Stefan K. Pflanz

Profile Innovation-oriented immunologist with twenty years of combined experience as scientist, manager, and manager’s manager in the international pharmaceutical industry, USA and Europe*. Since 2020 Investment Manager and Board Member representing Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund USA and focusing on early-stage investment opportunities in Pharma/Biotech, including company formation. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area. *Expertise with design and implementation of cross-site and cross-functional research strategy, successful discovery research portfolio build-up and portfolio management. Versatility with IND-enabling pre-clinical proof-of-concept studies for disease settings of chronic infections, inflammatory conditions, fibrosis, as well as immuno-oncology space. Comfort with large “systems biology” data sets and with heading multi-site cross-functional teams. Successful support of clinical trials including definition of relevant biomarkers, patient (sub)populations, and exploratory endpoints; understanding of regulatory requirements. Well acquainted with evaluation of in-licensing opportunities. Distinguishing competencies include:  Deep understanding of immune-regulatory molecular and cellular networks, and their impact on compromised tissue homeostasis in various disease settings.  Combining scientific curiosity and rigor with critical path knowledge of pre-clinical and clinical drug development keys for both biologics and small molecules.  Strategic planning of future research focus, as well as implementation and execution of strategy within highly matrixed multi-site research organization.  Actively fostering a challenging and rewarding work environment, encouraging individual initiative and disciplined risk approaches, providing coaching and support, acknowledging success of teams and individuals.  Identifying, establishing and executing collaboration opportunities with key external partners, both academia and CRO. Specialties: Cytokine Biology, Immune-regulation, Molecular and Cellular Immunology.