About Saverna

Who We Are

Saverna Therapeutics is a drug discovery company founded in 2017 by four experienced scientists to develop RNA-targeting small molecule drugs to combat diseases with an unmet clinical need.
The team developed an innovative drug discovery platform that combines fragment-based screening, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and machine learning allowing time- and cost-efficient discovery of promising small molecule drugs selectively targeting specific microRNAs (miRNAs).


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Mission

To significantly reduce the time and cost in the development of small molecule drugs for non-coding RNA-targets in inflammation, autoimmune diseases, cancer and infection via our proprietary drug discovery platform applying machine learning technology and processes.

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Vision

To be the discovery and early stage development partner of choice for integrated pharmaceutical companies for small molecule drugs that target non-coding RNA for diseases.

Our Team

Management Team

Kamal Azzaoui, PhD

CEO, Co-Founder

Expert in machine learning and drug design, 15 years’ experience in drug discovery and Pharma.

Marcel Blommers, PhD

CSO, Co-founder

Expert in NMR and fragment-based screening, 25 years’ experience in Pharma.

Marjo Götte, PhD

Director Biology, Co-founder

Expert in cell biology and assay development using imaging. 30 years’ experience in Academia and Pharma.

Heinz Fretz, PhD

Director Chemistry

Expert in medicinal chemistry and drug design, 25 years’ experience in Pharma.

Kamal Azzaoui, PhD

CEO, Co-Founder

Expert in machine learning and drug design, 15 years’ experience in drug discovery and Pharma.

Dr. Doriano Fabbro

Board Member

Prof. Dr. Harald Schwalbe

Scientific Board Member

Kamal Azzaoui, PhD

CEO, Co-Founder

Expert in machine learning and drug design, 15 years’ experience in drug discovery and Pharma.

Marcel Blommers, PhD

CSO, Co-founder

Expert in NMR and fragment-based screening, 25 years’ experience in Pharma.

Marjo Götte, PhD

Director Biology, Co-founder

Expert in cell biology and assay development using imaging. 30 years’ experience in Academia and Pharma.

Heinz Fretz, PhD

Director Chemistry

Expert in medicinal chemistry and drug design, 25 years’ experience in Pharma.

Dr. Doriano Fabbro

Board Member

Prof. Dr. Harald Schwalbe

Scientific Board Member

Who We Are
Our Location

At the Heart of Science

The company’s operations are established at the University of Basel Innovation Center in the Basel Area in the midst of one of the global leading life sciences cluster hubs – the Basel Region of Switzerland. The variegated Life Sciences Cluster Basel Region looks back on a history evolving over centuries. The qualities of the Life Sciences Cluster lay in its short distances and in the fact that it offers complete value chains and competences on-site.