Protagen AG appoints Bernhard Kirschbaum as new Board Member

PROTAGEN AG, a leading specialist in the development of novel diagnostic tests and companion diagnostics (CDx) in the autoimmune field, today announced that the former Head of Research and Early Development of Merck Serono, Dr. Bernhard Kirschbaum, has joined the company’s Supervisory Board.

This news follows the recently announced strategic partnership between Protagen and QIAGEN, which will focus on pharma collaborations in the autoimmune space, an area where Dr. Kirschbaum has significant expertise.

Dr. Kirschbaum has served in executive positions at Hoechst, Aventis, Sanofi, and Merck Serono, and has a proven track record in preclinical and clinical R&D, with a special focus on autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammatory disorders. According to Dr. Kirschbaum, “Protagen offers a very solid, unique technology with broad application potential. It is of particular relevance for translational research, which remains a central topic in drug development. In many diseases, analyses at the protein level offer key insights and guidance on diseases status and drug development.”

Stefan Müllner, CEO of Protagen, added: “In order to become the leading provider of CDx for autoimmune therapy, it is imperative that we have meaningful insight into the R&D processes and interfaces of big pharma. The profound expertise Dr. Kirschbaum will bring to this role will provide us with valuable guidance, which will enable us to effectively expand our business within the growing CDx field.”