Fritz Bittenbender

Bio:

With two decades in senior leadership roles across the life sciences industry, Fritz Bittenbender continually strives to develop forward-looking, collaborative solutions that drive access and improve the healthcare ecosystem on behalf of patients. Since being named Senior Vice President and Head of Genentech Public Affairs & Access in 2022, Fritz has led the company’s Policy, Evidence & Access Strategy, Access Solutions & Patient Strategy; Channel & Contract Management, External Affairs (including Government Affairs & Policy and Patient Advocacy Relations), Charitable Giving, and Corporate Communications. He also serves on the Genentech Executive Committee and the U.S. Leadership Team.

Fritz’s unique and extensive role includes oversight of multiple departments working in concert to build holistic strategies and solutions that tackle patient access issues head-on. Under Fritz’s leadership, these teams advance sustainable solutions that balance price, access, and innovation, develop effective distribution strategies, ensure robust supply chain and channel management, and advocate for impactful policy changes. By fostering meaningful partnerships with patient advocacy organizations and other external stakeholders, Fritz strives to ensure that all patients can access Genentech’s life-saving medicines.

Fritz’s career spans the healthcare industry and his vast experience—as a purchaser, partner, supplier, and within the highest levels of state government—have afforded him the opportunity to view the American healthcare delivery system comprehensively, as well as the recognition that all parts must work collectively to lower costs for patients and the government while preserving America's role as the global leader in scientific innovation.

Prior to joining Genentech in 2016, he served as Executive Vice President at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), where he oversaw a fully-integrated Public Affairs Department, which included federal and state government relations, communications, alliance development, and membership services. Fritz served as Executive Director of the Council of State Bioscience Associations, and spent several years with Cephalon as Vice President of Global Public Affairs and President of the CephalonCares Foundation.

Before joining Cephalon, Fritz served as President of Pennsylvania BIO (now Life Sciences Pennsylvania), the statewide trade association for the biopharmaceutical industry. Prior to his tenure at Pennsylvania BIO, Fritz was Secretary of Administration,