Established in 2016 in Heidelberg (Germany), EXCIVA is a privately held biotech company focused on developing clinical stage therapeutics for various indications in neuropsychiatry.
Through cutting-edge research, rigorous clinical trial design and collaboration with experts, we are dedicated to delivering the best-in-class treatment for neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia.
Pushing beyond outdated approaches
Restoring dignity and quality of life
Solutions designed for long-term use
For patients, families, and healthcare systems
François obtained his PhD at the Pasteur Institute in Paris. He worked in several pharmaceutical companies including Genentech, GSK and Merck Serono, where he managed Research and Development programs in the neuroscience therapeutic area. François founded several biotechs such as Addex (listed on the Swiss market) and Prexton Therapeutics (acquired by Lundbeck), both dedicated to the discovery of novel treatments for neuropsychiatric diseases.
Hans obtained his MD degree from Ruprecht-Karls University, Heidelberg. A Board-certified Neurologist and Psychiatrist, he holds a PhD in Experimental Pharmacology and the European Certificate in Pharmaceutical Medicine. Hans is a world-renowned expert in development of medications for Alzheimer’s disease who led the development of memantine (Namenda®), the second best-selling drug in the worldwide AD market.
Working as Chief Medical Officer at several European and US companies, Hans played a pivotal role in leading or contributing to innovative research and development projects that have resulted in the creation of six new CNS therapies. He is co-inventor of Deraphan® and co-founder of Exciva.
Anton obtained his MD degree from Pavlov Medical University, St Petersburg. and after the completion of PhD studies in St Petersburg and Utrecht held NIH-supported fellowships at the Medical College of Virginia (Richmond, VA) and Scripps Institute (La Jolla, CA). After habilitation (DMedSci) in 2000, Anton acted as a research director at the Valdman Institute of Pharmacology. In 2004, Anton joined Abbott (later Abbvie) as group leader and was promoted to research fellow, department head and director. Anton and his teams have brought several compounds into preclinical and clinical development, supported licensing and due diligence decisions. Anton founded several biotech and medical device companies as well as various international initiatives on preclinical data quality. In 2016, Anton co-founded Exciva together with Hans Moebius and Rao Vepachedu.
Francisco is an accomplished professional in the biotech industry, with over 20 years of experience. He holds an Executive MBA from IE Business School Spain and a MSc in Accounting and Finance from Lancaster University in the UK. Throughout his career, Francisco has played a pivotal role in assisting various biotech start-ups, including PregLem, Arisgen, Unilabs, iOnctura, and Embion Technologies, in achieving their goals. His expertise lies in supporting start-ups in critical areas such as fundraising and optimizing operational efficiency. Francisco has a deep understanding of the complex and rapidly evolving Research and Development environments within the biotech sector.
Duc brings over twenty five years of experience in drug discovery and drug development to Exciva GmbH, having worked in global pharmaceutical companies like Sanofi-Aventis, Pfizer, Lundbeck, as well as biotech start-ups (Preglem, Arisgen, EspeRare, Prexton Therapeutics and Step Pharma). Duc’s experience extends across multiple therapeutic areas including cardiovascular, anti-infective, urology, CNS, reproductive medicine and oncology. He has successfully delivered a number of projects through clinical development to registration. At Exciva, Duc is responsible for providing pre-IND non-clinical and CMC leadership with clinical and regulatory inputs to ensure successful transition of lead candidates into clinical development. Duc graduated from the French Grandes Ecoles d’ingénieurs ESPCI in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. He also holds an MSc in organic and bio-organic chemistry from Paris VI and is a registered Project Manager.
Fiona has over 30 years’ experience in global clinical operations and project management across a wide variety of therapeutic areas, including neurology/CNS, rare disease and oncology, spanning all phases of clinical trials. She has held positions within several biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and CROs, from small ( Healx, Zogenix , Prosensa, Xenova) to large (Alexion AstraZeneca Rare Disease, Biogen, Allergan,Ipsen, Merck KGaA, ICON). Fiona founded FGW Consulting Services Ltd in 2023, to provide clinical operations expertise to small to medium-sized organisations. Fiona holds an MSc. in Forensic Science from King’s College London, a BSc. (Hons) in Applied Biochemistry from Brunel University and a postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Science from Cardiff University.
Karl Burgin has over 30 years’ experience in biomedical research and drug development. After completing his PhD and post-doctoral training in the US, UK and Switzerland, he joined the pharma industry, serving in progressively senior positions across all aspects of strategic and operational regulatory affairs. Karl founded Maxia Strategies in 2010, bringing his global experience to small and mid-size companies to maximize product value. Karl is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Research and Leadership at George Washington University and a Lecturer and External Examiner for the European Postgraduate Certificate in Pharmaceutical Medicine.
Sreenivasarao is a medicinal chemist and a registered patent attorney with extensive experience in Research and Development in chemistry as well as patent and trademark preparation, prosecution and IP risk management in biotech, chemical and pharmaceutical areas. Sreenivasarao worked at Rutgers University, the University of Maryland at College Park, National Institutes of Health, Eli Lilly & Co. and DeCode Genetics, as a chemist; and at Incyte Genomics (Corporation), Abbott Labs, and various IP law firms in the US as a patent attorney.
Ms. Knowles brings more than 30 years of experience leading pharmaceutical clinical operations and R&D programs that advance innovative therapies for patients with significant unmet needs. Prior to joining Exciva, she served as Vice President of Clinical Operations at Lundbeck and its subsidiary, Longboard Pharmaceuticals, and previously provided executive clinical leadership to emerging biopharmaceutical companies as a consultant. She has held senior leadership roles at Otsuka Pharmaceuticals and Avanir Pharmaceuticals, as well as senior clinical operations and program management positions at Ligand, Avera, and Aventis Pharmaceuticals. Ms. Knowles has extensive experience in driving strategic initiatives and delivering complex global Phase I–IV clinical trials and regulatory submissions across rare disease, oncology, CNS, and anti-infective programs. She holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz
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