Jerini is a pharmaceutical company focusing on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel peptide-based drugs. The company pursues disease indications that have limited or no treatment options and has built a drug pipeline composed of its own programs, and others in collaboration with established partners. Jerini has filed marketing approval applications for its lead product Icatibant in the treatment of hereditary angioedema, with both the EMEA and the FDA and expects regulatory decisions in the first half of 2008. Based on its technology platform, Jerini has also established several in-house development programs, which address indications within the therapeutic areas of ophthalmology, oncology, and inflammatory disease.

Speaker Profile

Dr. Jens Schneider-Mergener, PhD

Jens' background is in Chemistry and Biochemistry. He completed his PhD in Virology at the University of Munich. From 1987-1990, he worked as a post-doctoral fellow at Caltech in Pasadena conducting HIV research. From 1990-1999 he served as head of a research group at the Medical Faculty Charité of the Humboldt University Berlin. He also held a professorship in Biochemistry. His primary interest was the development of novel tools to identify peptide-based drugs. In 1994, he founded Jerini and in 2000, assumed the position of CEO. In 2001, under his direction, Icatibant was in-licensed by Jerini from Aventis.