RNA
expertise
rnatics was founded in 2021 as a spin-off from the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany, to bring RNA therapy to organs previously not accessible to RNA therapeutics. The underlying technology is based on >15 years of research on RNA therapy and nucleic acid chemistry.
People
CEO, Co-Founder
Thomas F. Frischmuth, PhD
As a serial entrepreneur, Thomas Frischmuth contributes >30 years of experience in the life science and medical device field as researcher, advisor, consultant, and in management positions. He brings his extensive expertise in the development and chemical synthesis (small to large scale) of oligonucleotides and carbohydrate ligands in the context of drug development to rnatics. To date, Thomas Frischmuth developed and evaluated 6 drugs pre-clinically and brought 4 of them into clinical evaluation studies Phase I and II. One drug is marketed for cancer treatment.
In 2003, Thomas Frischmuth founded his own private venture fund company (Gradus Venture GmbH).
COO
Johannes Schmidt, PhD
Johannes Schmidt is a biomedical scientist by heart and training, focusing on translating scientific concepts and findings into products and bringing innovation to the patient. Before joining rnatics, he was Managing Director of the TUM Venture Lab Healthcare building a support network at Technical University of Munich to consult and encourage academic entrepreneurs on their journey to translate their science in the fields of biotech, medtech and digital health. He is well connected in the Munich entrepreneurial healthcare ecosystem.
Johannes Schmidt started his career at McKinsey & Company where he worked as an engagement manager in the pharma practice for 3 years. He then started his own start-up developing an autologous cell therapy and thereafter led the clinical development of a novel drug candidate at a Munich-based start-up.
Johannes Schmidt holds a PhD in Clinical Medicine from University of Oxford and a MSc degree in Molecular Biotechnology from Technical University of Munich.
CSO, Founder
Stefan Engelhardt, MD, PhD
Stefan Engelhardt is an internationally renowned expert in non-coding RNA research. He holds a specialist degree in Pharmacology and is full professor and director of the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Technical University of Munich (TUM) since 2008. Stefan Engelhardt founded and coordinated several national and international research consortia including the DFG-Collaborative Research Centre (SFB-TRR267) on ‘Non-coding RNAs in the cardiovascular system’. Stefan Engelhardt has contributed landmark studies as to the role of non-coding RNAs in disease and pioneering work on microRNA-based therapeutics.
At rnatics, Stefan Engelhardt serves as CSO and oversees research and development.
CMO, Co-Founder
Klaus F. Rabe, MD
Klaus Rabe has a track record of approximately 25 years in clinical research in pulmonary medicine and has been the coordinating investigator of several drug development programs and pivotal trials. He published more than 500 publications in the field of pulmonary medicine.
Klaus Rabe is the CMO and medical director of LungenClinic Großhansdorf GmbH, one of the largest clinical centers on respiratory disease in Germany and heads the department of Pulmonary Medicine. He is currently co-director of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL) and member of the steering committee of the Exzellenzcluster Präzisionsmedizin für chronische Entzündungserkrankungen (PMI). He served as president of the European Respiratory Society and the German Society for Pulmonology, and together with colleagues was awarded the Balzan price in 2019 for his translational pulmonary research.
At rnatics, Klaus Rabe serves as CMO and leads the clinical development of rnatics’ lead compound.
Director of Research & Development
Deepak Ramanujam, PhD
Deepak Ramanujam is a highly skilled scientist with over 10 years of experience in non-coding RNA research, particularly microRNAs. In his previous position at Technical University of Munich (TUM), his research group focused on novel RNA therapies targeting microRNAs in respiratory and cardiac diseases. He is co-inventor of RNATICS’ core targeting technology. His experience at TUM has equipped him with the skills needed to manage large-scale research projects, foster a culture of innovation, and drive scientific breakthroughs.
As Director of Research & Development, Deepak Ramanujam will lead the drug development activities of RNATICS to identify new therapeutic targets in the treatment of respiratory diseases and bring in his expertise in pre-clinical development of microRNA therapeutics and genetic engineering to develop innovative therapies and improve patient outcomes.
He holds a PhD in Molecular Cardiology from Technical University of Munich, an MSc in Biomedical Immunology from University of East London, and a BTech in Industrial Biotechnology from Anna University, India.
Head of Administration
Carolin Heim, PhD
Carolin Heim has a strong expertise in the organization and management of projects and fundings with both a scientific background as well as experience in funding management from the view of a funding sponsor.
Carolin Heim started her career in science management after receiving her diploma in food chemistry from the Technical University of Dresden and her PhD with a biomedical background from the Technical University of Munich. At the Competence Pool Weihenstephan, she focused on the scientific management of collaborative research projects with inclusion of academic and industrial partners. During her six-years’ experience as a laboratory manager at the Chair of Urban Water Management she developed a passion for organizational tasks and established a broad network within the Technical University of Munich. As a scientific supervisor of BMBF projects in the funding management at HelmholtzZentrum München, she received fundamental insight into the structure and procedures of a funding sponsor.
Since October 2019, Carolin Heim is responsible for the coordination of the Transregio Collaborative Research Centre on “Non-coding RNAs in the cardiovascular system” at the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology at TU Munich.
At rnatics, Carolin Heim leads the coordination of public funds and administration of the company as Head of Administration.
