Honoring a Legacy in Medicinal Inorganic Chemistry

The symposium Metal-Based Anticancer Drugs: New Perspectives was held in Vienna to mark the retirement of Professor Bernhard Keppler, honoring his contributions to the field of medicinal inorganic chemistry.

The event brought together leading international experts who presented cutting-edge developments in metal-based therapeutics, including advances in photodynamic therapy, radiotherapy, theranostics, and the clinical progress of ruthenium-based drug candidates. Among the speakers were Ang Wee Han, Angela Casini, Gilles Gasser, Dan Gibson, and Margret Schottelius, with Sherri McFarland joining online. Isaac Witz, Founding President of the International Cancer Microenvironment Society and honorary doctor of the University of Vienna, attended as a special guest.

Research from the Institute was presented by Christian Kowol, Michael Reithofer, Thomas Mindt, Mathea Galanski, Samuel Meier-Menches, and Elisa Tomat, Bernhard Keppler’s successor as Professor of Inorganic Chemistry. They were joined by Dr. Mark Bazett from Bold Therapeutics, who presented the latest results of the clinical studies on BOLD-100, the ruthenium compound KP1339 originally developed by Bernhard Keppler in Heidelberg.

In addition to the rich scientific program and stimulating discussions, the symposium also provided a relaxed setting for renewing old connections and fostering new collaborations during the dinner.

Impressions