
“Our research centre in Frankfurt has over 160 research scientists from approximately 12 different nationalities. By combining in-house expertise with innovative ideas from smaller biotech companies, we help bring personalised therapies to market,” he adds. “We hope to continue partnering with clinicians, patient organisations and biotech companies to drive neurological innovation for many generations to come.”
To find out more: https://merztherapeutics.com
