Certara, a global provider of model-informed drug development and regulatory science, announced that Andreas Wallnöfer, Ph.D., has joined the company as a senior executive advisor, providing consulting advice on strategic drug development, R&D organizational effectiveness and asset evaluation/due diligence programs.

“We are thrilled that Andreas has agreed to join Certara. His experience and strategic vision will be invaluable to our clients as they endeavor to overcome the complex challenges inherent in developing and bringing new medicines to the market and in optimizing their portfolio and R&D effectiveness,” said Certara Chief Executive Officer Edmundo Muniz, M.D., Ph.D.

“Certara is committed to providing scientific leadership in precision medicine, leveraging our modeling and simulation armamentarium to advance drug development and meet the needs of patients at point of care. Andreas has experience both as a member of the biopharmaceutical industry and founder of a life science academic and university hospital cluster in Europe, which is spearheading personalized health initiatives. To that end, he acted as advisor of the Singapore Ministry of Health and the National Swiss Personal Health Initiative,” added Dr. Muniz.

Dr. Wallnöfer worked for more than 25 years at Roche, including 10 years as a member of the Roche R&D leadership and portfolio management team. He served as Head of Clinical Research prior to the Genentech integration, and most recently held the dual roles of Global Head of Development at Roche Pharma Research and Exploratory Development and Head of the Cardiovascular and Metabolism Disease Therapeutic Area (CVD). Under his leadership, Roche implemented its vision of translational medicine closing the gap between drug discovery and clinical research, which became a key driver in the company’s successful personalized medicine strategy.

After Roche’s strategic exit from CVD in 2015, Dr. Wallnöfer left Roche and became a partner at BioMed Partners, a leading independent European venture capital firm. In this role, Dr. Wallnöfer leverages non-executive board memberships to form and develop innovative biotech companies in Europe. In addition, he provides strategic consulting services to biotech companies, enhancing their R&D organization effectiveness, and their portfolio and business delivery.

Joining Certara in this senior executive advisory role, Dr. Wallnöfer will further strengthen Certara’s consulting team acumen, enabling clients to benefit fully from his expertise and that of Certara’s drug development experts.