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Autor & Herausgeber

Dr. Volker Spitzer

Dr. Volker Spitzer ist ein international anerkannter Experte für Consumer Health, Forschung und Entwicklung sowie evidenz-basierte Innovation. Er verfügt über fast vier Jahrzehnte Erfahrung in der akademischen Forschung, der Entwicklung von funktionellen Mikronährstoffen, der Innovation von Consumer-Health-Produkten, Medical Affairs, Regulatory Science, Real-World Evidence, klinischer Forschung und Digital Health.

Er promovierte an der Universität Bonn, nachdem er Chemie, Lebensmittelchemie, pharmazeutische Wissenschaften sowie Lebensmittel- und Verbraucherrecht studiert hatte. Zehn Jahre in der akademischen Forschung, darunter eine Professur in pharmazeutischen Wissenschaften, begründeten sein dauerhaftes Engagement für wissenschaftliche Genauigkeit und disziplinübergreifendes translationales Denken.

Anschließend war er siebzehn Jahre in der industriellen Forschung und Entwicklung bei Roche, DSM Nutritional Products und Bayer Consumer Health tätig. Dabei entwickelte er sich von der Laborforschung zu Vitaminen und Mikronährstoffen bis hin zu leitenden globalen F&E-Positionen in den Bereichen OTC-Arzneimittel, Nahrungsergänzungs-mittel, Dermatologie, Gastrointestinalprodukte, Schmerz und Allergie. In dieser Zeit gehörte er dem Vorstand der Deutschen Gesellschaft für angewandte Vitaminforschung an, war Präsident eines führenden Ernährungsinformationsportals und wirkte in Arbeitsgruppen des ILSI sowie an weiteren internationalen Ernährungsinitiativen mit. Parallel dazu leitete er Open-Innovation-, Lizenzierungs- und M&A-Initiativen, wobei wissenschaftliche Evidenz das zentrale Kriterium für strategische Entscheidungen bildete.

Seit 2016 arbeitet er an der Schnittstelle von Beratung, Forschung und Entwicklung, Real-World Evidence, Regulatory Science und strategischer Thought Leadership – zunächst als Geschäftsführer einer spezialisierten deutschen CRO und anschließend als Global Vice President für Consumer Health und MedTech bei IQVIA. Dort entwickelte er globale Strategien für virtuelle und hybride Studien, die wissenschaftliche Absicherung von Produktaussagen, Rx-to-OTC-Switches, personalisierte Ernährung sowie die Nutzung von Real-World Evidence für regulatorische und kommerzielle Entscheidungen.

Er hat mehr als 90 Bücher, peer-reviewte Fachartikel und Branchenbeiträge zu Naturprodukten, OTC-Arzneimitteln, Lebensmittelzutaten, regulatorischen Strategien, Digital Health, personalisierter Medizin, der Methodik von Real-World Evidence und agentischer KI veröffentlicht. Regelmäßig spricht er auf internationalen Konferenzen in den USA, der EU, dem Vereinigten Königreich und in Asia-Pacific.

Ein Grundsatz bestimmt seine redaktionelle Arbeit: Wissenschaftliche Aussagen erfordern wissenschaftliche Evidenz. Alles andere ist Meinung.

Publikationen

Ausgesuchte White Paper und Berichte

  1. Rickwood S, Spitzer V. If Better Weight-Loss Drugs Keep Improving, Consumer Health Will Be Reshaped: A perspective on GLP-1 obesity medicines and the next rotation in Consumer Health. IQVIA White Paper. 31 July 2026.
  2. Spitzer V, Krammer-Lukas S, Rocha I, Stewart M. An Agentic AI-Powered Consumer Health Revolution: Scenarios on how foundation models and AI agents could transform discovery, trust and commerce. IQVIA White Paper. 20 January 2026.
  3. Spitzer V, Rocha I, Gadzhieva A. Unlocking Consumer Insights with Scientific RWE Surveys: How evidence-led consumer surveys are reshaping health product claims. IQVIA White Paper. 24 November 2025.
  4. Spitzer V, Rickwood S. Nutrition as the Keystone for Obesity Management Medication: The consumer health market opportunity behind the rise of obesity prescription medicines. IQVIA White Paper. 15 October 2025.
  5. Spitzer V, Gadzhieva-Moore A, Stewart M. Revolutionizing Non-Label Claims with Real-World Evidence. Part 3: Bringing real-world experiences to life with new claims. IQVIA White Paper. December 2024.
  6. Spitzer V, Krammer-Lukas S, Bang KS. Challenges in Marketing Infant Nutrition Products: Science-backed approaches to support health claims. IQVIA White Paper. July 2024.
  7. Spitzer V, Tan S, Stewart M. Revolutionizing Non-Label Claims with Real-World Evidence. Part 2: The power of RWE in marketing and research. IQVIA White Paper. July 2024.
  8. Spitzer V, Tan S, Stewart M. Revolutionizing Non-Label Claims with Real-World Evidence. Part 1: Unleashing claims innovation with RWE methodologies. IQVIA White Paper. May 2024.
  9. Aker J, Spitzer V, Bulliard M, Bansal-Dev V, Stewart M. Switch On! The Next Generation of Rx-to-OTC Switch. IQVIA White Paper. 27 September 2023.
  10. Lutzmayer S, Spitzer V, Rickwood S. Bigger on the Inside: The Expanding World of Microbiome Therapeutics. The emergence of an exciting new area of medicines with the potential for novel treatments across a wide range of diseases and conditions. IQVIA White Paper. 22 March 2023.
  11. Spitzer V, Kondapuram S, Schendel J, Stewart M. The Next Wave of Self-Care Digital Health: Advancing an outcome-oriented consumer health industry. IQVIA White Paper. 16 February 2023.
  12. Levy M, Shukla A, Spitzer V, Stewart M. Accelerating Consumer Health Innovation. IQVIA White Paper. 5 July 2021.
  13. Shukla A, Tisman A, Prevost L, Major J, Johns S, Spitzer V. Rebooting Consumer Health: Thriving in a Post-COVID-19 World. IQVIA Report. 23 July 2020.
  14. Spitzer V, Tisman A, Kondapuram S, Stewart M. Consumer Health Innovation for the Future: Innovate today to shape consumer health tomorrow. IQVIA White Paper. 25 July 2019.

Andere Artikel und Blogs

  1. Spitzer V, Krammer-Lukas S, Stewart M. Beyond Beauty: Why GLP-1s Are Prompting a Nutricosmetics Evolution. IQVIA Blog. 29 July 2026.
  2. Spitzer V, Rocha I, Silva S, Anquez-Traxler C, Stewart M. Rx to OTC switch in Europe is not just about viability. It’s about trust. IQVIA Blog. 27 May 2026.
  3. Spitzer V, Krammer-Lukas S, Bang KS, Stewart M. Health Claims for Infant Formula: Advancing science-backed evidence and regulatory harmonization. AgroFOOD Industry Hi Tech. 2025;36(2).
  4. Spitzer V, Rocha I, Stewart M. From Hype to Impact: AI in Consumer Health R&D and RWE. IQVIA Blog. 29 August 2025.
  5. Spitzer V. Digital Health: Personalised nutrition of the future. Vitafoods Insights. 2019;4(1):10–15. January 2019.

Podcasts

  1. Spitzer V, guest; Ridley D, host. Over The Counter: How Agentic AI Could Reshape Consumer Health, With IQVIA’s Volker Spitzer. HBW Insight / Citeline Podcast. 11 May 2026.
  2. Spitzer V, guest; Ridley D, host. Taking Real-World Evidence Seriously, With IQVIA Consumer Health’s Volker Spitzer. Citeline Podcast / SoundCloud. Published 20 May 2025.

Übersichtsarbeiten auf Einladung

  1. Spitzer V. Screening for unusual fatty acids with modern analytical methods. Fett/Lipid. 1999;101:2-19.
  2. Spitzer V. Effective off-line analysis in a chromatographically oriented laboratory. GIT Labor-Fachzeitschrift. 1999;43:1212-1214.
  3. Spitzer V. High-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of fatty acids and lipids. GIT Laboratory Journal, International Edition. 1998;1:45-47.
  4. Spitzer V. Rapid structure elucidation of unsaturated fatty acids by GC/MS analysis of their 4,4-dimethyloxazoline derivatives. GIT Labor-Fachzeitschrift. 1997;41:157-162.
  5. Spitzer V. Structure analysis of fatty acids by gas chromatography-low-resolution electron-impact mass spectrometry of their 4,4-dimethyloxazoline derivatives: A review. Progress in Lipid Research. 1996;35:387-408.

Originalforschungsarbeiten

  1. van der Loo B, Labugger R, Aebischer CP, Bachschmid M, Spitzer V, Kilo K, Altwegg A, Ullrich V, Lüscher T. Age-related changes of vitamin A status. Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology. 2004;43:26-30.
  2. Wedner S, Ross DA, Congdon N, Balira R, Spitzer V, Foster A. Validation of night blindness reports among children and women in a vitamin A-deficient population in rural Tanzania. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2004;58:409-419.
  3. Hartmann F, Thürmann P, Spitzer V, Schalch W, Cohn W. Plasma kinetics of zeaxanthin and 3′-dehydro-lutein following multiple oral dosing of synthetic zeaxanthin. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2004;79:410-417.
  4. Siler U, Barella L, Spitzer V, Lein M, Goralczyk R, Wertz K. Lycopene and vitamin E interfere with autocrine/paracrine loops in the Dunning prostate cancer model. FASEB Journal. 2004;18:1019-1021.
  5. Siler U, Barella L, Herzog H, Spitzer V, Seifert V, Denelavas H, Buchwald Hunziker P, Hunziker W, Goralczyk R, Wertz K. Lycopene reduced steroid target gene expression and inflammation in normal rat prostate. FASEB Journal. 2004.
  6. Barella L, Müller PY, Schlachter M, Hunziker W, Stöcklin E, Spitzer V, Meier N, de Pascual-Teresa S, Minihane AM, Rimbach G. Identification of hepatic molecular mechanisms of action of alpha-tocopherol using global gene expression profile analysis in rats. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 2004;1689:66-74.
  7. Ullmann U, Haller J, Decourt JD, Girault J, Spitzer V, Weber P. Plasma-kinetic characteristics of purified and isolated green tea catechin epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) after 10 days repeated dosing in healthy volunteers. International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research. 2004;74:269-278.
  8. Höller U, Brodhag C, Knöbel A, Hofmann P, Spitzer V. Automated determination of seven water-soluble vitamins in tablets using a bench-top robotic system coupled to reversed-phase (RP-18) HPLC with UV detection. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2003;31:151-158.
  9. van der Loo B, Bachschmid M, Spitzer V, Brey L, Ullrich V, Lüscher T. Decreased plasma and tissue levels of vitamin C in a rat model of aging: Implications for antioxidative defense. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 2003;303:483-487.
  10. Höller U, Wolter D, Hofmann P, Spitzer V. Microwave-assisted rapid determination of vitamins A and E in beverages. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2003;51:1539-1542.
  11. van der Loo B, Labugger R, Aebischer CP, Skepper JN, Bachschmid M, Spitzer V, Kilo J, Altwegg L, Ullrich V, Lüscher TF. Cardiovascular aging is associated with vitamin E increase. Circulation. 2002;105:1635-1638.
  12. Moreira AS, Spitzer V, Schapoval EE, Schenkel EP. Antiinflammatory activity of extracts and fractions from the leaves of Gochnatia polymorpha. Phytotherapy Research. 2000;14:638-640.
  13. Claus R, Kaufmann B, Dehnhard M, Spitzer V. Demonstration of 16-unsaturated steroids, boar pheromone, in tissues of the male camel. Reproduction in Domestic Animals. 1999;34:455-458.
  14. Aichholz R, Spitzer V, Lorbeer E. Identification of cyclopropene triacylglycerols by high-temperature gas chromatography and high-temperature gas chromatography-negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Journal of Microcolumn Separations. 1999;11:223-229.
  15. Bordignon SAL, Schenkel EP, Spitzer V. The essential oil of Cunila angustifolia (Lamiaceae). Journal of Essential Oil Research. 1999;11:145-148.
  16. Bordignon SAL, Schenkel EP, Spitzer V. The essential oil of Cunila menthoides Bentham (Lamiaceae). Journal of Essential Oil Research. 1998;10:317-320.
  17. Bordignon SAL, Schenkel EP, Spitzer V. The essential oil of Cunila platyphylla Epling (Lamiaceae). Acta Farmacéutica Bonaerense. 1998;17:143-146.
  18. Aichholz R, Spitzer V, Lorbeer E. High-temperature gas chromatography and high-temperature gas chromatography-negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry of derivatized triglycerides containing oxygenated fatty acid acyl groups. Journal of High Resolution Chromatography. 1998;21:152-160.
  19. Steinbeck C, Spitzer V, von Poser G. Identification of two chromenes from Calea serrata by semiautomatic structure elucidation. Journal of Natural Products. 1997;60:627.
  20. Bordignon SAL, Schenkel EP, Spitzer V. The essential oil of Cunila microcephala (Lamiaceae). Phytochemistry. 1997;44:1283-1286.
  21. Spitzer V, Tomberg W, Pohlentz G. Structure determination of an optically active tetraglyceride allen derivative in the seed oil of Sebastiana commersoniana (Euphorbiaceae). Lipids. 1997;32:549-557.
  22. Aichholz R, Spitzer V. Analysis of cyanolipids in Sapindaceae seed oils by high-temperature gas chromatography-chemical ionization mass spectrometry and NPD-gas chromatography. Journal of Chromatography A. 1997;787:181-194.
  23. Spitzer V, Tomberg W, Hartmann R. A new conjugated C-18 acetylenic fatty acid from Heisteria silvanii (Olacaceae). Lipids. 1997;32:1189-1200.
  24. Spitzer V. The mass spectra of the 4,4-dimethyloxazoline derivatives of some conjugated hydroxy eneyne C-17 and C-18 fatty acids. Journal of the American Oil Chemists‘ Society. 1996;73:489.
  25. Spitzer V, Tomberg W, Zucolotto M. Identification of alpha-parinaric acid in Sebastiana brasiliensis Sprengel (Euphorbiaceae). Journal of the American Oil Chemists‘ Society. 1996;73:569.
  26. Bordignon SAL, Schenkel EP, Spitzer V. The essential oil of Cunila incisa (Lamiaceae): A rich source of 1,8-cineole. Química Nova. 1996;19:105.
  27. Spitzer V. The fatty acid composition of some seed oils of Sapindaceae. Phytochemistry. 1996;42:1357-1360.
  28. Spitzer V, Aichholz R. Analysis of natural occurring alpha-acetoglycerols by gas chromatography-chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Journal of High Resolution Chromatography. 1996;19:496.
  29. Spitzer V, Aitzetmüller K, Vosman K. The seed oil of Bernardia pulchella (Euphorbiaceae): A rich source of vernolic acid. Journal of the American Oil Chemists‘ Society. 1996;73:1733-1735.
  30. Spitzer V, Rates SMK, Henriques AT, Marx F. The fatty acid composition of the seed oil of Peschiera australis (Apocynaceae). Fat Science and Technology. 1995;97:334.
  31. Spitzer V. The mass spectra of the 4,4-dimethyloxazoline derivatives of the methoxymethyl olefins of malvalic and sterculic acid. Journal of the American Oil Chemists‘ Society. 1995;72:389.
  32. Spitzer V. GLC-MS analysis of the fatty acids of the seed oil, triglycerides and cyanolipid of Paullinia elegans (Sapindaceae): A rich source of cis-13-eicosenoic acid, paullinic acid. Journal of High Resolution Chromatography. 1995;18:413-416.
  33. Spitzer V, Marx F, Maia JGS, Pfeilsticker K. Curupira tefeensis III: Occurrence of all-cis-1,4-polyisoprene. Fat Science and Technology. 1995;97:37.
  34. Spitzer V, Marx F, Maia JGS, Pfeilsticker K. The mass spectra of the picolinyl ester derivatives of malvalic and sterculic acid. Fat Science and Technology. 1994;96:378.
  35. Spitzer V, Marx F, Pfeilsticker K. The electron impact mass spectra of the oxazoline derivatives of some conjugated diene and triene C-18 fatty acids. Journal of the American Oil Chemists‘ Society. 1994;71:873.
  36. Spitzer V, Bordignon SAL, Schenkel EP, Marx F. Identification of nine acetylenic fatty acids, 9-hydroxystearic acid and 9,10-epoxystearic acid in the seed oil of Jodina rhombifolia Hook et Arn. (Santalaceae). Journal of the American Oil Chemists‘ Society. 1994;71:1343.
  37. Spitzer V, Marx F, Maia JGS, Pfeilsticker K. Occurrence of alpha-eleostearic acid in the seed oil of Parinarium montana (Chrysobalanaceae). Fat Science and Technology. 1992;94:58.
  38. Spitzer V, Marx F, Maia JGS, Pfeilsticker K. Curupira tefeensis II: Occurrence of acetylenic fatty acids. Fat Science and Technology. 1991;93:169.
  39. Spitzer V, Marx F, Maia JGS, Pfeilsticker K. Identification of conjugated fatty acids in the seed oil of Acioa edulis (Prance) syn. Couepia edulis (Chrysobalanaceae). Journal of the American Oil Chemists‘ Society. 1991;68:183.
  40. Spitzer V, Marx F, Maia JGS, Pfeilsticker K. Occurrence of conjugated fatty acids in the seed oil of Couepia longipendula (Chrysobalanaceae). Journal of the American Oil Chemists‘ Society. 1991;68:440.
  41. Spitzer V. GC/MS characterization, chemical ionization and electron impact modes, of the methyl esters and oxazoline derivatives of cyclopropenoid fatty acids. Journal of the American Oil Chemists‘ Society. 1991;68:963.
  42. Spitzer V, Marx F, Maia JGS, Pfeilsticker K. Curupira tefeensis (Olacaceae): A rich source of long-chain fatty acids. Fat Science and Technology. 1990;92:165.

Bücher und Buchkapitel

  1. Spitzer V, Maggini S. Phytosterols and heart health. In: Watson R, editor. Ageing in Bioactive Foods in Chronic Disease States. Elsevier; 2011.
  2. Spitzer V, Maggini S. Ginseng and mental health. In: Watson R, editor. Ageing in Bioactive Foods in Chronic Disease States. Elsevier; 2011.
  3. Spitzer V, Spitzer N. Super Vitamin D. Kirchzarten: VAK Verlag; 2009.
  4. Spitzer V. Vitamin Basics: The Facts about Vitamins in Nutrition. Basel: DSM Service; 2007. Also available online: http://www.vitamin-basics.com/
  5. Spitzer V, Höller U. Vitamins. In: British Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry. 2nd ed. Oxford: Academic Press; 2004.
  6. Spitzer V. GC/(EI)MS analysis of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) by using different derivatization techniques. In: Yurawecz MP, Mossoba MM, Kramer JKG, Nelson G, Pariza MW, editors. Conjugated Linoleic Acid: Biochemical, Nutritional, Clinical, Cancer and Methodological Aspects. Peoria, IL: American Oil Chemists‘ Society Press; 1999:110-125.
  7. Spitzer V, Simões C. Óleos essenciais. In: Farmacognosia. Editora UFRGS and UFSC; 1999. Chapter 21.
  8. Marx F, Spitzer V, Maia JGS, Pfeilsticker K. Vergleichende Untersuchungen an Schalenobstarten des Amazonasgebietes. In: Grundlagen für die Zukunft: 20 Jahre Wissenschaftlich-Technische Kooperation Deutschland-Brasilien. Forschungszentrum Jülich; 1991:267-269.

Patente

  1. Raederstorff D, Schwager J, Spitzer V, Weber P. Nutraceutical compositions and use thereof. U.S. Patent 7,582,674. Issued 1 September 2009.

Weitere Publikationen

  1. Spitzer V. Forschung in Brasilien: Am Beispiel des Post-Graduierten-Kurses für Pharmazie UFRGS. Pharmazie in unserer Zeit. 1996;25:135.
  2. Spitzer V. Heimische Pflanzen für die Pharmazie. DAAD-Letter. 1995;2:4.

Ausgewählte Vorträge

  1. Spitzer V. Climate Change and Innovation Opportunities for Consumer Health [conference talk]. Session “How Does Climate Change Affect Health and Self-Care?” 60th AESGP Annual Meeting; Brussels, Belgium; 6 June 2024.
  2. Spitzer V. RWE/RWD in the Self-Care Space: What Is Stopping Us to Use More of It? [conference talk and panel contribution]. 57th AESGP Annual Meeting; virtual; 26–27 May 2021.
  3. Spitzer V. Real-World Evidence Use and Its Possible Application for the Consumer Health Industry [conference talk]. Session “Harnessing Real-World Evidence for Self-Care,” 55th AESGP Annual Meeting, Evolving the Self-Care Environment; Geneva, Switzerland; 4–6 June 2019.
  4. Spitzer V. Is the Food Industry Really Open to Innovate? [conference talk]. Future of Nutrition Conference; Frankfurt, Germany; 2018.
  5. Spitzer V. Innovation Opportunities for the Asian Nutraceutical, Dietary Supplement and Functional Food Industry [conference talk]. Vitafoods Asia; Hong Kong; 1–2 September 2016.
  6. Spitzer V. Vitamins and clinical studies. International Vitamin Conference, Prague. September 2007.
  7. Spitzer V, Aichholz R. Screening nach Fettsäuren und anderen Lipiden von unbekannten Samenölen mittels moderner analytischer Methoden. Deutscher Lebensmittelchemikertag, Berlin, Germany. 17 September 1997.
  8. Spitzer V. Schnelle Strukturanalyse von Fettsäuren und neue Erkenntnisse über Mate-Inhaltsstoffe. Potsdamer Kolloquium, Deutsches Institut für Ernährungsforschung, Potsdam, Germany. 17 September 1997.
  9. Spitzer V. Schnelle Strukturanalyse von Fettsäuren und anderen Lipiden mittels moderner chromatographischer und spektroskopischer Methoden. Institute for Food Chemistry, University of Braunschweig, Germany. 9 January 1997.