At Novaliq, we research and develop water-free eye drops—a unique and, at first glance, almost counterintuitive innovation. When I first learned about Novaliq in 2016, I was immediately intrigued. It raised a fundamental question: why, after thousands of years, are almost all eye drops still based on water or oil, despite the eye’s outer tear film being primarily lipid-based?
Tell us more about yourself and what motivated you to found Arxx, which has since become Calluna Pharma following the merger with Oxitope.
I was born in Norway and lived there until I moved to Copenhagen to study medicine. I never actually considered medicine as a career path until I trained as a medic during my mandatory service in the Norwegian Armed Forces which triggered my interest in clinical work.
What motivated me to co-found Arxx was my ambition to make a larger impact than I felt I was having at my existing job. Arxx co-founder Dr. Rizwan Hussain and myself started looking at the biology of a protein known as S100A4 and the broader class of DAMPS (Damage Associated Molecular Patterns or alarmins).
We were immediately captivated by their therapeutic potential. To further validate our approach, we engaged with Professor Eugene Lukanidin’s research group in Copenhagen, the pioneers in S100A4 research.
You are a chartered accountant turned biotech Founder-CEO. Can you share your journey with us?
After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Finance, I trained to become a Chartered Accountant with PwC. I later secured a role as a Management Accountant with pharmaceutical company, EirGen Pharma, progressed to Financial Controller and then Head of Finance. During my time there, I obtained my executive MBA. In 2018 I co-founded Shorla Oncology, a specialty pharmaceutical company developing and commercializing innovative oncology drugs addressing unmet needs. I come from an entrepreneurial family and I always knew I would run my own business eventually but I wanted to spend time in practice and industry and gain as much formal education as possible in order to maximise my knowledge and skills, build an industry network and ultimately enhance my credibility in order to ensure success.
Tell us about your background.
For the last 15 years, I have held management positions in medtech and biotech companies, mainly in the field of cardiology. Having trained as an ETH engineer, I’ve always been attracted by cutting-edge technology at the service of innovation, which led me to decide 8 years ago to take over the management of the biotech start-up CellProthera, a specialist in stem cells, which offers immense potential for therapeutic innovation.
Tell us about your background.
I am Paul Bravetti, a passionate executive with a strong focus on scientific innovation and entrepreneurial ventures.
My background combines a Doctor of Pharmacy degree with an MBA in business management from HEC Paris. I joined Brenus Pharma in 2020 and became CEO in 2022, with a clear mission to (address the limitations of current cancer treatments and) create a meaningful impact for patients.
My international experience/journey in major pharmaceutical companies (Takeda, Servier, Roche) across Europe and Asia has been key to giving me a deep insight into launching therapeutics and addressing unmet medical needs.
Teitur means happiness in Old Norse. What inspired you to choose this name for the company, and how does it reflect your vision for developing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases?
At Teitur, our name captures the essence of our mission. Meaning “joyful” or “bright” in Old Norse, Teitur reflects our commitment to bringing light and hope to patients and families affected by Huntington’s and Parkinson’s diseases. We are developing innovative, disease-modifying treatments that go beyond symptom management, aiming to alter the course of these conditions.
Tell us about your background.
I am an organic chemist who has worked in many different fields within pharma and biotech. I have worked at Novo Nordisk, H. Lundbeck and at a Danish CRO working in different areas and roles such as QA, R&D Chemistry, Project Management, Sourcing and Corporate Business Development and Strategy. Before I started my venture trajectory, I was CEO of a venture-backed diagnostic company. My time in venture capital started in 2009 at Lundbeckfonden Ventures when the Lundbeck Foundation decided to establish a VC entity.
Tell us more about your background. Throughout my career, I have focused and been involved in creating, driving and transacting on innovation in medicine. I have led innovation and drug discovery with different technologies including RNA therapeutics, genetic medicines, drug delivery, informatics, biologics and small molecules. During your tenure as President & CEO at Scandion Oncology and Genevant Sciences, what were some of the most innovative projects you spearheaded, and what impact did they have on the company’s direction? As President & CEO at Scandion Oncology, I led the strategic transformation and growth of the company, raising 300 million SEK and listing the company on Nasdaq First North in Stockholm. This allowed Scandion to continue the development in Phase 2 and build the team. We focused on strategically positioning an inhibitor of an efflux pump in cancer cells as innovative projects designed to overcome cancer drug resistance – mainly in colorectal cancer and pancreatic cancer. The medical need in cancer for innovative projects is huge and resistance to existing therapies is the leading cause of the almost innumerable 10 million casualties to cancer every year.
Tell us about your background.
My career began with a PhD in molecular biology and microbiology, fueling a lifelong fascination with the complexities of biological systems. This path led me to a pivotal role in synthetic biology at MIT, where I was inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit of the Boston area. After building two labs at Sanofi, I served as Chief Scientific Officer at InSphero in Zurich, sharpening my expertise in scaling biotech ventures.
With Tim Mak, my co-founder in Trilliome, we launched a consulting business focusing on scientific and technical matters, transitioning over time increasingly to business development and strategy. My engagement in rejuvenation and longevity started during my tenure as ad-interim COO at Rejuveron, focusing on pioneering drug discovery initiatives. My career has spanned many topics, including inflammation & immunity, metabolic diseases, immuno-oncology (IO), and neurodegeneration, across most therapeutic modalities.
What is your background?
I hold a PharmD and a dual degree from EM Lyon Business School, with a major in Entrepreneurship.
What/who inspired you to go into the life sciences? Has there been someone instrumental throughout your journey?
I discovered biology at a young age through scientific reviews for children. I remember being immediately fascinated by its complexity and the harmony of how everything worked together in living systems. As I grew older, I encountered health issues within my circle of family and friends, which left me with a profound sense of injustice. Why was this happening? Why couldn’t we find cures? This experience sparked my desire to work in the field of medicine. The final piece of the puzzle came from my high school chemistry teacher, whose passion for the subject inspired me. This is how I came to see the pharmaceutical field as the perfect blend for me of biology, medicine, and molecular development.
