Rainer Wessel

RAINER WESSEL earned a PhD in molecular biology in Constance, Germany
(1991), then moved to Japan to receive training in Japanese and to
perform research at Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) Nippon KK. In 1993, Dr.
Wessel returned to Germany 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 CEO.