{"id":6272,"date":"2026-10-28T09:44:29","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T08:44:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.modag.net\/?p=6272"},"modified":"2026-10-28T10:46:46","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T09:46:46","slug":"final-ey-entrepreneur-of-the-year-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.modag.net\/en\/final-ey-entrepreneur-of-the-year-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"MODAG reaches the final of the \u201cEY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026\u201d award"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-top:0px;--awb-padding-right:0px;--awb-padding-bottom:0px;--awb-padding-left:0px;--awb-padding-right-small:0px;--awb-padding-bottom-small:0px;--awb-padding-left-small:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-justify-content-space-between fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1331.2px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_2_3 2_3 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:66.666666666667%;--awb-margin-top-large:16px;--awb-spacing-right-large:2.88%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:16px;--awb-spacing-left-large:2.88%;--awb-width-medium:75%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:2.56%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:2.56%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-margin-top-small:0px;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\" style=\"--awb-content-alignment:left;\"><p>WENDELSHEIM, 27 October 2026<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-1 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-two\" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color4);--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;--awb-font-size:32px;\"><h2 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;font-size:1em;--fontSize:32;line-height:1.12;\">MODAG reaches the final of the \u201cEY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026\u201d award<\/h2><\/div><ul style=\"--awb-margin-bottom:35px;--awb-iconcolor:var(--awb-color3);--awb-line-height:30.6px;--awb-icon-width:30.6px;--awb-icon-height:30.6px;--awb-icon-margin:12.6px;--awb-content-margin:43.2px;--awb-circlecolor:var(--awb-color7);--awb-circle-yes-font-size:15.84px;\" class=\"fusion-checklist fusion-checklist-1 fusion-checklist-default type-icons\"><li class=\"fusion-li-item\" style=\"\"><span class=\"icon-wrapper circle-yes\"><i class=\"fusion-li-icon fa-angle-double-right fas\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><div class=\"fusion-li-item-content\">\n<p class=\"p2\">MODAG GmbH from Wendelsheim (Alzey-Worms district, Germany) has reached the final of the \u201cEY Entrepreneur Of The Year\u201d business award with Dr. Torsten Matthias, Prof. Dr. Johannes Levin and Prof. Dr. Armin Giese. This year marks the 30th edition of the award in Germany.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><li class=\"fusion-li-item\" style=\"\"><span class=\"icon-wrapper circle-yes\"><i class=\"fusion-li-icon fa-angle-double-right fas\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><div class=\"fusion-li-item-content\">\n<p class=\"p2\">The biotech company, with around 15 employees, develops diagnostics and therapies for Parkinson\u2019s disease and related disorders. In March 2026, it launched the world\u2019s first CE-certified test kit for the diagnosis of Parkinson\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><li class=\"fusion-li-item\" style=\"\"><span class=\"icon-wrapper circle-yes\"><i class=\"fusion-li-icon fa-angle-double-right fas\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><div class=\"fusion-li-item-content\">\n<p class=\"p3\">A total of 20 companies from across Germany have made it to the final, two of them from Rhineland-Palatinate. The winners will be announced in Munich on 5 November 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2\" style=\"--awb-content-alignment:left;\"><p>MODAG GmbH from Wendelsheim is one of 20 companies in the final of the \u201cEY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026\u201d award. An expert jury selected the biotech company for the final round. The nominees are CEO Dr. Torsten Matthias, Chief Medical Officer Prof. Dr. Johannes Levin and Chief Scientific Officer Prof. Dr. Armin Giese. The Mainz-based company GOT BAG is the second finalist from Rhineland-Palatinate. Other finalists from across Germany include K\u00e4rcher from Stuttgart and the Bremen-based space company OHB.<\/p>\n<p>This year, EY is presenting the award in Germany for the 30th time, with the European financial group ODDO BHF as programme partner. Awards are given in the categories Family Business, Innovation, Sustainability and Young Companies. The jury assesses entrepreneurial performance, a company\u2019s purpose and vision, its growth, and its impact on the economy and society. One winner will represent Germany at the \u201cEY World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2027\u201d in Monaco.<\/p>\n<p>MODAG was founded in 2013 and builds on some 20 years of research at LMU Munich and the Max Planck Institute in G\u00f6ttingen. The company develops diagnostics and therapies for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson\u2019s and multiple system atrophy (MSA). In March 2026, MODAG launched PD DETECT\u00ae, the world\u2019s first CE-certified test kit that detects pathological alpha-synuclein aggregates in cerebrospinal fluid. This allows Parkinson\u2019s disease to be identified on a biological basis. Until now, diagnosis has relied mainly on the observation of symptoms. The active substance emrusolmin is currently being tested in a Phase 2 study in MSA by the pharmaceutical company Teva, which also owns ratiopharm. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the programme Fast Track designation. The Michael J. Fox Foundation, founded by the actor Michael J. Fox, has supported MODAG with more than seven million dollars since 2014.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-3\" style=\"--awb-content-alignment:left;\"><blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;This nomination belongs to the whole team. For the first three years, all of us worked on MODAG after hours and without pay. Today we are a team of 15 and, within a very short time, we have four substances in clinical trials. I am very proud of that.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Dr. Torsten Matthias, CEO of MODAG GmbH<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-1 fusion_builder_column_1_4 1_4 fusion-flex-column fusion-flex-align-self-flex-start\" style=\"--awb-padding-top:25px;--awb-padding-right:25px;--awb-padding-bottom:30px;--awb-padding-left:25px;--awb-overflow:hidden;--awb-bg-color:#1a2f27;--awb-bg-color-hover:#1a2f27;--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-border-color:var(--awb-color2);--awb-border-top:2px;--awb-border-style:solid;--awb-border-radius:10px 10px 10px 10px;--awb-width-large:25%;--awb-margin-top-large:16px;--awb-spacing-right-large:7.68%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:16px;--awb-spacing-left-large:0%;--awb-width-medium:25%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:7.68%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:0%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-4 fusion-text-no-margin\" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color3);--awb-margin-top:30px;--awb-margin-bottom:0px;\"><p>Contact MODAG<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-2 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-four\" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-margin-bottom:0px;--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><h4 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:28;line-height:1.32;\">Nils Wigger<\/h4><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-5\" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color3);\"><p><b style=\"color: var(--awb-color1);\"><br \/>\nE-Mail: <\/b><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b><br \/>\n<\/b><\/span>n.wigger@dunkelblau360.com<\/p>\n<p><b style=\"color: var(--awb-color1);\">Phone: <\/b><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b><br \/>\n<\/b><\/span>+49 176 722 91 461<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element\" style=\"--awb-margin-top:25px;--awb-margin-right:25px;--awb-margin-bottom:25px;--awb-margin-left:25px;--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-1 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"595\" height=\"842\" alt=\"EN_MODAG_Pressemitteilung_EY_Final\" title=\"EN_MODAG_Pressemitteilung_EY_Finale\" src=\"https:\/\/www.modag.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/EN_MODAG_Pressemitteilung_EY_Finale.png\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.modag.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/EN_MODAG_Pressemitteilung_EY_Finale.png\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-6273\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27595%27%20height%3D%27842%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20595%20842%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27595%27%20height%3D%27842%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.modag.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/EN_MODAG_Pressemitteilung_EY_Finale-200x283.png 200w, https:\/\/www.modag.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/EN_MODAG_Pressemitteilung_EY_Finale-400x566.png 400w, https:\/\/www.modag.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/EN_MODAG_Pressemitteilung_EY_Finale.png 595w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/span><\/div><div ><a class=\"fusion-button button-flat fusion-button-default-size button-default fusion-button-default button-1 fusion-button-span-yes fusion-button-span-default-medium fusion-button-default-type\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.modag.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/EN_MODAG_Pressemitteilung_EY_Final.pdf\"><i class=\"fa-file-pdf fas awb-button__icon awb-button__icon--default button-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><span class=\"fusion-button-text awb-button__text awb-button__text--default\">Download<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-2 fusion_builder_column_2_3 2_3 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:66.666666666667%;--awb-margin-top-large:16px;--awb-spacing-right-large:2.88%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:16px;--awb-spacing-left-large:2.88%;--awb-width-medium:75%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:2.56%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:2.56%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-6\" style=\"--awb-content-alignment:left;\"><p><strong>Dr. Torsten Matthias<\/strong> holds a doctorate in biochemistry. In Wendelsheim, he previously built up AESKU.GROUP, which has more than 300 employees and develops diagnostics, laboratory instruments and software. In 2013, he co-founded MODAG and became its first investor.<br \/>\nAs the so-called \u201cwinegrowers\u2019 disease\u201d, Parkinson\u2019s disease is also a workplace issue in Rheinhessen. Since 1 August 2026, Parkinson\u2019s syndrome caused by long-term, frequent and self-applied use of pesticides has been recognised as an occupational disease in Germany. This affects people working in agriculture, including viticulture, which shapes Rheinhessen as Germany\u2019s largest wine-growing region.<\/p>\n<p>The winners will be announced on 5 November 2026 at the award gala in the Wappenhalle in Munich. The evening will be hosted by journalist and entrepreneur Judith Rakers. All finalists are also nominated for the Audience Award: voting is open on the manager magazin website from 15 to 29 October 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element\" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-2 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"640\" alt=\"EOY2026_Banner Finalisten\" title=\"EOY2026_Banner Finalisten\" src=\"https:\/\/www.modag.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/EOY2026_Banner-Finalisten-1-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.modag.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/EOY2026_Banner-Finalisten-1-scaled.jpg\" class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-6297\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%27640%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%202560%20640%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%27640%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.modag.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/EOY2026_Banner-Finalisten-1-200x50.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.modag.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/EOY2026_Banner-Finalisten-1-400x100.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.modag.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/EOY2026_Banner-Finalisten-1-600x150.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.modag.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/EOY2026_Banner-Finalisten-1-800x200.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.modag.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/EOY2026_Banner-Finalisten-1-1200x300.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.modag.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/EOY2026_Banner-Finalisten-1-scaled.jpg 2560w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-3 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color4);--awb-margin-top:30px;--awb-margin-bottom:20px;--awb-margin-top-small:10px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:10px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:48;line-height:1.24;\">About MODAG<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-7\" style=\"--awb-content-alignment:left;\"><p>MODAG GmbH is a privately held German biotechnology company focused on developing disease-modifying therapeutics and diagnostics for neurodegenerative diseases. Based on a broad portfolio of patented compounds, MODAG develops innovative oligomer modulators and diagnostic tools that target the causes of synucleinopathies such as Parkinson\u2019s disease and MSA, as well as other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":6293,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6272","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.modag.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6272","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.modag.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.modag.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.modag.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.modag.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6272"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.modag.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6272\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6301,"href":"https:\/\/www.modag.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6272\/revisions\/6301"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.modag.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.modag.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.modag.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.modag.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}