Passion for People Development
TEAM
100 + years
combined experience in antibiotic discovery and pharmaceutical development.
Selmod's core team combines medicinal chemistry from TU Berlin, microbiology, and hands-on pharmaceutical development including approved anti-infectives. Advised by chemistry, microbiology, investment and legal experts across academia and industry.
Management Team
Frank Otto Gombert, Dr. rer. nat., CEO
A biochemist with a track record of 4 clinical candidates including an anti-bacterial drug. He previously was engaged at GPRS, Spexis (Polyphor, phase 3 candidates Murapevadin and Balixafortide, phase 2 candidate Lonodelestat), Novartis, and Sandoz (PTS 893) in a capacity as managing director, head of research and project leader. He joined Selmod in 2019 as an investor, set up the new business concept of in-vivo validated lead structures with a new mode-of-action, and identification of 2 antibacterial lead compounds. He is leading the operations of Selmod as CEO in parallel to running life science consultancy at GPRS, for the marketing and communication agency REVNUU LLC, and the agentic AI company Conceptify LS. ....
Bettina Hauptmann Eidens, MBA M.Sc., COO
Bettina holds a Masters's in Biochemistry from the University of Geneva (CH) and a MBA from Cornell University (USA). She spent over 20 years in HR leadership roles across life sciences, biotech, and pharma, including Executive and Management Development at F. Hoffmann-La Roche and DSM Nutritional Products. As Global HR BUsiness Partner she expanded her business acumen including strategy development, M&A exposure and reorganisations. Her expertise spans organisational development, leadership and team deveopemnt, and cross-cultural fluency. She now runs also her own consulting and coaching business, focussing primarily on the life science sector. .............................................................................................
Derry Mercer, CSO
Dr Derry Mercer is a microbiologist with over 30 years of experience in the biological sciences, including more than 20 years leading antimicrobial drug discovery and development programmes. He has advanced antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral candidates from early concept through to clinical trials, combining scientific excellence with strategic insight to translate innovation into real-world impact. Alongside his consultancy, he supports emerging anti-infective companies through INCATE and previously led the Antimicrobials Programme at Bioaster. He contributes to international initiatives including CLSI, EUCAST, and the BEAM Alliance, is a Visiting Professor at Robert Gordon University, and has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications.
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Advisors
Roderich D. Süssmuth, Prof. Dr.
Prof. Roderich Süssmuth is a renowned German chemist and expert in natural product antibiotics, peptide chemistry, and antimicrobial drug discovery. THrough his academic research at Technische Universität Berlin, he has contributed significatly to the discovery, structural elucidation, and development of innovative antibiotic candidates, including the potent antibacterial compound albicidin. As a scientific advisor, he supports the translation of cutting-edge discoveries into potential therapeutic applications. His expertise in natural products, biosynthesis, and resistance mechanisms provides valuable guidance for the development of next-generation antibiotics targeting antimicrobial resistance.
Cornelia Zumbrunn, PhD
Cornelia is a Medicinal Chemist with >20 year of experience as project leader in drug discovery across different indications (anti-bacterial, cardiovascular and fibrosis, CNS). Cornelia performed her PhD at F. Hoffmann-La Roche and University of Zürich. After her postdoctoral research at Cambridge University (UK) she started her career on antibacterial drug discovery, first at F. Hoffmann-La Roche, later at Morphochem and finally at Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd (Allschwil, CH). In particular, she focussed on Novel bacterial topoisomerase inhibitors (NBTI) at Actelion Pharmaceuticals. Currently, she works as a free-lance MedChem for SMEs.
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Hanns-Peter Wiese
Hanns-Peter Wiese is an experienced corporate finance and investment professional with more than 25 years of expertise in Venture Capital, Private Equity, and M&A advisory. As a VC General Partner focused on biotech, he has completed 36 investments, with more than 50% successfully exited through trade sales and IPOs. Through VIRETUM CONSULT, he advises companies and investors on fundraising, transactions, and strategic growth initiatives across the DACH region.
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