In his R&D career Dr Simmen worked at increasing levels of responsibility in the Johnson & Johnson Infectious Diseases and Vaccines team in J&J PRD, Tibotec and then Janssen, driving the early-stage anti-infective R&D strategy against many pathogens for nearly a decade in which that team progressed multiple clinical candidates into development, notably including the approved Hepatitis C virus protease inhibitor (Simeprevir). Through his subsequent global role as VP, head of external innovation for Infectious Diseases & Vaccines with Johnson & Johnson Innovation he led the establishment of many international collaborations, license agreements with companies and academic teams in the US, Asia and Europe. He was involved in the diligence and operational steps in the acquisition of major vaccine and therapeutic companies for J&J, including of Crucell in 2011and Alios in 2014. His experience working in the US, Europe and the UK evaluating collaborations, licensing and investment opportunities across vaccines, therapeutics and technology platforms will be invaluable for Vaxinano.

Dr Simmen trained as a molecular biologist at the University of Edinburgh, obtained his Ph.D. from the European Molecular Biology Lab in Heidelberg and completed postdoctoral work at the Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam before joining the pharma industry, initially with Roche UK before joining J&J in 1997 in La Jolla, USA.