Manfred Klevesath

EVP, Chief Medical Officer @ AvenCell

About

· Physician-scientist and biopharmaceutical executive with over 20 years’ experience in large pharma and biotech, leading clinical development and corporate strategy across oncology, cell therapy, and infectious diseases.· Experienced partner to boards and investors, combining deep scientific credibility with business development, fundraising, and organizational leadership.· Proven ability to bridge science and business by aligning R&D strategy with corporate goals, investor expectations, and patient needs· Successful filings and scientific advice meetings with FDA, MHRA, EMA, and PMDA· As Managing Director & Site Head of AvenCell’s European site, responsible for corporate governance, HR, legal, and compliance

Country

Germany

City

Dresden

Industry

Pharmaceuticals

Skill

Change Management, Leadership, People Development, Drug Development, Clinical Trials, Pharmaceutical Industry, Clinical Development, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Oncology, Drug Discovery, Clinical Research, GCP, Pharmacology, Pharmaindustrie, Onkologie, Klinische Studien, Arzneimittelentwicklung

Experience

EVP, Chief Medical Officer

AvenCell

2025-9 - Present · 1 yr 1 mo

Dresden, Saxony, Germany

- Overseeing clinical programs from first-in-man to registration-enabling trials with integrity, accountability, and a collaborative mindset. - Partnering closely with board and investors - Committed to building trust, enabling high-performing teams, and cultivating a culture of excellence while driving clinical and regulatory milestones. - Driven by a passion for turning breakthrough science into therapies that make a real difference in patients’ lives.

Managing Director, Site Head and SVP Head of Clinical Development of AvenCell Europe

AvenCell

2024-11 - Present · 1 yr 11 mos

Dresden, Saxony, Germany

- Managing Director and Site Lead overseeing finance, HR, compliance, and operations. - Leading with integrity and fostering a culture of trust, accountability, and collaboration while ensuring excellence in a highly regulated environment. - Passionate about developing people, building high-performing teams, and driving innovation, productivity, and sustainable growth.

VP Clinical Development and Translational

AvenCell

2023-3 - 2024-11 · 1 yr 9 mos

Dresden, Saxony, Germany

Head of Global Health, Bioethics and Digital Ethics

Merck Group

2018-5 - 2023-3 · 4 yrs 11 mos

Darmstadt und Umgebung, Deutschland

Lead a global cross-functional team of ~20 experts working on Global Health, Bioethics and Digital Ethics topics, including - access to health for populations in low and middle income countries - research and drug development in infectious diseases and neglected tropical diseases - the Merck Schistosomiasis Elimination Program - bioethical / digital ethics questions arising from all of Merck KGaA's research and business sectors through Merck’s Bioethics Advisory Panel and the Digital Ethics Board.

Program Lead

Merck Group

2013-2 - 2018-4 · 5 yrs 3 mos

• Accountable for the design and implementation of a development strategy of oncology compounds from pre-clinical until proof of concept or registration • Lead a global cross-functional team of 20+ experts in a matrix organisation, including oncologists, pharmacologists, CMC, regulatory, biomarkers, and others

Medical Director

Merck Group

2010-8 - 2013-1 · 2 yrs 6 mos

• Lead of Clinical Development Team for Ph I/II trials in oncology • Design of development strategy for early oncology compounds • Medical liaison between clinical oncology and pre-clinical translational research for oncology compounds

Medical Advisor, Study Physician and Project Lead Oncology

AstraZeneca

2008-3 - 2010-7 · 2 yrs 5 mos

Germany

• Medical Lead in German launch team for gefitinib in EGFR mutant NSCLC • Design and lead of phase II-IV local oncology trials • Design, development, lead and analysis of pharmaco-economic studies in oncology • European coordination of product-specific HEOR (Health Economics Outcomes Research) projects in oncology