Johannes Dasenbrock

Johannes Dasenbrock leads a team that works to advance innovative therapeutics for underserved populations. He joined the foundation in 2025, bringing with him 30 years of industrial experience in chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) development, analytical sciences, and drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics.

Throughout his career, Johannes has led efforts to discover, develop, and manufacture new molecular entities to address high unmet medical needs and improve patient outcomes. As vice president and head of global chemical and pharmaceutical development at the Merck Group, he contributed to key regulatory market approvals, including for Mavenclad^® for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and Tepmetko^® as a targeted therapy for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. In the global health domain, Johannes was instrumental in securing a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use on Arpraziquantel, a treatment for schistosomiasis in preschool-age children in low- and middle-income countries.

At Merck, Johannes also spearheaded major infrastructure investments and the establishment of centers of excellence for CMC development of antibody drug conjugates and for future-oriented CMC digital and AI capabilities.

Recognized for his ethical leadership, people development, and commitment to science-based decision-making, Johannes is active as a business coach and pro bono lecturer. He has a Ph.D. in chemistry, with academic roots in Bonn, Germany, and Edinburgh, UK. He is married and has two children.