Rienk Pypstra

Rienk is the Chief Medical Officer and head of Infectious Diseases at tranScrip. Rienk is experienced in most aspects of drug development, in particular for drugs targeting Infectious Diseases, and with a focus on asset evaluation, drug development strategy and operational excellence.

Rienk has held leadership roles in clinical pharmacology, clinical development, business development and medical affairs in large pharmaceutical companies, and was Chief Medical Officer and Chief Development Officer in start-up to midsized biotech companies. In these roles Rienk has managed and progressed portfolios of antibiotics, antivirals and antifungal assets.

Rienk led first in human clinical trials; dose selection based on PK/PD rationale; designed, conducted and reported Ph1, 2, 3 and 4 clinical trials; and led compassionate use/ expanded access programs. He held regulatory interactions and formal scientific advice meetings. He contributed and reviewed many MAA, NDA and BLA submissions; led initial labelling negotiations and post-approval safety labelling updates. He conducted post approval advisory boards and build scientific promotional platforms.

Rienk also led the clinical evaluation for several M&A opportunities and ensured the integration of the newly acquired teams and programs.

Rienk holds a medical degree from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, and is licensed to practice in Belgium. He also acquired an MBA from the same university.

Rienk’s international career covers 30 years of clinical/medical industry experience in the UK, Europe and the USA, working for Lilly, GSK, Basilea, Pharming, Allecra, AZ and Pfizer.

Rienk was the PI for Pfizer’s OTA with BARDA to develop a portfolio of assets addressing AMR; the industry representative on the management board of the Combacte-Care consortium, (Combatting Bacterial Resistance in Europe – Carbapenem Resistance) an IMI funded Public Private Partnership; and the industry lead for WP 7 in the CARE consortium (Corona Accelerated R&D in Europe), the largest European research initiative addressing the challenges of COVID-19.