Maarit Merla Email & Phone Number

Maarit Merla, MSc (Econ), eMBA, CBM (HHJ), has worked in the life science sector for more than 22 years, including in an international diagnostics company, a biotechnology start-up and a global pharmaceutical group. Maarit is currently the CEO of Finnish Drug Discovery Center, a state-owned company with a special mission to drive successful drug discovery and development through scientific and business development support. Her most recent roles include Executive Director at Organon R&D Finland (2022-2023) and Head of Business Development at Forendo Pharma (2015-2021), where she held a key role in raising €9M new financing, in closing a significant big pharma collaboration deal and the process that led to the acquisition of Forendo by Organon in 2021. Merla currently chairs the Board of Directors of Finnish Bioindustries and has served as Board Member of Pharma Industry Finland and the Chemical Industry Federation of Finland.Specialties: Pharmaceutical industry, medical devices, business development, commercial opportunity assessment, asset & deal valuation, rNPV models, due diligence, start-up companies, negotiations, partnering, VC investor collaboration, drug development, strategic marketing, R&D project management, purchasing and material control procedures, ISO13485/ QS requirements, coaching, communication and process development skills.

Listed skills include Marketing Strategy, Product Development, R&D, Medical Devices, and 45 others.