Maxion Therapeutics, a Cambridge-based biotechnology company developing antibody-based KnotBody® drugs for ion channel and G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-driven diseases, has appointed Dr. Stefan Härtle as Chief Development Officer, effective immediately. The strategic hire comes as the company prepares to advance its proprietary platform into clinical development.
Extensive Industry Experience
Dr. Härtle brings nearly 20 years of pharmaceutical research and development expertise to Maxion, most recently serving as Head of Clinical Pharmacology at MorphoSys, which was acquired by Novartis for $2.9 billion in February 2024. Throughout his career, he has led numerous projects spanning early research through Phase 4 clinical trials and played instrumental roles in developing several late-stage and approved therapeutics, including the anti-CD38 antibody felzartamab and the anti-CD19 antibody tafasitamab.
His comprehensive expertise encompasses early and late clinical development, including clinical pharmacology, toxicology, PK/PD simulations, and bioanalysis, complemented by deep understanding of quality assurance, CMC, and health authority processes. Prior to his role at MorphoSys, Dr. Härtle served on the Scientific Advisory Board for Human Immunology Biosciences (HI-Bio), which was successfully acquired by Biogen in July 2024. Earlier in his career, he held various positions in the DMPK field at Boehringer Ingelheim.
Dr. Härtle holds a PhD in Immunology and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich.
Strategic Timing for Clinical Advancement
The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Maxion as the company prepares to transition its KnotBody® platform from preclinical development to clinical trials. CEO Arndt Schottelius, MD PhD, commented: "We are delighted to welcome Stefan to Maxion at this pivotal time in our company's development. His exceptional track record in advancing novel therapeutics from discovery through clinical development aligns perfectly with our mission as we prepare to move our KnotBody® platform into the clinic."
Dr. Härtle expressed enthusiasm about joining the company, stating: "I am excited to join Maxion Therapeutics and work alongside their talented team to advance their groundbreaking KnotBody® technology. Throughout my career, I've been passionate about developing innovative therapies that address significant unmet medical needs, and Maxion's approach to targeting ion channels and GPCRs represents a tremendous opportunity to create truly transformative treatments."
KnotBody® Technology Platform
Maxion is developing a pipeline of potentially first- and best-in-class therapeutics using its proprietary KnotBody technology, which generates potent, selective, and long-acting therapeutics by combining naturally occurring mini-proteins ('knottins') with antibodies using state-of-the-art phage and mammalian display technologies. The platform targets previously untreatable ion channel and GPCR-driven diseases, including autoimmune conditions, chronic pain, and cardiovascular disease.
The company was founded in 2020 by respected biotech entrepreneurs and scientists Dr. John McCafferty, CTO, and Dr. Aneesh Karatt-Vellatt, CSO. Notably, Dr. McCafferty previously co-invented antibody phage display, which was the subject of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to his co-inventor Sir Gregory Winter.
Recent Funding Success
In March 2025, Maxion announced it had raised $72 million (£58 million) in an oversubscribed Series A financing round to advance its KnotBody® pipeline and platform. The company is based near Cambridge, UK, and is backed by international blue-chip investors.
