About us

We deliver exceptional scientific solutions for those who search for better health.

A biologics CDMO built on great science

We are a Swiss biologics CDMO (contract development and manufacturing organization) specializing in challenging protein expression services and based in Monthey, Switzerland.

The heart of ExcellGene is applying smart science and technology to provide high quality proteins.
We serve life science companies that need to move rapidly and confidently from concept and discovery to clinical use.

ExcellGene is privately owned, was founded in 2001 by Prof. Dr. Florian M. Wurm and is led by Dr. Maria João Wurm, CEO since 2017. Florian was a manager and scientist at Genentech Inc. and was among the pioneering scientists to generate manufacturing processes for the very first pharmaceutical proteins made in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells. Maria (aka Dr. Maria J. De Jesus) developed several breakthrough technologies as Senior Scientist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne. These inventions have had profound effects on cell line development, and some have attained global application in early R&D work towards clinical manufacturing of biologics. Both founders are often invited to speak at conferences on the manufacturing of proteins with recombinant cells in bioreactors.

Why ExcellGene?

A focus on great science yields great results.

Starting from work on the very first pharmaceutical proteins made in CHO cells, we’ve always been driven by science and innovative thinking. As a result, we have unparalleled knowledge on protein expression in bioreactors, and a complete grasp on the control parameters influencing performance in large-scale bioreactors. Our twin expertise in biology and engineering enables us to successfully conclude the most challenging protein expressions and virus vector productions.

Remarkably productive cell hosts.

Our transient and stable protein expression technologies and processes are based on proprietary CHOExpress® cells – a uniquely productive and robust CHO cell host. We see similar performance for HEKExpress® (HEK 293 cells) and for insect cells (FlyExpress®).

Experts from transfection to manufacturing.

We cover the pharmaceutical value chain from DNA construction and transfection to scalable process and manufacture for clinical use.

Our clients

We serve biotech solutions worldwide

We’ve provided biologics and biotech solutions to hundreds of clients, including 6 of the top 10 pharmaceutical firms, biotech companies, contract research organizations and academic institutions.

Clients choose us due to our singular scientific expertise from DNA to product and a highly personalized, communicative approach towards each project. Through this, we ensure that your project goals are delivered reliably and in good time.

Meet the team

Maria João Wurm

Chief Executive Officer & Co-founder

Maria Wurm, an avid runner with achievements at the most challenging tracks in Switzerland, was the first employee of ExcellGene, spun-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). Maria was tasked to build the company and did so through ever increasing managerial responsibilities, without a CEO at the company for a decade. Chief Operating Officer from 2009 to 2017, she achieved the top-job in January 2017.

Maria speaks often at conferences for therapeutic protein expression from animal cells and the biology and engineering in developing high-yield manufacturing. Invited to join Scientific Advisory Boards, Maria continues to push innovation and quality. Maria obtained a Master in Environmental Engineering from the Nova University Lisbon, Portugal, and a PhD from the EPFLWell-known as a science-based CEO and disruptive inventor, she has more than 50 publications to her name with over 1600 literature citations (as of Dec. 2024).

Florian Wurm

Chief Scientific Officer, Founder

Dr. Florian Maria Wurm is co-founder and chairman of ExcellGene. He guided the scientific and technological innovations of the company.

As Professor of Biotechnology at the EPFL for 20 years (1995-2015) he and his students contributed highly relevant insights into the production of recombinant proteins in cultivated mammalian cells and considered an international expert in the complex genetics and phenotypes of Chinese Hamster Ovary cells (CHO cells).
He has co-authored over 250 publications.

Prior to his appointment in Lausanne, Florian Wurm worked at Genentech Inc. in Process Sciences (1985-95) where he contributed to several products that became blockbuster drugs. Wurm is a trained geneticist (Diploma and PhD) from the Justus Liebig University in Giessen, Germany and was employed at Behringwerke AG in the Department of Virology after his studies in the early 1980s.

Divor Kiseljak

Chief Operations Officer

Dr. Divor Kiseljak joined ExcellGene in 2012 as a Process Scientist to further the Company’s expertise in transient gene expression in mammalian cells. Previously, he held the role of Director of Process Science, and later, Senior Director of Operations and Process Science. Over ten years, Divor has worked with dozens of clients on diverse projects ranging from recombinant protein design, through cell line and process development to final product delivery. Through his scientific leadership, as well documented in publications on Ebola and SARS-CoV-2, he has significantly contributed to the understanding of mechanisms and barriers for transfected DNA to be converted into high protein yields in cultivated mammalian cells.

He received a Masters’ Degree in Molecular Biology from the University of Zagreb and obtained his Dr. es. Sci. (PhD) from the EPFL where he contributed to highly visible publications on transient gene expression with suspension cultured HEK 293 cells. In addition, Divor is certified in both, CMC and biopharmaceuticals drug development, and project management in biotechnology.

Joeri Kint

VP of Global Business Development & Sales

Dr. Joeri Kint brings over fifteen years of biotech experience, and before joining ExcellGene, led the contract development and manufacturing division of Biotype GmbH in Germany. Joeri also held roles of increasing responsibility at Merck Animal Health where he was responsible for GMP-process development & QC for veterinary vaccines. Joeri holds a Ph.D. in virology and immunology from the University of Wageningen for his work on the innate immune response against coronaviruses and associated cell line development.

Sebastian Rheindorf-Zaorski

Chief Strategy Officer

Sebastian Rheindorf-Zaorski holds an Executive MBA in Marketing and Strategy from University Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA and University of Warsaw, Poland and a MSc in Economics from University of Cologne, Germany.

He joined the Board of ExcellGene in 2009 and was appointed Chief Strategy Officer of ExcellGene in 2018. Before joining ExcellGene he worked 20+ years for HypoVereinbank and UniCredit Group in different senior executive roles. Among others he was a Member of the VISA Executive Board Poland, the UniCredit Group Private Banking Executive Board and the Chief Data Officer Executive Board in Milano, Italy. His experience ranges from Finance, Sales and Marketing over Organization, IT and Procurement to Strategy and Governance.

Martin Schmid

Chief Financial Officer

Martin Schmid holds an Executive MBA in integrated Management from the University of Applied Science Fribourg, Switzerland and a BBA in Finance.

Before joining ExcellGene SA and co-founding JMO Advisory and Associates Sarl, Martin developed and implemented tailored solutions in the fields of strategic planning, finance, project- and change-management as well as quality improvement audits in startup companies. He acquired much experience as CEO, CFO and Director of strategic- and M&A-projects in major food transformation companies.

Paulo De Jesus

Chief Information Officer

Before joining ExcellGene, Paulo De Jesus had dedicated over twenty years to the EPFL. Initially in IT support, he quickly advanced to a leadership role for high-power computing within the most challenging department. Yearly, 350 architecture students and their professors relied on sophisticated softwares and corresponding hardware.

Paulo established the use of IT tool virtualization for students and faculty, enabling online course delivery and execution of remote exams. >20 apprentices obtained their Swiss Federal Diploma of Competence (CFC) in IT under his guidance.

Since 2002, Paulo had supported part-time and without remuneration ExcellGene’s need in IT equipment and in generating and safeguarding critical information. In 2021 he was hired full-time as a Senior IT Officer, tasked with building a support team to cover all areas of the companys operations (sales, marketing, logistics, research, finance). In 2023, he was promoted to Chief Information Officer.