Smiling bald man wearing glasses and a light blue suit jacket with arms crossed, standing against a light gray background.
Transforming
rare disease ventures
into market winners
I help biotech and pharma companies manage rare disease products across Germany, Switzerland and Austria with strategy, execution and deep market knowledge.
Contact me
Two people discussing business analytics on a tablet showing bar charts, line graphs, and pie charts.

Transforming
rare disease ventures
into market winners

I help biotech and pharma companies manage rare disease products across Germany, Switzerland and Austria with strategy, execution, and deep market knowledge.
Contact me
Smiling bald man wearing glasses and a light blue suit jacket with arms crossed, standing against a light gray background.
Two people discussing business analytics on a tablet showing bar charts, line graphs, and pie charts.

Trusted by Biotech and Pharma companies across Europe

Procter & Gamble (P&G) logo with white letters on a blue circular background.
Baxalta logo
Challenge

A Partner Who Understands Your Reality

Rare disease environments require fast decisions, strong alignment and deep market knowledge. I’ve spent over 30 years working in exactly these conditions - supporting launches, building teams and navigating complex market access situations. Today, I work closely with Biotech and Pharma companies to bring that experience where it creates the most value.

Market Access Strategy, Pricing & Reimbursement Navigation
Product Launch & Go-to-Market Strategy
High-Performance Team Development
Medical Initiatives & Public-Private Partnerships
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+30 years of first-hand experience
Portfolio

Addressing the Most Critical Challenges in 
Rare Disease Markets

I support rare disease companies across the full lifecycle - from early strategy and access planning to launch, growth and long-term value creation.

Product life cycle curve divided into four stages: Launch, Growth, Maturity, and Decline, shown as an ascending and descending line graph.

Market Access

Supporting Access Strategy from Early Planning to Successful Negotiation

Pricing · Reimbursement · Value positioning
Securing market access in rare diseases requires early strategic alignment, strong evidence positioning and deep understanding of payer expectations. I support companies in preparing coordinating and leading pricing & reimbursement processes (i.e. AMNOG in Germany) and building a credible value story that stands up to scrutiny.

Challenges

Aligning clinical value with payer expectations
Preparing for pricing negotiations early enough
Justifying pricing in small patient populations
Navigating different reimbursement systems across markets

From Launch Preparation to Market Adoption in Highly Specialized Environments

From first market entry to sustainable adoption.
Launching a rare disease therapy is not just a milestone - it’s a critical phase that defines long-term success. I support companies in building focused go-to-market strategies, identifying the right stakeholders, finding patients, tailor made positioning of the product and ensuring that teams are aligned and ready for execution from day one.

Challenges

Reaching small, highly underdiagnosed patient populations
Identifying patients and establishing referral pathways
Building awareness with limited commercial budgets
Building and supporting centers of excellence

Go-to-Market

Team Development

Building Strong Teams and Leadership Structures That Deliver Results

Leadership, structure and a culture of execution during critical growth phases.
Strong teams are essential in the rare disease field, where decisions have a high impact and resources are often limited. I support organizations in strengthening leadership structures, aligning teams across functions and fostering a culture that enables focused execution.

Challenges

Hiring the right people and securing flawless onboarding
Aligning cross-functional teams under pressure
Scaling structures during launch and growth phases
Clarifying roles and decision-making responsibilities

Creating Value Through Strategic Medical Initiatives and Trusted Partnerships

Connecting medical value, stakeholders and long-term impact.
Medical initiatives and strategic partnerships play a central role in rare disease ecosystems. I support projects that connect industry, healthcare providers and public institutions - strengthening, access, awareness and long-term adoption.

Challenges

Building trusted partnerships with centers and networks
Generating real-world evidence to support value discussions
Aligning medical initiatives with long-term strategy

Public-Private Partnerships

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A Structured Way of Working in Complex Environments

I work in a structured and hands-on way, bringing clarity to complex challenges. My approach is practical, outcome-oriented and grounded in real-world experience. The goal is always to create results that remain valuable long after the immediate project is complete.
Pragmatic
Impact-Driven
Sustainable
Structured
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Experience

WHat I bring to the table

My background combines senior leadership, rare disease expertise and real-world execution experience across multiple markets and organizations.

Expertise

Building High-Performance Teams

With more than 20 years of leadership experience, I support organizations in developing strong teams, clear structures and a culture that delivers.

Proven Launch Experience in Rare Diseases

I have led 10 successful product launches - including 6 orphan drugs - across highly specialized and complex markets.

30+ Years Industry Expertise. 9 Years General Management.

Deep experience across Pharma and Biotech, with senior leadership roles in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

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Network

Strong Industry Network & Negotiation Expertise

I bring long-standing relationships with key opinion leaders, industry partners and service providers - and the confidence to lead complex negotiations.

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Purpose

Beyond Quick Wins - Towards Sustainable Results

I support rare disease organizations with strategies that remain sustainable after launch decisions are made.

The Right Level of Support in High-Stakes Phases

Rare disease launches demand focus and speed. I offer flexible involvement tailored to your timeline, team and priorities.

Working Together

Two Flexible Ways to Partner With Me

Depending on your situation, I can either step into your organization as an interim leader - or support you as an external project partner. Let's talk to find out what is the best solution for you.

Interim management role

I step into your organization as an operational leader during critical phases. This works when you have a leadership gap, a launch window that cannot wait, or a temporary vacancy in market access or commercial leadership. I become part of your team and drive daily execution.

Project partner and advisor

I work with you on a defined project or strategic question. This is best when your team is strong but needs rare-disease expertise, when you want an outside perspective on key decisions, or when you need fast delivery without adding headcount.

Contact me
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Real Voices

What they said

Real words from people I’ve worked with.

"Hannes combines rare-disease market expertise with something much harder to find: the ability to turn strategy into execution. What distinguishes Hannes is not only his experience, but also his judgement, reliability and pragmatic leadership style."

Prof. Dr. med.
Arndt Rolfs
CEO, Rostock

"Together we developed the concept of a clinical and research collaboration agreement between the company he has worked for and the University hospital aiming at becoming a leading Center of Excellence for BBS in Europe and beyond, which has now become a reality."

PD Dr. med.
Metin Cetiner
Childrens University Hospital Essen

"He combines strong strategic thinking with a practical, hands-on approach to execution. Hannes navigates ambiguity well, takes ownership of challenges and consistently focuses on moving initiatives forward. He is also highly collaborative and communicates clearly, which made our cross-country coordination smooth and effective."

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Massimo Bertelli
VP, Head of Regional Commercial
TTR Amyloidosis, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Zurich

"Hannes is a very experienced negotiator with clear strategies, excellent negotiation skills and with a strong network in and beyond Germany."

Dr.
Alexander Natz
LL.M. (Duke) Attorney-at-Law, Partner, NOVACOS, Düsseldorf
Projects

RECENT SUCCESSES

Setting new standards in home care
Recognizing that high adherence is the cornerstone of successful treatment, I pioneered groundbreaking patient support programs in haemophilia, rare
neuromuscular and neuroendocrine diseases. These programs - now industry standards - achieved adherence rates up to 98%, significantly improving patient outcomes and satisfaction. A standout achievement: the world’s first pre-filled syringe program for a rare neuro-endocrine condition, tailored to individual patient doses and delivered directly to their homes. This unique service not only ensured precise dosing but also set a new benchmark for patient-centric care, earning trust from both patients and healthcare professionals.
Establishing centers of excellence in Germany
Rare diseases demand more than just treatment - they require systemic change. By forging public-private partnerships with two leading German university hospitals, I helped establish certified centers of excellence. These collaborations created sustainable structures for research and care, addressing critical bottlenecks like delayed diagnosis and fragmented treatment pathways. Built on transparency and shared goals, these initiatives empowered institutions to deliver state-of-the-art care and fostered long-term commitment to progress.
Fostering diagnosis in rare diseases: TRAM and TRAMonitor projects
Early diagnosis can be life-changing. Through the TRAM and TRAMonitor projects, I drove large-scale epidemiological studies in partnership with top German diagnostic labs. By  identifying patients in early disease stages using genetic criteria, we bridged knowledge gaps,  strengthened cross-disciplinary collaboration and built vibrant communities of healthcare professionals. These efforts didn’t just advance understanding - they inspired action, turning the search for the “needle in the haystack” into a collective mission.
Generating standards in real-world-evidence: the AHEAD® registry project
Data drives decisions. To fill critical gaps in treatment insights, we launched the AHEAD® registry, a pioneering real-world evidence initiative in haemophilia. Backed by a panel of German experts, the registry expanded from a national project to a global resource, informing clinical practice and elevating patient care worldwide. This project underscores my commitment to evidence-based innovation and collaborative leadership.

EMPOWERING RARE DISEASE COMPANIES

THROUGH INNOVATIVE MARKET CONSULTING

Contact me to arrange a free introductory call to discuss your situation and identify the fastest path forward.
hannes.schmeil@con4rare.com
+49 174 34 13 690
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