About us

With more than 25 years of experience spanning drug discovery, translational science, clinical development, and corporate leadership, Professor Pahl brings extensive expertise in the development and commercialization of ADCs. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Heidelberg Pharma AG, having previously held the position of Chief Scientific Officer. During his time there, he helped build the company into a leading ADC developer and led the advancement of its amanitin-based ADC platform, which uses a payload derived from the death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides). Under his leadership, the platform advanced into the clinic and was successfully validated in a Phase I study, while Heidelberg Pharma evolved into a fully integrated ADC research and development company.

Professor Pahl joins Simris with the goal of maximizing the value of its differentiated ADC payload platform, broadening the Company's capabilities and advancing multiple programs with the potential to accelerate Simris toward clinical development.

Heike holds a PhD in Genetic Biology from Humboldt University in Berlin and is a co-founder of the company Cyano Biotech GmbH, acquired by Simris in August 2022. She has more than 20 years of experience in cyanobacterial strain development during which time she has built a collection of almost 1,200 strains of cyanobacteria. Heike has performed extensive R&D optimising cyanobacteria for biofuel production and to identify novel, natural compounds for use in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and agricultural products. She is also a co-inventor of Simris’ platform for the development of ADC-payloads from cyanobacterial toxins.

Heike currently coordinates all Research & Development activities outside of Simris’ ADC-technology. In this capacity she leads cyanobacterial strain development activities and is tasked with the identification of new opportunities within the cyanobacteria/ microalgae space. This includes the research collaboration with Malmö University which evaluates compounds and extracts from cyanobacteria and microalgae for use within the cosmetic industry. Heike is also responsible for the development and production of the cyanobacterial standards that Simris Biologics supplies to water authorities tasked with monitoring the presence of cyanobacterial toxins in public water bodies.