Markus Cappel

Markus is an accomplished executive with over thirty years’ experience in the biotech industry, known for his entrepreneurial acumen and consistently achieving outstanding results. He has a strong academic foundation in science and in business, including an Ivy-league MBA and a doctorate. He stands out in leadership, culture-building, and setting strategy informed by appropriate metrics. Through his expertise has consistently enhanced operational efficiencies and team performance, driving business excellence.

Passionate about developing novel medicines for patients with unmet medical needs, Markus has transformed a biotech organization from the discovery stage to a fully integrated commercial entity. He has built and led high-performing teams to drive product development and commercialization across major market countries. Markus is skilled at spearheading M&A transactions, securing private and public capital, and forging strategic partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies. Markus excels in data-driven decision-making and growth insights.

In his most recent role as Chief Business Officer at ChemoCentryx, Markus played a pivotal role in Amgen’s $4 billion acquisition of the company, securing a 116% premium. He orchestrated negotiation strategies with the Board of Directors, managed complex negotiations with Amgen, and led the due diligence process for expedited deal closure. Markus developed comprehensive financial models to support the acquisition price, collaborated with outside counsel to obtain timely antitrust clearance from the FTC and DOJ, and directed the post-merger integration team. As a vital member of a three-person C-level team, he raised $435 million in public offerings, including an IPO, and $138 million in private equity financing rounds, co-leading underwriter selection, investor outreach, and term sheet negotiations.

Markus led the product development and key aspects in support of the commercialization of Tavneos® (avacopan) across seven major market countries. He managed Technical Operations, IT, Business Solutions, Facilities, and Environmental Health & Safety, overseeing the development and scale-up of drug substances and products. Markus also led the global commercial supply team, coordinating with ex-US alliance partners for localized packaging and distribution. Additionally, he built IT infrastructure and business solutions to support commercialization in the US. He led multi-party negotiations with major pharma companies, securing a favorable commercialization agreement that preserved US commercial rights and development controls.

Before this, Markus served as VP of Business Development at Advanced Inhalation Research, where he provided executive-level support for the firm’s sale to Alkermes after just 18 months of operation, delivering significant ROI for investors. He successfully forged a strategic alliance with GlaxoSmithKline in four respiratory fields, securing a $125 million upfront payment through high-stakes negotiations. Markus also negotiated an exclusive deal with Eli Lilly for the pulmonary delivery of human growth hormone and insulin.

His previous roles included Associate Director of Business Development at Millennium Pharmaceuticals and various leadership positions at Cygnus Inc.

Markus received his Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and his PhD in Pharmaceutical Technology as well as a Bachelor of Science from J.W. Goethe University in Germany.