About Petra
Petra is a principal in McKinsey’s Zurich office, which she joined in 1999 after an earlier career as a researcher in immunology. Most of her work focuses on the pharmaceutical industry, where she advises companies on a range of strategic, organizational, and operational topics.
One of Petra’s deepest areas of expertise is clinical operations, and she has worked with numerous clients on topics including process optimization, clinical effectiveness, and sourcing strategy. In addition, she has extensive experience in pharmaceutical development, including stage-gate processes, portfolio assessment and strategy, and functional excellence in clinical, regulatory, translational medicine, and project management.
Petra has a particular interest in helping organizations optimize the interfaces between major functions such as development and marketing. She has also advised on a range of strategic topics involving M&A, post-merger R&D management, licensing, technology, product portfolio, and corporate and business unit strategies.
Within McKinsey, Petra is part of the leadership team for the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Products Practice and co-leads the global Pharma R&D Practice.
Petra joined McKinsey from Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, where she worked as a research assistant. While conducting doctoral and post-doctoral research into immune responses to renal cell carcinoma, she obtained two patents in the therapeutic and diagnostic usage of T-cell receptors.
Published work
“Value-driven drug development: Unlocking the value of your pipeline” (PDF–293 KB), Evolution or revolution? McKinsey perspectives on drug and device R&D 2012
Education
| Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich |
PhD in immunology |
| Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich |
MSc in molecular biology |