Stamford pharmaceutical company Knoa Pharma has named Michael Goettler as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective July 6, positioning a 30-year industry veteran to lead a company built around a defined public health mission: helping abate the opioid crisis and ensuring the safe distribution of opioid analgesic medicines.
Goettler most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Viatris, a global healthcare company. His career has spanned commercial operations, research and development, medical affairs, and global markets, with senior roles at Sanofi and Pfizer. In addition to serving as President and Chief Executive Officer, Goettler will join the Knoa Pharma Board as its fifth member. He holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a graduate degree from the Koblenz School of Corporate Management in Germany.
"Michael is a globally respected pharmaceutical leader who brings to Knoa Pharma more than 30 years of experience guiding organizations with a commitment to excellence," said Dr. Norbert Riedel, Chairman of the Board of Knoa Pharma. "We are confident that under his leadership, Knoa Pharma will be well positioned to advance its public health purpose while responsibly meeting the needs of patients."
Knoa Pharma's mission encompasses expanding access to overdose reversal medicines, delivering affordable treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD), and ensuring the safe distribution of opioid analgesics. The company is owned by a not-for-profit foundation.
"I am honored to join Knoa Pharma at such an important moment," said Goettler. "This is a company defined by its purpose to help abate the opioid crisis, a mission that shapes everything it does, from how it serves patients to how it engages with communities. That commitment aligns deeply with my belief that pharmaceutical companies should be a force for good. I look forward to working alongside the talented team at Knoa to advance this mission, build a sustainable business, and make a meaningful difference for patients and communities across the country."
