Monika Kaur Wagner, Consultant and Head of Quality Assurance/QMR, has now been part of the PharmaKorell team in Lörrach for five months. In a short interview, she shares her impressions of the company culture and talks about the experiences she’s had during her onboarding journey.

How did you experience the transition from Deputy Head of Quality Assurance to Head of Quality Assurance?

In the first three months, I was particularly supported by Lucia Vitellozzi and Matthias Barth. They patiently explained the processes to me, guided me through the systems step by step, and always took the time to answer my many questions with expertise. I am very grateful for their dedication and perseverance.

My line manager, Ulrich Korell, who had temporarily taken over the role of Head of Quality Assurance, consistently supported me with advice and practical help whenever I had questions, and regularly made time for me.

Thanks to close coordination with the team, I was able to familiarise myself quickly and contribute actively to the daily tasks from the outset. I experienced the transition from deputy to head as a smooth and seamless process.

In your introductory post, you quoted Hermann Hesse: “You have to try the impossible to achieve the possible.” Can you share an example where this has applied in your time at PharmaKorell?

Fortunately, during my first few months at PharmaKorell, there hasn’t yet been a situation where I needed to attempt the impossible.

How would you describe the company culture at PharmaKorell compared to your previous workplaces? Are there any aspects you particularly appreciate or found surprising?

What stands out to me most is the openness and how genuinely values are lived here. Both managing directors listen carefully when you share ideas for improvement. They take time for real conversations, encourage dialogue, and make sure everyone is on the same page. That kind of openness really makes you feel heard and taken seriously.

There’s also a very flat hierarchy, and mutual respect is something you can feel in the day-to-day work. People value each other – it’s something you notice. It’s rare to find such a natural balance of professionalism and authentic teamwork.

What advice would you give to new team members starting in a similar role at PharmaKorell?

Stick to the onboarding plan and aim to complete the steps within the given timeframe – it’s taken seriously at PharmaKorell, and for good reason. It gives you structure, helps you find your feet faster, and builds confidence in the processes early on. 

This year, PharmaKorell once again participated in the Swiss Biotech Day. Dr Konrad Dreizler, Dr Frank Wienen and Dr Ulrich Korell represented the company in Basel. As a member of the renowned Swiss Biotech Association, we took the opportunity to attend the general assembly, selected presentations, panel discussions and networking events to identify current industry trends and initiate new partnerships.

In the following brief interview with Konrad, we share some key impressions and highlights from the event.

This was your first time attending the Swiss Biotech Day in Basel. How did the event begin for you?

The Swiss Biotech Day opened with a Welcome Reception at the Markthalle Basel on Sunday evening. The informal setting with standing tables, drinks and snacks provided an ideal environment for networking. There was a strong turnout, and the atmosphere was open and engaging – it was easy to start conversations and make new contacts.

What were your main impressions of the first day, particularly regarding the General Assembly and the technical presentations?

The main exhibition day began on Monday for Ulrich and me. While the exhibition stands were still being set up, we took the opportunity to align internally.

At 10 a.m., we attended the General Assembly of the Swiss Biotech Association. The 2024 Annual Report was presented, key achievements from the past year were reviewed, members voted on strategic matters, new board members were introduced, and a preview of 2025 was shared. Two emerging companies from Basel also presented their projects.

The remainder of the day included numerous short presentations by biotech companies at various stages of development. These sessions were complemented by discussions at the exhibition stands, where attendees had the chance to connect with potential clients and explore collaborative opportunities.

There were also numerous panel discussions. A particular highlight for me was the Swissmedic session, where three companies shared their experiences with the regulatory approval process and identified areas for potential improvement.

How was the second day of the event for you?

On Tuesday, I attended the exhibition with Frank. I initially focused on international delegations and had valuable conversations with participants from Estonia, Taiwan, South Korea and Australia. Later in the day, I joined further presentations and panel discussions that introduced innovative biotech initiatives.

One particular highlight was the presentation by Basilea. The company develops antifungal and antibacterial therapies. The session focused on three pipeline products: Fosmanogepix (antifungal: candidaemia/invasive candidiasis), BAL2062 (antifungal: invasive aspergillosis), and BAL2420 (antibacterial: severe Enterobacteriaceae infections).

I also found the short presentation by BeiGene, titled “Building a New Model for Oncology Innovation”, to be highly compelling. The company’s rapid growth and the increasing number of patients it now serves were particularly noteworthy. In addition, it was announced that the company will be rebranding under the new name BeOne in the future.

Will PharmaKorell participate again next year?

The Swiss Biotech Day is a well-structured and insightful event. We certainly plan to participate again next year.

We are delighted for our colleague Bastian Fleitz, who recently became the father of twins! Bastian has been working with PharmaKorell as a Senior Consultant and Qualified Person since May 2022.

To focus on this new chapter, he will serve in a significantly reduced capacity at PharmaKorell until the end of the year. In the meantime, we have temporarily redistributed his responsibilities within the team.

We warmly wish Bastian and his family all the very best during this special time!

Our first visit to the Making & Distributing Pharmaceuticals UK was a great success. We were able to establish numerous valuable new contacts. A particular highlight was the diverse programme of talks, especially the presentation by Dr Atheer Awad on On Demand 3D Printing of Pharmaceuticals .

A key topic for us was, of course, the import of medicinal product batches between the UK and the EU – an area in which PharmaKorell was able to contribute its many years of experience. Many visitors specifically sought us out to explore this topic.

A heartfelt thank you to the organisers and attendees of the event. We are already looking forward to taking part again next year!

Today we celebrate a significant milestone: since our founding in 2007 at the Innocel Innovations-Center Lörrach, we have grown from an ambitious start-up into a medium-sized pharmaceutical consulting company.

With locations in Lörrach, Munich and Basel, we have built strong partnerships with over 180 international clients over the years. Our multidisciplinary team of 26 experts, including 15 active, registered Qualified Persons, forms the heart of PharmaKorell and is the key to our continued success.

We thank our clients, our partners, and our dedicated team for their trust and commitment. We look forward to the future chapters we will experience together.

We are delighted to once again take part in the Swiss Biotech Day on 5 and 6 May. As a pharmaceutical consulting firm with a Swiss base in Basel, we are proud to be a member of the prestigious Swiss Biotech Association.

Our programme this year includes attending selected events and panel discussions:

May 4, 17:30 – 20:30 | Welcome Reception

May 5, 10:00 – 11:00 | Swiss Biotech Association General Assembly

May 5, 15:30 – 16:15 | How to reach more patients faster: the promise of international collaboration and shared regulatory approval pathways

Moderation Panelists

May 5, 17:30 – 18:15 | Enhancing Europe’s Role as a Global Hub for Oncology Trials

Moderation Panelists

May 6, 15:00 – 15:45 | Radioligand Therapies – Opportunities and Challenges for Switzerland and Globally

Moderation Panelists

May 6, 16:00 – 16:45 | From Innovation to Patient: Swissmedic’s Role in Accelerating Drug Development and Patient Access

Moderation Panelists

We look forward to engaging with esteemed international experts in the biotechnology sector.

PharmaKorell will be represented at the Swiss Biotech Day in Basel on 5 – 6 May 2025 by Dr Konrad Dreizler, Dr Ulrich Korell and Dr Frank Wienen.

We invite you to join us for discussions on a wide range of topics, including quality management, EU QP certification, provision of key personnel such as Responsible Persons (FvP), cross-border pharmaceutical services, business development, as well as pharmaceutical logistics and packaging.

We look forward to engaging with you in an informal setting and working together to find solutions to your challenges. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact us to arrange a meeting.

Due to the growing number of client projects, PharmaKorell has taken into operation a new, larger packaging room. The first packaging order in this new area was for a double-blind study in the EU.

Packaging projects at our company are always meticulously managed and supervised by two experienced professionals who also actively participate; in this case by Dr. Matthias Barth, Head of Quality Control, and Dr. Ulrich Korell, acting as Deputy Head of Production. 

On this occasion, new team members were also trained: Monika Kaur Wagner, our future Head of Quality Assurance, and Dr. Konrad Dreizler, another Deputy Head of Production. PharmaKorell offers QP batch release for the EU, EEA, Switzerland, and the UK for supplying clinical studies – complemented by comprehensive packaging and logistics solutions. 

We print labels in-house, procure suitable secondary packaging materials, and organise GDP-compliant thermal transport according to customer-specific requirements, e.g. deep-frozen for particularly temperature-sensitive products.

After his international career in the pharmaceutical industry and another 16 productive years at PharmaKorell, Dr Robert Buck has decided to finally hand over his projects to Dr Helene Geese and Bastian Fleitz and to retire permanently. 

His entry into PharmaKorell in 2009, when the company was still in its infancy, was originally meant to be just a short-term consultancy. However, what began as a temporary engagement developed into a long-standing collaboration. In this blog post, we look back on Robert’s significant contributions and explore the valuable experiences he gathered. Robert’s story shows that it’s never too late to start a new chapter.

Robert, you started as a consultant at PharmaKorell in 2009 when it was still a very small company. What motivated you to do so?

After taking early retirement from the corporate world, I still felt too youthful and energetic to fully retire. PharmaKorell offered me the opportunity to work as a freelance employee with a self-chosen workload. The work was very varied, enjoyable, and gave me the feeling of still being needed and appreciated with my experience. I was able to look after my clients very independently from my own office. What was originally planned as three years of activity at PharmaKorell ultimately became 16 years.

What were your highlights during your time at PharmaKorell?

A highlight was always successfully passing a regulatory inspection with a client. It showed me that I am technically up-to-date and have done good work for my client. Another highlight was creating the QA system when setting up a subsidiary for a client. Additional highlights included two successful product launches on the European market. With my QP release, I was able to help patients receive new medications for better treatment of their illnesses.

What advice would you give to potential new employees at PharmaKorell?

Be open to new tasks and customers, enjoy new challenges, be ready to take responsibility, and bring a lot of experience from your previous professional activity. Clients come to PharmaKorell because they need support and expertise for their companies. You must deliver this support and expertise. The work at PharmaKorell requires commitment, flexibility, creativity, and a sense of proportion in solving problems.

How does the working method at PharmaKorell differ from that at large pharmaceutical companies?

I learned more in the years at PharmaKorell than I had previously in 28 years in the pharmaceutical large industry. The work at PharmaKorell is more varied and often more responsible than in large companies. At PharmaKorell, you work with different clients, often on quite different topics and tasks. You come into contact with a variety of pharmaceutical dosage forms, from active substance production to market supply, including GMP audits, support during regulatory inspections, and consultancy on GMP questions.

Robert, what will you do with all your free time in the future?

I have a large garden and five grandchildren. I also very much enjoy travelling to exotic countries. I will now have more time for this. And I look forward to the fact that when I get up in the morning, I no longer have to ask what I must do today, but what I would like to do today.

We are excited to participate in the Making & Distributing Pharmaceuticals exhibition in Coventry this April. Amongst other topics, our involvement enables us to learn firsthand about the latest developments and challenges of 3D printing in pharmaceutical production.

Ensuring quality and compliance when using this revolutionary technology in the pharmaceutical environment is a fascinating topic. We are eager to engage with other GMP experts who are also professionally involved in this field.

We will be attending the following events:

29 April

8:45 AM A Journey to the Wonderful World of 3D Printing CITRS Prof. Dimitrios Lamprou

9:30 AM 3D Printed Personalised Medications at the Point of Care Prof. Dennis Douroumis

10:00 AM On Demand 3D Printing of Pharmaceuticals Atheer Awad

2:00 PM MHRA Regulatory & Compliance Trends, and Industry Challenges from an MHRA Perspective Peter Brown

30 April

10:00 AM Panel Discussion: Northern Ireland Pharma Supply Chain and the Windsor Framework. Sean Curley, Brian Anderton, Robert Hardy, Peter Brown