Andrew Schiermeier, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
Andrew Schiermeier has spent more than two decades as an executive in the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors, with experience ranging from managing the growth and operations for startups to directing the strategic and operational expansion of global brands for large pharma companies.
At Intellia, he is responsible for working with the board of directors and executive committee in establishing and overseeing the implementation of Intellia’s strategic direction in both in vivoMeaning “within the living”, this type of therapy is administered directly into the patient, targeting the cells and editing the genome from inside the body. and ex vivoAlso referred to as a cell therapy. In an ex vivo therapy, cells are removed from the body for modification. Modification is done by administering therapy directly to the cells before they are returned to the body. In the case of ex vivo CRISPR/Cas9 therapies, CRISPR/Cas9 is used to modify the extracted cells to repair them back to their proper function or add desired functions. The engineered cells are then administered to the patient so they can treat a particular disease. (engineered cell therapyType of therapy where engineered cells are transferred into a patient’s body to grow, replace or repair damaged tissue, or perform another desired function. Cells used in these therapies may originate from the patient (autologous cells) or from a donor (allogeneic cells). A common type of cell therapy is blood transfusions, where red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets from one or more donors are transferred into the body of a patient.) areas. He also oversees the company’s portfolio management, drug development, manufacturing and business development efforts. Andrew also currently serves on the Board of Directors at Kynan Pharmaceuticals, a private, preclinical stage biotech company working in oncology and auto-immune therapeutic areas.
Andrew joined Intellia in January 2017, having most recently served as SVP and Global Head of Merck KGaA’s Oncology Business, a global operation with revenues in excess of $1 billion across 66 countries. While at Merck, he was responsible for re-energizing the company’s oncology pipeline, continuing the growth and expanded indications of Erbitux®, and overseeing the development and launch of the world’s first commercialized blood-based biopsy based on circulating free DNAAcronym for deoxyribonucleic acid, the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. DNA can be found in the cell nucleus and contains the genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of all known organisms. Nearly every cell in a person’s body has the same DNA.. After successfully partnering the company’s anti-PDL1 antibodyA protein component of the immune system that circulates in the blood and recognizes and fights pathogens. Over time or through administration of a vaccine, the body can build immunity through the production of antibodies to protect against pathogens in the future. (avelumab/ BAVENCIO®) in a landmark deal with Pfizer in 2014, he also held the position of General Manager for the Merck-Pfizer Immuno-Oncology Alliance.
Prior to Merck, Andrew served as chief operating officer of Aura Biosciences, a clinical-stage biotech startup in Cambridge, MA. He also held executive leadership positions at Medicine in Need Corp.; LantiBio, Inc.; and Aventis Pharma.
Andrew holds several advanced degrees, including an International MBA from the Collège des Ingénieurs in Paris; a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Harvard University; and an M.S. in Bio-mechanical Engineering from Stanford University.