REYKJAVIK, Iceland -- March 4, 2025 -- Technical University Munich’s Prof. Dr. Markus Gerhard Joins Akthelia's Scientific Advisory Board to Advance R&D on Intestinal Mucositis and Cancer  Care
Akthelia Pharmaceuticals, a pioneering biotechnology firm dedicated to improving cancer patient outcomes, proudly announces the appointment of Prof. Dr. Markus Gerhard from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) to its Scientific Advisory Board. A globally recognized expert in gastrointestinal health and oncology, Prof. Gerhard brings decades of groundbreaking research experience, particularly in the field of intestinal mucositis—a debilitating side effect of cancer therapies—and its intersection with cancer progression.
Prof. Gerhard, a leading figure at TUM’s Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Hygiene, has made significant contributions to understanding the role of Helicobacter pylori infections in gastric cancer and the broader implications of microbial influences on intestinal health. His expertise in mucosal inflammation and its systemic effects aligns seamlessly with Akthelia's mission to develop innovative therapies that mitigate the severe impact of intestinal mucositis in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This condition, characterized by painful inflammation of the digestive tract’s mucous membranes, affects up to 80% of patients receiving high-dose cancer treatments, severely impacting their quality of life and treatment adherence.
Prof. Dr. Markus Gerhard, based at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), is a renowned expert in medical microbiology and immunology, with a research focus on host-pathogen interactions, chronic inflammation, and cancer development, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract. His work centers on Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium linked to gastritis, ulcers, and gastric cancer, affecting over half the global population.
A major accomplishment is his leadership in developing a vaccine against H. pylori to prevent gastric cancer, earning him the 2014 DZIF Prize for Translational Infection Research. His research also explores the interplay between gastrointestinal microbiota and cancer, as seen in studies like his 2020 Gut publication on microbial dysbiosis in high-risk gastric cancer regions. At TUM’s Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Hygiene, he directs efforts to translate basic science into clinical solutions. Gerhard’s extensive publications and collaborations, including with Peking University, underscore his global impact on infection-related oncology and supportive cancer care.
ABOUT AKTHELIA PHARMACEUTICALS
Akthelia Pharmaceuticals is a pioneering biopharmaceutical company, focusing on therapeutics that target mucosal barrier injury and epithelial integrity, via a novel biology-driven immunotherapeutic strategy that upregulates epithelial surfaces.
Akthelia's lead program is a late preclinical stage asset with potential to be a first-in-class oral therapeutic addressing the large unmet need to improve cancer care outcomes by reducing the risk of chemotherapy-induced bloodstream infections. Akthelia's platform also addresses the urgent global threat of antibiotic bacterial resistance (AMR).
CONTACTS
Egill Masson CEO egill.masson@aktheliapharma.com
Akthelia Pharmaceuticals Grandagardi 16 101 Reykjavik Iceland