Florian Klein, M.D.— Founder & CEO
Prof. Dr. Florian Klein is a physician-scientist focusing on virus immunology. He is Director of the Institute of Virology at the University of Cologne and his work investigates antibody-based therapies against viral infections such as HIV, HCMV, Ebola, and SARS-CoV-2. He has led groundbreaking research in antibody discovery and translation into clinical applications.
Florian Klein received his MD from the University of Cologne, trained at Rockefeller University, and has been recognized with numerous awards, including the German AIDS Award and the Georges Köhler Award. Further, he was named "Vordenker des Jahres" by Handelsblatt and the Boston Consulting Group and ranked as highly cited researcher since 2017.
Holger Schmoll— Consulting Chief Financial Officer
Holger Schmoll brings 30+ years of leadership in biotech, IT, and finance. As former CFO at AiCuris, he led strategic deals, including the licensing of Letermovir (PREVYMIS®) to MSD, and oversaw funding rounds and IPO preparation.
He co-founded BEAM to address antimicrobial resistance and has served on expert groups for biotech financing. Holger holds a degree in economics with a focus on finance and business informatics.
Henning Gruell, M.D.— Senior Scientist
Dr. Henning Gruell is a physician-scientist specializing in immunology and viral infections. His research centers on neutralizing antibodies for diseases like HIV and SARS-CoV-2, bridging preclinical discovery with clinical translation. He has led multiple early-phase trials and co-invented patented antiviral antibodies.
Henning Gruell studied medicine in Münster and underwent his clinical and scientific training at University Hospital Cologne. He also serves as a board-certified virologist and attending physician at the Institute of Virology of the University Hospital Cologne.
Lutz Gieselmann, M.D.— Senior Scientist
Dr. Lutz Gieselmann combines clinical training in virology with translational research in antibody therapeutics. His work focuses on isolating and characterizing broadly neutralizing antibodies for HIV and SARS-CoV-2.
He has developed high-throughput protocols to study immune responses across diverse patient groups and is a named inventor on multiple licensed patents. Lutz is also a postdoctoral researcher and physician at University Hospital Cologne.
Susanne Salomon, Ph.D.— Alliance & Corporate Manager
Dr. Susanne Salomon manages our strategic partnerships as well as IP-related aspects at Togontech. With a background in biochemistry and numerous years of experience in alliance management, she has supported licensing deals and interdisciplinary collaborations.
She also coordinates the national COVIM consortium, a nationwide immunity platform and serves as Executive Assistant to the Director at the Institute of Virology, University of Cologne.
Dr. John Reinhard Pietzsch— External Advisor
Dr. John Reinhard Pietzsch combines broad expertise in Biopharma innovation, Data Science, and Life Sciences strategy. As former Senior Director at Bayer Pharmaceuticals, and Head of Data Science and Insights, he led global data-centric AI programs. He also held senior roles across Business Consulting, Pharmacovigilance, Medical Affairs, and Radiology shaping diverse global strategy initiatives.
John Pietzsch studied Biochemistry and obtained his Doctorate degree in Immunology. Uniting cross-functional perspectives spanning academia, industry, and biotech, he supports Togontech in strategic planning, business development, and innovation management.