Centogene N.V., a commercial-stage company focused on rare diseases that transforms real-world clinical and genetic data into actionable information for patients, physicians, and pharmaceutical companies, has appointed Dr. Michael Motz as chief commercial officer, Pharmaceuticals. Motz will join the company on June 1, 2021.
 
Motz is an entrepreneur and executive with over 25 years of industry experience and has held positions of increasing responsibility in both biotech and pharmaceutical companies during his career. He concluded several large transactions, licensing (in- and out-), and acquisitions with EU and U.S. based life science companies, on both the buy side and the sell side. His experiences have also allowed him to gain expert knowledge in drug discovery and development for rare diseases, such as lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) and certain rare bone disorders.
 
“Michael brings a rare blend of deal-making experience and scientific know-how to Centogene´s executive leadership team. His proven track record of developing business strategies and forming successful partnerships to advance innovation in various disease areas is an ideal fit with Centogene. Michael will be instrumental in harnessing Centogene’s unique Bio/Databank to transform drug discovery and development for genetic hereditary diseases,” said Andrin Oswald, M.D., chief executive officer of Centogene.
 
Motz holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, obtained under the supervision of renowned human geneticist Prof. Dr. h.c. Svante Pääbo. Before joining Centogene, Motz was in leadership positions at several pharma and biotech companies, such as Lion Bioscience AG, Altana Pharma, Sandoz, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, and Zealand Pharma. Most recently, he was entrepreneur in residence at BB Pureos Bioventures in Zurich, Switzerland.
 
“I am thrilled to be joining Centogene and to be able to leverage the full capabilities of the company’s powerful multiomics platform, with its unprecedented amount of data on rare diseases from patients. In addition to diagnostics, there is tremendous potential to support not only clinical trials in the field with its growing number of pharma partners, but also to apply forward integration of Centogene´s own efforts towards drug discovery and development, based on the company’s world-leading understanding of rare diseases,” stated Motz.