As Vice President of Preclinical Operations for Anavex®, Dr. Elben oversees pipeline development and optimization.  Dr. Elben has extensive experience in global pharmaceutical development and research.  His background includes roles as VP of Strategic Development Operations at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, with responsibilities including project and portfolio management as well as the development of an oncology project.  In addition, Dr. Elben served as a member of the Vertex drug development advisory board and drug product review committee.  He was also Chief Development Officer at Avaant Pharmaceuticals, where he led the development of oncology projects across the USA, Europe and India.  Earlier in his career, Dr. Elben was CEO of Axxima Pharmaceuticals in Munich, Germany. Dr. Elben started his career with Sanofi-Aventis (former Hoechst Marion Roussel) in Europe and the USA, where his last position was deputy head of project management overseeing also Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia products.  He and his teams were successful at bringing several drugs through the international development cycle and ultimately to market. Dr. Elben was also secretary of the Sanofi-Aventis drug development review committee.  Additionally, Dr. Elben has extensive, recent consulting experience with VCs, biotech companies and API manufacturing companies in the USA, Canada and Europe.  He is currently a member of several organizations, including the CEO advisory board of the Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research, BioFlorida and the Drug Information Association.  Dr. Elben received his PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Bonn, Germany. As Vice President of Preclinical Operations for Anavex®, Dr. Elben oversees pipeline development and optimization.  Dr. Elben has extensive experience in global pharmaceutical development and research.  His background includes roles as VP of Strategic Development Operations at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, with responsibilities including project and portfolio management as well as the development of an oncology project.  In addition, Dr. Elben served as a member of the Vertex drug development advisory board and drug product review committee.  He was also Chief Development Officer at Avaant Pharmaceuticals, where he led the development of oncology projects across the USA, Europe and India.  Earlier in his career, Dr. Elben was CEO of Axxima Pharmaceuticals in Munich, Germany. Dr. Elben started his career with Sanofi-Aventis (former Hoechst Marion Roussel) in Europe and the USA, where his last position was deputy head of project management overseeing also Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia products.  He and his teams were successful at bringing several drugs through the international development cycle and ultimately to market. Dr. Elben was also secretary of the Sanofi-Aventis drug development review committee.  Additionally, Dr. Elben has extensive, recent consulting experience with VCs, biotech companies and API manufacturing companies in the USA, Canada and Europe.  He is currently a member of several organizations, including the CEO advisory board of the Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research, BioFlorida and the Drug Information Association.  Dr. Elben received his PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Bonn, Germany.

Biotechnology