---
title: "CAS in Management of Life Sciences | EPFL Executive Education"
url: https://program.epfl-executive-education.ch/management-life-science
description: "EPFL CAS in Management of Life Sciences: strategic leadership, industry-specific processes and management skills for Biotech, MedTech and Pharma professionals in Lausanne."
lang: en
---

Shape the future of Biotech, Medtech and Pharma Deepen your knowledge and bring value to your organization

Image: Participants of the EPFL CAS in Management of Life Sciences during a collaborative workshop session (https://program.epfl-executive-education.ch/assets/mls-hero-groupwork-DTBK134Y.jpg)

# Shape life sciences through expertise and leadership

An EPFL Certificate of Advanced Studies for scientists and executives.

## Is this program for you?

You wish to acquire knowledge or deepen your understanding in the management of life sciences.

You have a management background, not specifically in Biotech, MedTech or Pharma, and you need to learn industry-specific processes.

You aspire to take part in the strategic decisions in your organization in a meaningful way.

You have a scientific background and you want to increase your managerial skills.

Our program is designed for scientists and managers who need clear insight into the specific processes of the Biotech, MedTech and Pharma industries, including entrepreneurs and executives entering the sector.

In the increasingly complex world of Pharma, Biotech and Medtech, managers are required to have clear insight into the industry-specific processes, from development to commercialization.

## A high impact program at one of the world's most vibrant technology institutions

Our lecturers bring vast industry specific knowledge into the classroom. They focus on the practical implementation using real-life cases. Our in-person class formats are dynamic and impactful.

This course is designed to empower professionals with the specific knowledge set to understand practices, processes and procedures that are unique to the life sciences industries.

For those with a high-level scientific background, the program equips participants with the necessary skills to combine science and management.

Image: Lecturer teaching during the CAS in Management of Life Sciences (https://program.epfl-executive-education.ch/assets/mls-gaetan-CC1lfS8e.jpg)

Image: Lecturer teaching during the CAS in Management of Life Sciences (https://program.epfl-executive-education.ch/assets/mls-marie-mellody-DIjPRDYC.jpg)

## Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Management of Life Sciences

An EPFL CAS diploma is granted upon successful completion of at least 5 modules.
It is also possible to take individual modules.

January 26 – 28, 2027

### Strategic Deals and Partnerships in Pharma and Medtech

Because bringing a therapy or device to market is costly, risky and slow, collaboration sustains growth in life sciences. This module gives you a working framework for choosing the right partner, structuring alliances, joint ventures and outsourcing agreements, and negotiating terms that hold, while recognising the traps that commonly undermine such arrangements.

February 16 – 18, 2027

### Intellectual Property Management in Life Sciences

Protecting innovation across borders is central to therapeutic development. You will examine how patents and trademarks are generated, maintained, defended and monetised, how international protection strategies are built around a product pipeline, and how legal choices made early in a project shape its commercial freedom and long-term value.

March 16 – 18, 2027

### Managing Data for Value in Life Sciences

Devices, diagnostics, pharma and biotech all now rely on the intelligent handling of data. This module reviews approaches that have proven effective in practice, from governance and quality to analytics, and uses real integration examples to show how organisations turn scattered information into decisions and measurable value.

April 13 – 15, 2027

### Clinical Research & Product Development – Strategy & Practice – Pharma and Biotech

Clinical development takes place inside a dense legislative framework. You will look at how trials are designed, run and supervised, which regulations apply to medicines and medical devices in the main markets, and which practices keep studies compliant, credible and aligned with the wider development strategy.

May 11 – 13, 2027

### Marketing in Life Sciences

Growing a business in crowded global markets demands a precise reading of its environment. This module examines customers, competitors, prescribers and distribution channels, then introduces the core methods used to build, launch and monitor a marketing strategy so that positioning, pricing and communication reinforce one another.

June 1 – 3, 2027

### cGMP Production, Industrial Trends and Challenges

This module addresses in an interactive and practical way GMPs influence on the development of products and the set up of Biomanufacturing and Medtech plants. It covers quality systems, process development, facility set-up and future trends in the industry that also help define the facility of the future.

June 15 – 17, 2027

### Project Management

Developing a drug or a device is a long, intricate and demanding undertaking. This module concentrates on what keeps such projects on course: realistic planning, well-chosen milestones, disciplined stakeholder management and objectives defined with enough precision that progress, risk and trade-offs can be assessed at any moment.

### Want to learn more about the program?

## Hear from those who have experienced it

Image: Arnaud Pochon (https://program.epfl-executive-education.ch/assets/arnaud-pochon-2KLxNuJq.webp)

The program exceeded my expectations by combining strategic, regulatory and operational perspectives in an applied way. It helped me structure the foundations of my venture, Pochon Labs, focused on plant genetics and breeding innovation.

Arnaud Pochon

Founder & Plant Genetics Researcher, Pochon Labs | Former Senior Project Manager, Procter & Gamble

Alumni 2026

Image: Katya Lyarskaya (https://program.epfl-executive-education.ch/assets/katya-lyarskaya-DbRecVHp.webp)

I joined the program at a pivotal moment in my career. It fully met - and in many ways exceeded - my expectations. I particularly appreciated the balance between academic rigor and real-world application, and the diversity of modules combined with the expertise of the lecturers.

Katya Lyarskaya

Senior Manager Finance Technology & Innovation, Salesforce

Alumni 2026

Image: Svitlana Nidzvetska (https://program.epfl-executive-education.ch/assets/svitlana-nidzvetska-DOqC4ggI.webp)

I particularly appreciated the deep dive into the pharma sector and current industry trends, which provided much-needed clarity for professionals considering a pivot into this field.

Svitlana Nidzvetska

Program Officer @ The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Alumni 2025

Image: Stefan Maurer (https://program.epfl-executive-education.ch/assets/stefan-maurer-BJVWsWfb.webp)

Coming from a business background, my goal was to bridge some of the technical gaps in my curriculum and amplify my impact in my day-to-day job. The course exceeded my expectations in its quality teaching and amount of valuable content in a relatively compressed amount of time.

Stefan Maurer

Director Strategy - Internal Manufacturing Biotherapeutics @ Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine

Alumni 2025

70

Participants per year

40

Nationalities

3

EPFL QS Western Europe university rankings 2027

42

Average age

## I am very interested, but is this program for me?

Our CAS program is intended for experienced professionals, looking to improve their management and leadership skills and grow within the life sciences industry. Professional experience, a university degree and fluency in English are required.

Send us your LinkedIn profile and we will help you understand if the course is right for you.

## We will be happy to answer your questions!

Image: Prof. Andrea Dunbar (https://program.epfl-executive-education.ch/assets/andrea-dunbar-z_-VcA3F.jpg)

### Prof. Andrea Dunbar

Head of Executive Education, CDM

Image: Roxane Stanford (https://program.epfl-executive-education.ch/assets/roxane-stanford-BUSY5NC1.png)

### Roxane Stanford

Program Manager

Image: Ana Caldas (https://program.epfl-executive-education.ch/assets/ana-caldas-mls-CYNLYVz-.jpg)

### Ana Caldas

Program Coordinator

Need more information?
Send us a message!

Image: EPFL

## Request the full brochure

Fill out the form to receive our brochure via email. We are happy to answer any additional questions about the program and your eligibility.

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