Dr. Franziska Thomas

Partner

Head, Healthcare and Life Sciences Practice, Central Europe

Franziska is an expert in bringing life science innovation to patients faster and more effectively and brings more than 15 years experience in the pharma/biotech and CDMO industry

Education

Harvard University/Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Post-doctoral Fellow Neuroscience
ETH Zurich
PhD Biochemistry

Past Experience

PA Consulting
Managing Consultant
McKinsey & Company
Engagement Manager
Boehringer Ingelheim
Director (Global Commercial & R&D)

Franziska is a partner in Arthur D. Little’s Frankfurt office and leads our Healthcare/Life Science services for Central Europe. She is focused on the life sciences and healthcare sector, specifically working in pharmaceutical R&D and commercial operations for innovative technologies such as biologics and new modalities.

Franziska is an experienced management consultant and industry expert with more than 15 years of working experience in the global pharma and biotech industry. Her work includes strategy development (R&D and commercial), opportunity assessment, development of strategies to enter or scale new business models including operations (biologics, biosimilar), complex program delivery, operational & commercial due diligence, change management, and program management, for healthcare suppliers (pharma, biotech, and CMO/CDMO).

Prior to joining Arthur D. Little Franziska has worked for Boehringer Ingelheim from 2005-2016 focusing on end-to-end innovation and development of biologics (CMC, R&D, and go-to market-launch strategies) with a specific focus on integrated fast to market approaches. She has expanded her work on innovation in the pharma and CDMO space while working for McKinsey and PA consulting supporting global pharma and biotech clients. Franziska holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the ETH in Zurich and has spent time in labs in Boston and New York as well as in Tokyo.

Franziska lives in Mainz with her partner and a large collection of books across a broad variety of topics such as history, knitting, and science fiction. As she no longer has a lab at her disposal, she is performing experiments in the kitchen and testing them on her partner and any friends that are willing to volunteer.

Recent Publications

Hyper-collaboration in the healthcare and life science industry – The new imperative
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the ability of the healthcare and life science industry to respond to unexpected needs with unprecedented speed. However, independent of the pandemic, the industry was already facing transformation in light of multiple, highly disruptive innovations not only in the traditional field of drug modalities but also in related fields such as digital, AI, data, and medical devices.

Franziska is a partner in Arthur D. Little’s Frankfurt office and leads our Healthcare/Life Science services for Central Europe. She is focused on the life sciences and healthcare sector, specifically working in pharmaceutical R&D and commercial operations for innovative technologies such as biologics and new modalities.

Franziska is an experienced management consultant and industry expert with more than 15 years of working experience in the global pharma and biotech industry. Her work includes strategy development (R&D and commercial), opportunity assessment, development of strategies to enter or scale new business models including operations (biologics, biosimilar), complex program delivery, operational & commercial due diligence, change management, and program management, for healthcare suppliers (pharma, biotech, and CMO/CDMO).

Prior to joining Arthur D. Little Franziska has worked for Boehringer Ingelheim from 2005-2016 focusing on end-to-end innovation and development of biologics (CMC, R&D, and go-to market-launch strategies) with a specific focus on integrated fast to market approaches. She has expanded her work on innovation in the pharma and CDMO space while working for McKinsey and PA consulting supporting global pharma and biotech clients. Franziska holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the ETH in Zurich and has spent time in labs in Boston and New York as well as in Tokyo.

Franziska lives in Mainz with her partner and a large collection of books across a broad variety of topics such as history, knitting, and science fiction. As she no longer has a lab at her disposal, she is performing experiments in the kitchen and testing them on her partner and any friends that are willing to volunteer.

Recent Publications

Hyper-collaboration in the healthcare and life science industry – The new imperative
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the ability of the healthcare and life science industry to respond to unexpected needs with unprecedented speed. However, independent of the pandemic, the industry was already facing transformation in light of multiple, highly disruptive innovations not only in the traditional field of drug modalities but also in related fields such as digital, AI, data, and medical devices.

More About Franziska
  • Harvard University/Dana Farber Cancer Institute
    Post-doctoral Fellow Neuroscience
  • ETH Zurich
    PhD Biochemistry
  • PA Consulting
    Managing Consultant
  • McKinsey & Company
    Engagement Manager
  • Boehringer Ingelheim
    Director (Global Commercial & R&D)