Sylvie Ryckebusch

Sylvie Ryckebusch is a seasoned business development executive who spent twelve years at Merck Serono (Geneva, Switzerland). In her role as head of licensing in neurology and autoimmune disease, she managed a team of business development professionals and was instrumental in numerous product and technology transactions. Most recently, she was appointed chief business officer at the EspeRare Foundation, a non-profit organization which addresses therapeutic unmet needs in rare diseases. Sylvie is also the founder of Octave Biotech Consulting, which advises pharmaceutical and biotech companies on business development strategy and implementation. Sylvie earned a PhD in neurobiology at the California Institute of Technology before completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the Harvard Business School. She worked for four years with McKinsey & Company before joining the pharmaceutical industry.

Education

• PhD California Institute of Technology (1987 — 1994)
• B.S. University of Maryland College Park (1983 — 1987)

Companies

• Adjunct Professor Grenoble Ecole de Management (2020)
• Non-Executive Director of the Board DOMAIN Therapeutics (2018)
• Member of Executive Finance Committee International Brain Research Organization (2018)
• Founder Octave Biotech Consulting (2013)
• Chief Business Officer EspeRare foundation (2013 — 2020)
• Head Neurology and Autoimmune Disease Licensing, Business Development Merck Serono (2000 — 2012)
• Senior Advisor and Resident CEO Index Ventures (2008 — 2009)
• Engagement Manager McKinsey & Company (1996 — 2000)
• Postdoctoral Research Fellow Harvard Business School (1995 — 1996)