Prof. Dr. Zdenko Časar Receives ASEF ZGLED 2026 Award

Ljubljana, June 9, 2026 – The main annual ASEF event reached its peak with the presentation of the prestigious ASEF ZGLED 2026 Award. This year’s spotlight rightfully shone on Prof. Dr. Zdenko Časar, an outstanding expert who connects top-tier industrial pharmacy, academia, and invaluable mentoring work through a unique synergy.

As the Head of Early Development of Pharmaceutical Products at Lek, a member of the Sandoz group, a Full Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, and a Full Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, Dr. Časar embodies the exact values that the ASEF organization places at the core of its mission. The award is also a tribute to his long-standing contribution to the ASEF tutoring program, in which he has actively participated as a dedicated tutor since its inception in 2020.

A Dedication to Young Talents

Upon receiving this significant recognition, Prof. Dr. Zdenko Časar shared his thoughts, emphasizing the importance of working together with young talents:

“I am sincerely grateful to ASEF for entrusting me with the leadership of the Biochemistry and Chemistry groups within the ASEF tutoring program between 2020 and 2023. During this period, I had the opportunity to meet sixteen exceptionally talented students and collaborate with the ASEF leadership and fellow tutors, with whom we shared many interesting and pleasant moments. Despite the challenging initial conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, we managed to connect well and successfully carry out the program over the years for the benefit of the students. I was particularly inspired by the students’ motivation and their desire to acquire new knowledge, which contributed significantly to our mutual success in tutoring activities. I am delighted to watch how ASEF is growing through its programs and, in a unique way, opening new opportunities for young people in Slovenia to network, learn, and gain experience. Therefore, I am especially pleased to have been a part of this mission, and I believe that my collaboration with ASEF will continue in the future.”

Academic and Professional Journey

The success story of Prof. Dr. Zdenko Časar began at the Ljubljana Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, where he graduated, later crowning his scientific excellence with an international touch: Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry: Obtained through co-mentorship at the prestigious French university Université de Rennes 1. Ph.D. in Chemical Technology: Obtained in parallel at the University of Maribor. Postdoctoral Training: Completed at the Department of Organic Chemistry in Ljubljana, after which he focused his career path on synthetic chemistry with a clear goal – the development of advanced active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).

Over the past years, Dr. Časar has successfully led key departments, such as Organic Synthesis, Prototype Analytics, and Analytics at the Sandoz Development Center Slovenia, where the most demanding projects for complex medicines are tackled.

His global impact was further consolidated when he assumed the role of Sandoz Global Head of API Portfolio Management in Austria, where he also managed the global competence center for polymorphism. As the first Slovenian in history, he received Novartis’ highest recognition for a Distinguished Scientist, having discovered more efficient and cost-optimal processes for the preparation of active pharmaceutical ingredients through his innovative approach.

National Recognition and Global Impact

Dr. Časar’s scientific breakthroughs have not gone unnoticed at the national level either. He is a recipient of the Novartis Award for Outstanding Scientific Research Achievements.

The pinnacle of national recognition, however, is the prestigious Puh Award for Outstanding Achievements in Industrial Pharmacy, which is considered the highest national accolade for scientific and technological accomplishments. He earned this award by introducing numerous pioneering scientific concepts, technologies, and innovations in the fields of synthesis, analytics, polymorphism, and the stability of active substances and medicines.

The ASEF ZGLED 2026 Award has thus been presented to a man who not only pushes the boundaries of global pharmaceutical science but also, with inexhaustible energy, acts as an invaluable mentor and tutor to future generations of Slovenian researchers.