After more than 30 years at Wasserburger Arzneimittelwerk GmbH, where he headed the areas of Laboratory Quality Control, Quality Assurance, QP Compliance and Regulatory Affairs, Dr Markus Färber has opened a new professional chapter as a Senior Consultant at PharmaKorell.

In this interview, Markus shares what motivated him to take this step, what he finds fascinating about consultancy work, and what he particularly looks forward to in his new role.

Markus, after three decades at Wasserburger Arzneimittelwerk, you decided to take on a new challenge at PharmaKorell. What motivated you to make this move?
Those 30 years in the same environment at a contract manufacturer for parenterals were interesting, demanding and varied. However, as I have always been interested in new challenges and innovative technologies, I gradually developed the desire for a “fresh impulse” to gain new perspectives and explore more complex issues.

In consulting, one gains insight into a variety of companies, products and processes rather than seeing only a single operation. The work as a Senior Consultant at PharmaKorell allows me to think more broadly, continue my personal development and, at the same time, apply my many years of experience to bring about positive change in several companies, not just one.

What was it like to switch to consultancy after so many years on the industry side?
The step was not as big as one might think. In recent years, many new and partly less experienced employees joined Wasserburger Arzneimittelwerk, so my expertise and experience were often in demand. I was, in a way, already acting as an “internal consultant.”

Which experiences from your 30 years in Regulatory Affairs and Compliance are particularly valuable for your clients today?
I can look back on more than 20 years of experience in the quality management of a sterile manufacturer. During that time, I served as the primary contact for frequent client audits and inspections by national and international authorities. This enables me to advise PharmaKorell’s clients on how to build quality management systems that are highly likely to withstand audits and inspections successfully.

You’ve witnessed developments in pharmaceutical quality and regulatory environments for many years. In your opinion, which trends are currently shaping the industry the most?
Regulatory requirements for the manufacture of sterile medicinal products and the associated quality management are constantly increasing. Novel and promising medicines (for example, for the treatment of cancer, diabetes or Alzheimer’s) are in the pipelines of leading manufacturers. These are provided as injectable products for clinical trials and later for market supply. Another particularly exciting development will be the use of artificial intelligence in the still rather conservative pharmaceutical world.

What is the best piece of advice or life lesson you’ve ever received, and how does it influence your work?
That’s not an easy question to answer. Professionally, two pieces of wisdom come to mind:

“Quality is not a department but a philosophy.” Quality is not something that is checked only at the end of a process. Quality awareness and appropriate risk management must form the foundation of every decision within a pharmaceutical company. In my daily work, this idea motivates me to help colleagues develop a sense of quality awareness, rather than merely controlling it.

“He who stops wanting to improve, stops being good.”
This has certainly become a guiding principle in my day-to-day work. In an environment of constantly changing conditions, a willingness to learn, adaptability and a modern mindset are essential – even with many years of experience.

And on a more personal note: What keeps you curious and motivated after so many years in the industry?
Even after 30 years, what motivates me is the fact that our work contributes directly to the safety of patients. I don’t see this as routine but as both a responsibility and a source of drive. Since the pharmaceutical industry is constantly evolving, curiosity is a fundamental attitude for me and I find it rewarding to help shape these changes and share my knowledge with others.

We are very pleased to have Markus on the team and look forward to the insights and long-standing experience he brings to PharmaKorell’s consulting work and client collaborations.

This year’s CPHI in Frankfurt provided an environment that enabled in-depth and meaningful discussions. This was particularly valuable for us, as we were able to both connect with long-standing clients and also establish connections with potential new partners.

We attended a range of presentations and panel discussions. Two sessions, in particular, reflect topics that currently play a central role in many of our clients’ projects.

The session “Biologics in Motion: Navigating the Clinical Trials Landscape in Europe” with Ana Antunes (MABDESIGN), Sanobar Syed (Boehringer Ingelheim), and Dr Rafael Grochot (Sarah Cannon Research Institute), provided a concise overview of current clinical development landscapes, regulatory trends, and market distributions. One notable insight was that approximately one third of newly approved medicines are now biologics. This aligns closely with our own experience: a significant proportion of the projects we support involve biologics at various stages of development, including preparation for market entry. The discussion was compact and content-rich; it could easily have continued longer.

The panel discussion “Continuous Manufacturing: A View Into the Future of Pharmaceutical Production” featuring Gabriela Grasa Mannino (US Pharmacopeia), Dr Salvatore Mascia (CONTINUUS Pharmaceuticals), Rohtash Kumar (Veranova), and Philip Coetzee (Daiichi Sankyo), moderated by Edgar Pogna (L.E.K. Consulting), highlighted the importance of establishing a solid production strategy at the very beginning of a project. The discussion made clear that when development teams, senior management and regulatory authorities work together early and transparently, innovative or less established manufacturing approaches can be implemented successfully and supported within the regulatory framework.

The event was also very well organised. The CPHI app provided clear navigation across the venue, including time and distance indications and optimised routes, which made it easier to plan meetings efficiently. At the same time, it was possible to hold ad-hoc discussions in cafés, lounge areas and quieter corners between the halls, including confidential conversations, which is not always a given at large events.

The technical setup also deserves mention: presentations were delivered via headphones, allowing for concentrated listening even in semi-open spaces. In addition, the presence of well-trained staff ensured smooth orientation and logistical support throughout the venue.

The CPHI remains a relevant place for professional and scientific exchange. We plan to be there again next year. If you attended the CPHI yourself, or are working on related questions, we would welcome the opportunity to continue the conversation.

PharmaKorell has successfully completed this year’s ISO 9001 audit at its Lörrach, Munich, and Basel sites with zero findings. Conducted by TÜV SÜD, the audit confirmed the effectiveness of our Quality Management System in areas including documented information and records, processes and procedures, service delivery, and customer feedback.

What does this mean for our clients? 

ISO 9001 certification demonstrates that an accredited, independent certification body has audited and certified PharmaKorell once again, giving clients confidence in reproducible outcomes, reliable traceability and inspection-ready collaboration.

Many thanks to the entire team for its consistent quality focus and the continuous improvement of our QMS.

In November 2024, we welcomed Sarah Baier to PharmaKorell as Team Assistant & IT Officer. Since then, she’s brought valuable experience from international IT projects and a refreshing, solution-oriented mindset to our team.

We asked Sarah about her impressions so far:

Sarah, you’ve been part of PharmaKorell for around eight months now. What has surprised or inspired you the most during this time?
What has inspired me most are the short communication paths. Topics and changes can be implemented quickly and easily. It’s also been fascinating to see the level of quality we operate at, especially considering that we are a relatively small team and how many clients we support. Everyone here is incredibly kind and supportive; people really help each other, and that makes the atmosphere quite special.

You previously worked on international IT projects and even with humanoid robots. Which experiences from that time help you most in your current role at PharmaKorell?
My technical understanding and problem-solving skills in IT have certainly deepened through both experiences, so I would say that definitely helps me when I’m wearing my IT Officer hat. It also sharpened my awareness of working within global teams. There are quite a few aspects to consider when collaborating across different cultures. Being aware of that and adapting your approach and behaviour accordingly is definitely beneficial in day-to-day work.

Your motto is: “When the wind of change blows, some build walls, others build windmills.” Where do you currently see the biggest windmills at PharmaKorell, and what are you most looking forward to in the coming months?
In our last Jour Fixe, someone put it very nicely and simply: “We’re growing!” This naturally brings both challenges and opportunities to adapt processes, introduce new systems, and become even better and faster at responding to our clients’ needs. I’m really looking forward to being part of this growth and to shaping the future of PharmaKorell together with my colleagues.

We are pleased to inform you of a momentous development at PharmaKorell: after 18 successful years as sole shareholder, our founder and Managing Director, Dr Ulrich Korell, has sold a majority stake in PharmaKorell GmbH to the Normec Group.

What does this change mean?
By joining the Normec Group, a renowned provider of quality management and certification services, new opportunities are opening up for PharmaKorell. Working with our sister companies at Normec, we will harness synergies to deliver a broader, more efficient and bespoke service offering for our clients.

PharmaKorell will remain largely independent in key areas and will retain the flexibility and collegial, supportive culture that have defined us since our founding in May 2007. Our contractual relationships with business partners and employees remain unchanged. Dr Ulrich Korell and Dr Frank Wienen will continue as Managing Directors to ensure continuity, and our experienced consulting teams will remain responsible for your projects.

Normec: a market leader in testing and certification
Normec is one of the market leaders in the Testing, Inspection, Certification and Compliance (TICC) sector. Its expertise covers core areas such as water, air and soil quality, fire safety, food safety and healthcare. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Amsterdam, the Normec Group currently employs more than 5,000 people and, including all subsidiaries, operates over 160 locations worldwide.

A look back: PharmaKorell since 2007
Since our founding in 2007 at the Innocel Innovation Centre in Lörrach, PharmaKorell has been passionately committed to supporting the pharmaceutical industry. Our core business comprises quality management, QP certification, the secondment of key pharmaceutical personnel, cross-border pharmaceutical services, and support with business development.

To serve our Swiss clients even better, we opened a site in Basel-Riehen in 2012. Responding to growing demand from life sciences companies in Bavaria, an office in Munich followed in 2022.

PharmaKorell has established itself as a trusted partner to more than 200 international clients, some of whom we have worked with successfully for over a decade. The backbone of our company is our team of 26 specialists, including 15 registered Qualified Persons, enabling us to develop tailored solutions to complex challenges.

Our quality management system enjoys external recognition, including from TÜV SÜD and the pharmaceutical supervisory authorities. From our headquarters in Lörrach and our sites in Basel and Munich, we support the international pharmaceutical industry in bringing innovative medicines and generics safely and efficiently to the European market.

Looking ahead
We look forward to opening this exciting new chapter together with you and the Normec Group, expanding our position as a leading GMP certification service provider with related service offerings.

Having already been recognised with the kununu Top Company badges for 2024 and 2025, PharmaKorell has now also received the kununu “Top Rated 2025 Salary Satisfaction” award, an accolade achieved by only around 3% of all companies on kununu.

It recognises employers whose employees rate pay and benefits particularly highly over an extended period.

PharmaKorell continues to grow and is seeking qualified professionals for its Munich and Lörrach locations. Feel free to contact us with any questions: bewerbung@pharmakorell.com.

PharmaKorell will be present at CPHI Frankfurt from 28 to 30 October. Here is a snapshot from our recent CPHI preparation meeting. Our team consisting of Dr Benedikt Ball, Dr Frank Wienen and Dr Ulrich Korell will be attending the following sessions, among others:

• Biologics in Motion: Navigating the Clinical Trials Landscape in Europe
• Advancing ADCs: Precision Innovation for the Future of Targeted Therapies
• A Bridge to the Future of Aseptic Manufacturing: A Pharma 4.0 Case Study
• Continuous Manufacturing: A View Into the Future of Pharmaceuticals Production
• CDMOs at a Crossroads: Scaling, Adapting, and Partnering for the Future

Our main areas of focus at this year’s event are Next-Gen Bio, Manufacturing 5.0 and Clinical Innovation. Particular emphasis is placed on clinical innovation: around 35% of our clients are active in this field. The reliable supply of clinical trial materials has been one of PharmaKorell’s core competencies for many years.

Feel free to arrange a meeting with us via email or the event app. We look forward to meeting you in Frankfurt. 

After participating in CPHI Milan in 2024 and most recently in CPHI Shanghai in June 2025, we’re now preparing for Frankfurt and looking forward to reconnecting with familiar faces and making new connections!

As an independent German pharmaceutical consulting company, PharmaKorell has been supporting over 200 pharmaceutical and biotech companies in more than 30 countries since 2007. 

With a team of 26 experts, we offer services in the areas of Quality Management, QP Certification, Provision of Key Pharmaceutical Personnel, Import/Export, Business Development, Pharma Logistics & Packaging.

Take the opportunity to connect in person with three of our senior experts:
Dr Benedikt Ball
Dr Ulrich Korell
Dr Frank Wienen

We look forward to meeting you in person to explore growth opportunities and discuss how we can best support your business. Feel free to reach out to us via the event app or send us an email.

PharmaKorell has been awarded the kununu Top Company badge for the second year in a row.

Only about 5% of companies qualify for this badge each year, which makes this recognition all the more meaningful to us. Our average rating of 4.5 significantly exceeds the industry average in the medical/pharmaceutical sector (3.5) and consulting (3.9). Our employees particularly value career and development opportunities, our working environment, company culture, as well as topics such as equal opportunities and appreciation towards senior team members.

Our employees frequently highlight the following benefits: Company car, flexible working hours, home office, company phone, parking, accessibility, and regular team events. We are especially pleased that 90% are satisfied with their salary.

We continue to grow and are looking for new talent! We are always interested in qualified new colleagues for our sites in Lörrach and Munich. Feel free to reach out to us for an informal chat if you would like to learn more about your opportunities at PharmaKorell.

This year, our team outing took us to the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne, the most visited museum in Switzerland and an inspiring place for anyone with an interest in mobility, technology and communication. After travelling together from Lörrach and Munich, we began the day with an engaging guided tour, which provided an overview of the museum’s impressive collection of locomotives, cars, aircraft and ship models, while also offering insights into Switzerland’s history of innovation.

After our lunch together, the afternoon allowed space for individual exploration: some of us explored the planetarium with its interactive journey through the solar system, while others were fascinated by the “Space Transformer”, which creates the sensation of weightlessness. The Swiss Chocolate Adventure, which brings the world of cocoa and chocolate production to life, was also a highlight for many.

However, the most valuable aspect was the shared experience and the personal exchange within the team, which, away from our usual working environment, opened up new perspectives and ideas.