Leadership Team

Chief Executive and Scientific Officer (CEO/CSO)

Sanja has 25+ years of research and industry experience, and an educational background in molecular biology, immunology, neurophysiology and medicine. Sanja has worked and studied at various international institutions, including: the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary (Canada); the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole (USA); the Neurobiology Institute Ramon y Cajal in Madrid (Spain); and the Medical School in Ljubljana (Slovenia). Sanja was previously Head of Department of Serology and Immune Assays at Intercell AG (Valneva), where she led a team of 15 senior researchers and scientists, and managed various collaborative projects with pharmaceutical companies (Novartis, GSK, Merck and Sanofi), evaluating the efficacy of product candidates from early discovery to phase II clinical trials. In 2015, Sanja, as the founder and CEO of Origimm, was nominated as one of the “20 entrepreneurs that may change the world” in the inaugural edition of Forbes magazine Austria.

Sanja’s enthusiasm for her work and her desire to find better solutions for dermatology patients, which are not only addressing symptoms, but are acting on the root cause, led her to found Origimm. When it comes to how Origimm should evolve as a small biotech company, she has her own vision about the kind of company culture she would like to create. She appreciates her vast network of advisors, consultants and Origimm employees, who think beyond the borders of their respective field and support her entrepreneurial spirit. Innovation and bringing new ideas to fruition are her core values.

More about Sanja at: https://at.linkedin.com/in/sselak

Consultant to CEO and Head of Clinical Development

Zrinka is a senior executive with nearly 30 years’ experience in the biotech & pharma industry, with an educational background in medicinal and organic chemistry. Zrinka has led multidisciplinary, international drug discovery and development projects. She has built teams and departments, from the early research and pre-clinical stages, all the way through the multiple phases of clinical trials, as well as post-marketing studies of drugs and medical devices. She has held positions as Partner & Managing Director at SILSC GmbH (Austria); Corporate Director Clinical Development at Croma-Pharma GmbH (Austria); Managing Director/VP of Non-Clinical Development and Head of Clinical Sciences Pharmacology & Toxicology at Nabriva AG (Austria, USA); and Program Director for anti-infective drug research at PLIVA Research Institute (Croatia).

At Origimm, Zrinka is primarily responsible for clinical development. Joining at the beginning of 2020, she set up clinical department organization and led the team through an intense phase of preparation for the first clinical trial to investigate a therapeutic acne vaccine. Being very thorough and structured in her work, she was responsible for connecting all the dots in this highly cross-functional project. Within the management team, Zrinka also contributes to business strategy, including market research and interactions with key opinion leaders (KOLs). With her broad experience in leadership and strategy, Zrinka contributes significantly to the development of the company.

Head of Finance and Business Management

A senior executive with 20+ years’ experience in leading finance functions and general management (administration, HR and IT). Florian previously held finance management and executive positions in the biopharmaceutical and medical device companies Kedrion International GmbH (human plasma derivatives) and Zimmer Biomet Austria GmbH (medical implants), where he was responsible for financial management and accounting, restructuring and steering subsidiary companies, HR management of employees and commercial issues.

At Origimm, Florian is responsible for the company’s commercial management, internal business operations, administration and company infrastructure. Having experienced both small and mid-sized companies, as well as corporate organizations, he is contributing to the development of our growing organization. With his tech-savviness and his engagement in digitalizing our workflows and processes, Florian is contributing to innovation inside the company.

Consultant to CEO and Head of Business Development (pharmaceutical industry)

A senior executive with 25+ years’ experience in the pharma and biotechnology industry, with particular focus on general management, business development and funding of start-up companies (Apovia AG (Germany) and ImVisioN Therapeutics GmbH (Germany)). He obtained a PhD in Microbiology and Genetics from the University of Vienna and an MBA from the University of Michigan. Throughout his career, Martin has held several CEO and consultancy positions.

At Origimm, Martin is responsible for business development activities, including interactions and negotiations with pharmaceutical company representatives. He also contributes to the development of business case scenarios and funding strategies. Having been involved as a consultant to our CEO since early 2015, he has been providing his support  since the start-up phase of the company. He is an asset in helping shape business objectives, especially by providing the perspective of an external stakeholder in various discussions.

Head of Organizational Team Development

Barbara has an educational background in organizational change management, organizational behavior and corporate governance. She has obtained extensive work experience in coordinating teamwork in high pressure environments, compliance with operating procedures and installing safety measures.

At Origimm, Barbara is responsible for change management, team development, company culture and organizational structure, steering us in the direction that best suits the company’s current and future needs in an ever-changing environment. She is also the executive assistant to the CEO and supports various strategic development activities. By working in close collaboration with Origimm’s CEO and understanding her vision, Barbara’s task is to ensure that the organization develops in alignment with that vision and future strategic goals.