Who We Are

Swixx BioPharma was founded to fully replace biopharma, OTC and medical device multinationals’ subsidiaries or business units in those countries, or therapeutic areas of CEE and beyond, that the multinational biopharma chooses not to enter, or to exit. Swixx BioPharma evolved into an unavoidable partner in the areas where we operate.

At Swixx, we believe that everyone deserves access to the best medical solutions to live healthier and better lives. Although we are a pharmaceutical company without our own portfolio and R&D, we are committed to pursue the standards and culture of a research-based biopharma company.

We are highly experienced professionals, and our background is our strength. We joined forces and use our knowledge to constantly live up to our mission of providing access to the modern medicines of our partners.

More than

1,200

employees

Present in

23

countries

Achieved

> 710 m €

sales in 2022

Serving

> 335 m

population

Operating in

53.9 bn €

pharma market

Our History

Swixx BioPharma began operations in December 2014 and is registered in Baar, Switzerland. The company has 100%-owned affiliates in Albania, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Uzbekistan. Both Swixx BioPharma senior management and owners come from a heritage of unique success in specialty pharmaceuticals. Dynamic business development activities and the ability to enter new markets quickly helped Swixx to achieve a leading position in CEE and beyond.

Explore our History

Vision and Mission

Our vision is to become the partner of choice for biopharma companies when they choose an indirect route to market, thereby improving patient outcomes. By providing best-in-class pharma services, building on our deep industry knowledge and fostering collaborative relationships with our partners, patients and the entire healthcare community, we believe we can create a healthier future for all.

Our mission is to work closely with our partners and broad healthcare communities to unlock access to innovative treatments for patients in need. Our ultimate goal is to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the health of individuals and communities in the countries where we operate.

Leadership Teams

Swixx was founded by a group of experienced pharma professionals and a deep understanding of biopharma’s needs. Prior to building Swixx BioPharma in CEE, Swixx’s founders and members of its senior team had comprehensive experience in research-based companies operating across all current Swixx geographies.

Swixx’s biggest asset is our 1,200+ highly educated employees, who are dedicated to providing modern medicines to patients in need.

  • Swixx Board

    Petr Němec

    Founder, Strategy

    Co-Founder PharmaSwiss,formerly GM BMS South EastEurope. Previously Sr. ExecutiveConvatec CEE & Lawyerat White & Case

    Stuart Swanson

    Chairman, Founder, Head of Corporate Development

    Co-Founder PharmaSwiss,formerly Head of Marketingat BMS CEE/Israel, GM PfizerRussia and US Diplomat

    Barbara Košir

    NED, Board Member and Audit Committee Chair Acting Chair of Ethics and Compliance Committee

    Formerly CFO of PharmaSwiss,prior to that held a series of keyFinance positions at Coca Cola,IBM and AGIP

    Matthias Fehr

    Board Member Audit Commitee

    For 17 years investment advisorat HBM Partners. Board observerat PharmaSwiss SA 2007-2011.Formerly Pharma Analyst atLombard Odier

    Benoit Chastaing

    Board Member

    25 years’ experience in M&A transactions and Investment area including operational experiences.10 years of successful private equity investment in the healthcare sector, two main experiences as Manager/Investor under LBO. Former various position at Medipole Partnaires (Elsan) and Senior Healthcare Partner at Gimv

    Alexander Asam

    Board Observer

    More than 20 years experiencein the life sciences and privateequity business. Formerly variouspositions at Hoechst, Aventisand Deutsche Bank

    Marie-Justine Lecomte

    Board Observer

    6+ years’ experience in Private Equityand M&A specialized in healthcaretransactions. Former position ininvestment at Gimv

  • Executive Management Team

    Jean-Michel Lespinasse

    CEO

    Worked 6 years as COO ofA&D’s Marketing & SalesDivision. Was as COO at Delta Medical, and before thatwas GM BMS Russia.

    Petr Pípal

    CFO

    Worked 3 years as CFO of PharmaSwiss and 10 years in senior finance functions in BMS, Member of the Board in Farma-Projekt Poland.

    Gabriela Zelenková

    Legal Counsel and Secretary

    Previously BMS Vice-President and Ass. General Counsel, Head of Intercontinental R/C Law Department responsible for 65 markets including CEE, Middle East, Africa and India; China, Pacific Rim, Brazil, Latin America; Before that, BMS Vice-President and Ass. General Counsel, Head of R/C Law department Europe supporting all European countries and Distributor Markets of Europe.

    Dezső Mártha, MD

    COO, Head of Rare Diseases BU and Alliance Management

    Head of Celgene CEE until June 2019, prior to that GM BMS Hungary and BMS CEE Indirect Markets (Balkans + Slovakia + Baltics + Malta + Iceland)

    Dr. Marek Vasicek

    Chief Operating Officer Russia/ Eurasia and R.O.W. (Rest of World) Expansion

    Joins from May 2023 from Bristol Myers Squibb, from the position of Transition Lead CEE and Interim General Manager Australia. Previous experience includes almost 23 years at BMS as GM Russia for 5 years, as well as various senior commercial roles, and 6 years in Novartis.

    Laur Saar, MD

    Corporate Medical Director, Regulatory & PV

    Until May 2015 Medical Director of Valeant / Pharma Swiss Europe since 2006. Prior to that Regional Medical BMS Baltics.

    Marcela Laššáková

    Chief Compliance Officer

    Until July 2016 Director Compliance and Internal Controls Valeant /PharmaSwiss EMEA since 2009. Prior to that Business Control Function Manager BMS Austria & Central Europe.

    Tomas Cernik

    Chief of Staff to CEO, Special Projects Lead and GM Romania & Moldova

    Formerly Country Manager of Bristol-Myers Squibb, responsible for Austria, before that for Czech Republic and Hungary. Prior to this held various commercial and finance positions at BMS in different Central European countries

    Vedrana Sokač Brataljenović

    Public Affairs Director

    Head of Corporate Affairs South Europe in Sanofi, until December 2021. Previous positions include regional and local roles in Market Access, Marketing and Sales in Sanofi.

    Ivan Pertot

    Business development Director

    Previously Head of Regulatory Department for non-EU Balkan countries at PharmaSwiss, prior to that Regulatory Affairs Director (2009-2013) and Regulatory Affairs Manager (2007-2009) at PharmaSwiss Serbia and Regulatory Affairs Officer at Schering Plough Serbia.

  • Management – Swixx General Managers

    Central and Eastern Europe – EU countries

    Martina Bergant

    General Manager Slovenia

    Formerly CFO Sanofi for South, East & Central Europe. In pharmaceutical business since 2002, holding different managerial positions covering Slovenia as well as CEE.

    George Bithas

    General Manager Greece, Cyprus and Malta

    More than 20 years experience in pharma industry, holding a series of roles with increasing responsibility in hospital devices, medical nutrition and specialty care in Abbott & AbbVie for Greece and Cyprus. Most recently served as Business Unit Director Immunology.

    Petr Čapek, MD

    General Manager Czech Republic

    Worked 5 years as GM PharmaSwiss Czech, previously GM Amgen CZ&SK and prior to that worked in various positions at BMS (BUH Oncology/Hospital products & Medical Director) since 1995.

    Davor Kovačević

    General Manager Croatia and Slovenia

    In Pharma industry as of 2002. Formerly Country manager for Croatia and Slovenia in Celgene. Prior to that held various positions in Alpe-Adria region such as Business unit head, Market access head, Marketing and Sales management in rare diseases, hospital, primary care and OTC area.

    Gergely Kovács

    General Manager Hungary

    Eight years of pharma sales & marketing experience as BUD for Pfizer and Krka Hungary. Prior to that, 16 years in different finance/consulting roles including Finance Director for Pfizer Hungary and GM/FD for Tele2.

    Alexander Marinov

    General Manager Bulgaria

    Before joining Swixx Biopharma served as GM A&D Pharma Marketing and Sales Bulgaria for the last 7 years. Prior to that, BUH Hospital and Specialized products within A&D Pharma Bulgaria. Previously held various positions in BMS (BUH Oncology/Hospital products & Medical Director Bulgaria & Romania) since 1996.

    Gabriela Markovová

    General Manager Slovakia

    Former Managing Director at A&D Pharma Marketing & Sales in Slovakia. In the past, BUM onco/orphan, Market Access and Marketing manager onco/orphan at Roche, Celgene and Takeda.

    Michal Opuchlik, MD

    General Manager Poland

    Formerly Country Manager Alexion Poland, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Romania and Bulgaria. Prior to that held position of Area General Manager for Poland, Baltic Countries and Russia in AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals.

    Saulius Žemaitis, MD

    Regional Director Baltic Markets, General Manager Lithuania

    Until Jan, 2015 Regional GM Baltics at Valeant. Until 2011, GM Lithuania at PharmaSwiss and before that GM Lithuania at BMS. Started as BMS Med. Rep.

    Central and Easter Europe – non-EU countries

    Predrag Lukić, MPharm

    General Manager Serbia, Regional Director Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo

    Formerly GM PharmaSwiss Serbia. Prior to that held series of BUH and marketing / sales positions in PharmaSwiss Serbia.

    Bledar Shorri

    General Manager Albania

    Formerly Public Affairs and Market Access Head Albania and Kosovo in Sanofi and Country Chair Albania. Prior experience includes the position of General Manager Albania and various roles in Sales and Marketing in Sanofi.

    Žaklina Pop-Simonova

    General Manager North Macedonia and Kosovo

    Formerly GM PharmaSwiss /Valeant Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania (2012-2016). Prior to that GM PharmaSwiss Macedonia & Kosovo (2005-2012), GM Macedonia PharmaSwiss (2000-2005), GM BMS Macedonia (1996-2000). Started in early 1993 as Ostomy and Wound Care Manager for ConvaTec/BMS.

    Ivana Prelević

    General Manager Montenegro

    Previously GM PharmaSwiss Montenegro 2003-2014 and prior to that GM Pfizer Montenegro.

    Kenan Selmanović

    General Manager Bosnia & Herzegovina

    Formerly GM PharmaSwiss/Valeant BiH (2011-2018). Prior to that leading Schering Plough BiH (2008-2011), held series roles in GSK (2004-2008)

    Russia and Eurasia

    Pavel Chistyakov

    General Manager Russia and Regional Director Eurasia

    23+ experience in pharma at executive positions, former General Manager of Ipsen in Russia and CIS (9Y), Pierre Fabre General manager Russia (7Y), Sanofi Trade and Revenue head Russia and EurAsia (5Y) and before joining Swixx Biopharma was Commercial VP for Greece, Russia and Turkey in Italpharmaco.

    Nozimkhon Alyavi

    Country Manager Uzbekistan

    20+ years of experience in managing business of Schering AG and Bayer Pharma AG in Uzbekistan as well as of establishing business operations in local pharma distributor.

    Vladimir Dumler

    Country Manager Belarus

    Formerly Head of Representative office and GenMed business in Sanofi Belarus. Almost 20 years of experience in commercial roles, with growing managerial scope.

    Askar Talipov

    Country Manager Kazakhstan

    Formerly Trade & Revenue Director for Central Asia, Caucasus and Belarus in Sanofi. Previous roles include various Supply Chain and Commercial functions with progressively increasing responsibilities.

  • Alliance Management

    Zvonimir Dürrigl, VMD

    Alliance and Commercial Director

    20+ experience in Pharma, formerly Global Go-To-Market Transformation Operations Lead in Sanofi. Previous positions include General Manager GenMed Business Unit Southeast and Central Europe, Sanofi, and other local, regional and global positions in Sales, Marketing, Market Access and Organizational effectiveness in Sanofi, Eli Lilly and Pliva/Teva.

    Nermina Ćolić, MD, MBA

    HQ Hemato-Onco team / Commercial and Marketing Lead

    Formerly Head of Immunology Central and South Europe, Sanofi. Experience includes various positions in Marketing, Medical affairs, Business Unit Director position with gradual expansion of geographic scope in Sanofi and Schering Plough.

    Georgi Ignatovski

    HQ Hemato-Onco team / Medical Lead

    Formerly Cardiovascular Medical Lead for Southeast and Central Europe Sanofi. Previously held various regional and country Medical and Commercial roles in Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim. Served as General manager of Bulgarian enterprise manufacturing producing vaccines and biological products.

    Irena Hampel Hršak, MD

    HQ Rare disease team / Commercial and Marketing Lead

    20+ years of experience in pharma and biotech. Formerly Value, Access and Policy Senior Manager in Amgen. Previously held various Commercial and Marketing positions in PharmaSwixx, including Business Unit Head and Sales and Marketing Director, with increasing P&L responsabilities.

    Vukašin Andrić, MD

    HQ Rare disease team / Medical Lead

    Formerly Medical Head Sanofi Genzyme Southeast and Central Europe and Country Medical Chair. 20+ years’ experience from various Regional and Country level Medical, Sales and Marketing roles from Sanofi, Janssen-Cilag and MSD.

    Dubravka Mandić, MD, PhD

    HQ Specialty Care team / Commercial and Marketing Lead

    Formerly Commercial Head, Southeast & Central Europe. More than 20 years of experience from Sanofi, including various positions in both Marketing and Sales. Proven results in leading and developing teams. Increased responsibility in terms of geography, organization size and the turnover over the time.

    Jana Pavlin, BScPharm

    HQ Specialty Care team / Medical Lead

    Formerly CV/EP Medical Manager Croatia/Slovenia and South Europe, Country Medical Chair in Sanofi. Brings cross-functional above 20 years’ experience from various regional and country level Medical, Marketing, and Sales roles.

    Karel Torner, BScPharm

    HQ Vaccines team / Commercial and Marketing Lead

    Previous position was General Manager Sanofi Pasteur Czech Republic and Slovakia. Held various roles in Commercial, Business Development and Business support with experience leading and developing people and almost a decade long experience in Country P&L Management.

    Georgi Ignatovski, MD

    HQ Vaccines team / Medical Lead

    Formerly Cardiovascular Medical Lead for Southeast and Central Europe Sanofi. Previously held various regional and country Medical and Commercial roles in Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim. Served as General manager of Bulgarian enterprise manufacturing producing vaccines and biological products.

    Renata Hrupelj

    Digital Engagement Lead

    Formerly Head of Customer Engagement team South Europe at Sanofi. Previously held Lead digital positions outside Pharma industry in L'Oreal as HUB Digital Manager Adria – Balkan, and Digital group manager in Heineken Group, implementing novel ways of marketing.

    Michal Matousek

    HQ Market Access Lead

    Formerly CEE Commercial Lead in Kyowa Kirin. Previously held various leadership roles with increasing responsibility and geographic scope in global pharma companies e.g. Astellas, Takeda, Shire, Baxter and Novartis.

    Vedran Čoporda, BSc Medical biochemistry

    Business Effectiveness Lead

    Formerly Business Excellence Manager for Southeast Central Europe in Sanofi. Held various positions in Sales, Commercial and Trade management, with preference for Business Operations, Sales Force excellence and product launches.

  • Corporate Functions

    Jelica Ćubrić

    Corporate Quality Director

    Formerly QA Associate Director at Valeant Serbia. Previously held series of Quality/Compliance roles at Donau Labs & Coca Cola.

    Darko Popović

    IT Director

    Formerly IT Manager for Alpe Adria region in Xella, and prior that, Corporate IT Director in PharmaSwiss, with 25 years of experience in both technical and management areas of IT.

    Frantisek Rozdalovsky

    Senior Director of Finance Operations

    Formerly Senior Finance Director in GW Pharmaceuticals. Previously held various positions with increasing responsibility scope in UCB including Finance and operations (General Manager Slovakia).

    Dagmar Stefanova

    Medical operations Head Europe

    Formerly Country Medical Lead Biogen Slovakia. Previously held Medical Manager position in Roche, and different commercial roles in Ratiopharm and Schering-Plough.

    Eva Kolatsk

    Corporate Pharmacovigilance Head

    Previous experience in BMS as Associate Director of International Business Process and various Pharmacovigilance positions in the EU countries.

    Natalia Golovchenko

    Patient Advocacy Lead

    20+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Previously at managerial position in A&D Pharma and various positions in BMS.

  • BluePrint
  • Jazz Pharmaceuticals
  • Norgine
  • SeaGen
  • Otsuka
  • Bristol Myers
  • Sanofi
  • UPSA
  • GE Healthcare
  • Vifor
  • Gilead
  • Amgen
  • Alcon
  • Merz
  • Astra Zeneca
  • Kyowa Kirin
  • Fresenius
  • PTC
  • BeiGene
  • Incyte
  • BioCryst
  • Eli Lilly
  • OM Pharma
  • Pharmanutra
  • Y-mAbs

Contact

Corporate Headquarters

Swixx Biopharma SA
Phone: +41 41 5523 440
E-mail: info@swixxbiopharma.com
Address: Neuhofstrasse 5A, CH-6340 Baar
Switzerland

Other Countries

Management Center

Phone: +420 242 434 242
E-mail: info@swixxbiopharma.com
Address: Hybernská 5 11000 Praha 1
Czech Republic