Hagen Cramer

Dr. Hagen Cramer is a renowned expert in all chemistry-related aspects of oligonucleotide therapeutic development. He has been working in the biotech industry for over 20 years spanning discovery, development and manufacturing of oligonucleotide-based therapeutics. Early in his career he worked with Gemini Technologies and Ridgeway Biosystems on the discovery of 2-5A antisense for the treatment of a variety of cancers and viral diseases. In 2005 he joined Girindus, which was later acquired by Nitto Denko Avecia, where he headed the process development department, eventually becoming Director of Operations to advance GMP manufacturing of RNA therapeutics through the clinical stages of development for a variety of sponsors. More recently he joined Wave Life Sciences where he was responsible for securing drug substance and drug product for its clinical pipeline of stereodefined oligonucleotide therapeutics targeting diseases affecting the central nervous system. Other responsibilities included heading Wave’s process validation efforts and being a main contributor for writing regulatory documents.

Hagen received his Ph.D. under the guidance and mentorship of Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Pfleiderer in 1995 from the University of Konstanz, Germany, and then conducted postdoctoral work at the National Institutes of Health. He has published 25 peer-reviewed papers including four book chapters, holds four patents and has authored one book.