Healthcare >> CEO Interviews >> September 1, 2003

Rainer Wessel – Axxima Pharmaceuticals Ag

RAINER WESSEL is President and Chief Executive Officer of Axxima Pharmaceuticals AG. After earning a PhD in Molecular Biology in Constance, Germany in 1991, he moved to Japan, providing an opportunity to learn Japanese while being engaged in research at Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) Nippon KK. Dr. Wessel returned to Germany in 1993 to join the Patent Department of BI where he received training in patent law, and was responsible for a worldwide biotech patent portfolio. In 1997 he moved to Qiagen GmbH to establish and head the Intellectual Property and Licensing Department. Dr. Wessel joined Axxima in July 1999 as the Vice President of Business Development. In August 2001 he was appointed Chief Business Officer by Axxima's Supervisory Board and led the third financing round. In March 2002 he was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer. Profile
TWST: May we have a historical sketch of Axxima and an overview of what

you are doing currently?

Dr. Wessel: Axxima Pharmaceuticals AG is a drug discovery and

development company, pioneering