Leadership Team
Ulrik Mouritzen, MD, EMBA
CEO
Ulrik Mouritzen, MD, EMBA
CEO
Ulrik has extensive managerial experience building teams and organizational structures to perform effectively and develop new medicines creating significant value for patients as well as shareholders. He brings more than 20 years of R&D experience in a broad range of clinical indications including immuno-oncology, auto-immune diseases, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and diseases of the endocrine system. His proven history of successful product development covers early and late-stage development leading to product approvals.
Peter Adamson, PhD
CSO
Peter Adamson, PhD
CSO
Peter Adamson joined Breye in April 2023, following a long-standing career in ophthalmology research and the commercial life-sciences sector. He has previously held senior leadership positions at leading biopharmaceutical companies including GSK and Janssen, as well as with earlier stage companies ProQR Therapeutics and Tenpoint Therapeutics. Through this, he has extensive experience in ophthalmologic developments and generating clinical candidates. At ProQR, he led the team to generate positive II data for a drug candidates targeting Leber's Congenital Amaurosis Type 10 (LCA) and Ushers. Peter is also Honorary Professor of Molecular Pathology at the Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London (UCL). He holds a PhD (neuroscience) from the Institute of Psychiatry at the University of London.
Kaare G Rasmussen, PhD
Head of CMC
Kaare G Rasmussen, PhD
Head of CMC
Kaare has 20 years of experience with CMC activities from early development to validation of the final manufacturing processes for both small molecule intermediates and drug substances. He has deep knowledge of the process of outsourcing manufacturing processes to CMOs specialized in organic chemistry or peptide synthesis, and has been involved in the submission of drug substance sections in NDA and several INDs.
Tom Biancardi, MBA
Financial Advisor
Tom Biancardi, MBA
Financial Advisor
Tom is a biopharma industry veteran with over 20 years of financial and operational leadership experience. His predominant focus has been on fundraising, business development, and operations within clinical stage companies looking to deliver impactful new therapies.
Benedikte el-Bandak Lind, MSc
Head of Clinical Operations
Benedikte el-Bandak Lind, MSc
Head of Clinical Operations
Benedikte has 10 years pharmaceutical drug development experience working with project management and clinical operations in pharma and biotech. She has been responsible for multiple clinical trials and global trial programs within all phases of development and in different indications. Benedikte has solid experience on how to effectively manage cross-functional teams and optimize collaborations with contract research organizations (CROs).
Magali Taiel, MD
CMO Consultant
Magali Taiel, MD
CMO Consultant
Magali completed her doctorate in Medicine with board certified in Ophthalmology from Lariboisiere Saint Louis University, Paris, France, in 1993, and her Associate Professor degree in 1998. She completed her internship at academic Paris hospitals, was an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, served as an Ophthalmology Department Head, and ran Surgical and Medical Ophthalmology private practice. After Ophthalmology public and private practice, Magali has been engaged in the Pharma Industry for 25 years. She started her carrier at Servier company headquarter, and then worked in Ophthalmology area at Pfizer for several years; she then held international and management positions in various therapeutic areas at Eli Lilly Company for many years. Then, as VP Clinical Development, she developed antisense oligonucleotides in Inherited Retinal diseases at ProQR Therapeutics. She then moved to GenSight-Biologics in 2018, to supervise the Medical Department and lead Gene Therapy programs in Inherited Retinal and Neuro-Ophthalmology diseases, as the CMO of the company. Magali has authored numerous protocols and articles published in peer reviewed journals, and brings extensive years of experience from both academic medicine and pharma industry.
Board Of Directors
Jim van Heusden, PhD
Independent Chairman
Jim van Heusden, PhD
Independent Chairman
Jim has a unique background which includes a drug discovery career at Janssen, a venture capital track record at Gimv and operational experience as CEO and Executive Chairman. Jim is currently Chair at Ankrin Therapeutics (DK), Breye Therapeutics (DK), and Rewind Therapeutics (BE). He was previously CEO of Karolinska Development, a publicly listed Nordic life science investment fund. Jim founded his own company bioskills in 2013, offering strategic advice and hands-on management for entrepreneurs and investors. Prior to joining Gimv in 2001, he was working as a senior scientist at the department of Oncology Drug Discovery at Janssen Pharmaceutica, a Johnson & Johnson company, where he also served on the research management committee of the collaboration with Rigel Pharmaceuticals. Jim holds BSc and MSc degrees in chemistry and biochemistry from the University of Antwerp and a PhD in molecular and cellular biology from the University of Maastricht.
Jørgen Søberg Petersen, MD, PhD, DMSc, MBA
Novo Holdings
Jørgen Søberg Petersen, MD, PhD, DMSc, MBA
Novo Holdings
During his 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Petersen served in executive R&D roles at Lundbeck, Zealand Pharma, Merck and Novo Nordisk. He co-founded Zealand Pharma and built the company to exit. He has extensive experience in diabetes related cardiac and renal diseases as well as development and financing of biopharmaceutical companies and is currently a Partner at Novo Holdings. He trained in medicine in Denmark and in the United States. He earned an MD, PhD in Pharmacology and DMSc from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and an MBA from the Technical University of Denmark.
Johan Kördel, PhD
Sound Bioventures
Johan Kördel, PhD
Sound Bioventures
Johan has worked in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry for over 20 years. Prior to founding Sound Bioventures, Johan was a Senior Partner at Lundbeckfonden Ventures where he worked for 12 years, and led investments and served as a member of the board of directors in various companies. He also worked for a decade at Pharmacia with responsibility for Research Portfolio and Project Management and through three large mergers.
Chiara Liberati, MSc
Golgi Neurosciences Srl
Chiara Liberati, MSc
Golgi Neurosciences Srl
Chiara Liberati has more than 25 years experience in early drug discovery and preclinical research. Prior to Golgi Neurosciences, she was working at Axxam since its inception, covering different roles with increasing responsibility. In October 2017 she was appointed Director of Discovery Research, where she was responsible for Axxam proprietary discovery programs, aimed at generating small-molecule assets, with a focus on neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. Prior to starting at Axxam, she worked for Bayer Pharma Italia and Biosearch SpA. She is the author of more than 20 publications and patents.
Gabriela Burian MD, MPH
GB Biomed Advisors GmbH
Gabriela Burian, MD, MPH
GB Biomed Advisors GmbH
Gabriela has over 25 years of international clinical experience, specialized in the field of clinical research and drug development in ophthalmology. Based in Basel, Switzerland, she founded and directs GB Biomed Advisors GmbH and provides clinical development strategic advice to ophthalmological startup projects around the world. She also currently serves as CMO of Novaliq GmbH (Heidelberg, Germany) and Dopavision (Berlin, Germany), and is a faculty member of the European School for Advanced Studies in Ophthalmology (ESASO, Lugano, Switzerland). A trained physician and epidemiologist, she is passionate about turning innovative ideas into new medical therapies that have practical applications for many patients by combining medical science and scientific methodology to achieve improved patient clinical care. Previously she held various leadership positions including Global Program Medical Director at Novartis Pharma and Ophthalmology Early Program Leader at F. Hoffmann-La Roche.
Ulrik Mouritzen, MD, EMBA
CEO
Ulrik Mouritzen, MD, EMBA
CEO
Ulrik has extensive managerial experience building teams and organizational structures to perform effectively and develop new medicines creating significant value for patients as well as shareholders. He brings more than 20 years of R&D experience in a broad range of clinical indications including immuno-oncology, auto-immune diseases, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and diseases of the endocrine system. His proven history of successful product development covers early and late-stage development leading to product approvals.
Team
Alejandra Mørk, MSc Pharm, PhD
Strategic Advisor
Alejandra Mørk, MSc Pharm, PhD
Strategic Advisor
Drug development strategies and execution have been the areas that Alejandra has operated within for more than 30 years. This has been from early stage development to preparation of MAAs and for life cycle management; it has been for biologics, small molecules, new delivery systems and lately for gene and cell therapies. In addition, Alejandra has been very engaged in due diligence and licensing of drug development projects from biotech to pharma, and in advising biotech on out-licensing of projects. Alejandra contributes to the development of biotech in Denmark as a member of the Board of Dansk Biotech and holds board positions in a few biotech companies.
Katarina Berg, PhD
Senior Project Manager
Katarina Berg, PhD
Senior Project Manager
Katarina is an experienced project leader with over 14 years of expertise in research and development. She has held roles such as research scientist, regulatory manager and project leader, where she has covered all stages from early research through all phases of clinical development. Her core competencies include strategic project management, cross-functional leadership, and stakeholder engagement within the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors.
Kim Krogsgaard, MD
Senior Medical Advisor
Kim Krogsgaard, MD
Senior Medical Advisor
Kim has a background as consultant and clinician with comprehensive experience from clinical research and clinical drug development. He is the former director of Research and Head of Clinical Research Unit at Hvidovre University Hospital and the founder and former CEO of PhaseOneTrials A/S. Kim has a broad experience as investigator and sponsor representative and has worked with and for the pharmaceutical industry and biotech industry for more than 40 years. He holds specialist recognition in internal medicine, infectious diseases and tropical medicine. He defended his doctoral thesis (DMSc) in 1988.
Jørn Drustrup, PhD, Cand. Pharm
Senior CMC Expert
Jørn Drustrup, PhD, Cand. Pharm
Senior CMC Expert
Jørn has more than 30 years of experience working within the CMC area, including more than 3 years as a consultant. He is particularly skilled in preformulation and formulation development of small molecules, peptides, proteins and antibodies, as well as developing and evaluating of alternative delivery systems. Jørn has a thorough understanding of the integral relationship between the characteristics of a formulation and a relevant delivery device, including syringeability into various types of tissues. Further Jørn has great experience in CMO/CRO organizations and regulatory documentation.
Jette Vestergaard Olsen, Cand. Pharm
Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Jette Vestergaard Olsen, Cand. Pharm
Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Jette has more than 25 years of experience working with global regulatory affairs in the pharma industry. During that time she has interacted with regulatory authorities from many different countries including US, EU, Japan, China and Canada. Jette has been involved in several global submissions of new active substances, both as an overall regulatory lead as well as with special focus on the clinical part, including development of labelling. Further Jette is skilled in development of PSPs and PIPs.
Sue Gregory, MSc
Clinical Research, QA Lead
Sue Gregory, MSc Clinical Research
QA Lead
Sue has more than 25 years of experience within pharmaceutical and R&D Quality Assurance, covering all aspects of GLP and GCP quality management. Primary competences are within audit and compliance within GCP, GLP, computerized systems and PV; Developing and maintenance of Quality Management Systems; Training within GCP and GLP and Risk Management related to clinical trials.
Andrew Makin, MSc, ERT
Senior Pre-clinical Advisor
Andrew Makin, MSc, ERT
Senior Pre-clinical Advisor
Andrew is a registered toxicologist and has more than 40 years of scientific experience within pre-clinical drug development, specifically program and study design, data interpretation, input to regulatory submissions, meetings and advice, drafting and review of regulatory documents and CRO selection within pharmacology and toxicology.
Line Hartvig, MSc, PhD
Senior Non-Clinical Advisor
Line Hartvig, MSc, PhD
Senior Non-Clinical Advisor
Line brings more than 20 years of experience from the pharma/biotech industry, working in drug discovery and non-clinical drug development. For more than 10 years, she has worked as an independent consultant for small and medium-size biotech companies. She also serves as an expert evaluator, e.g., at InnoExplorer, Innovationsfonden (Denmark), or EC _ SME /Horizon 2020 and IMI (EU). From 2019 to 2020, she was CEO of RetiPharma. Prior to that, she worked as a Scientific Analyst at Sunstone Capital and as a Principal Scientist at Maxygen and Zealand Pharma, respectively. Earlier roles include Senior Scientist at AstraZeneca and H. Lundbeck. She also held positions as a PhD student at Novo Nordisk and Sct Hans Hospital. Line Hartvig holds a PhD and an MSc in Biochemistry from the University of Copenhagen.
Inger Christine Munch, MD, PhD
Senior Ophthalmologist
Inger Christine Munch, MD, PhD
Senior Ophthalmologist
Inger is a board certified ophthalmologist with a background in basic science and as associate professor and university hospital consultant in medical retina who now works in private practice and consults for industry, notably in pharma development. Her peer-review publications range from functional neuroanatomy, ophthalmic physiology, ophthalmic epidemiology, and imaging to clinical trial outcomes.
Kim Mark Knudsen, PhD
Statistician
Kim Mark Knudsen, PhD
Statistician
Kim has 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry with many successful drug approvals and 10 years' research experience in academia. He has expertise in drug development strategy, project management and negotiations with health authorities and partners as well as in clinical management teams, and 15 years of management experience.
Birgitte Esmarck Meibom, MSc, PhD
Drug Safety Lead
Birgitte Esmarck Meibom, MSc, PhD
Drug Safety Lead
Birgitte has more than 18 years of experience within patient safety and clinical development. Her experience ranges from first-in-man trials, phase 1-4 to compilation of safety data, label and risk management plan for NDA and finally postmarketing safety surveillance. In addition to her analytical role doing signal detection, she has held roles as Safety Committee chair and set up and hosted several Data Monitoring Committees for large, global development programs. Further Birgitte has authored several periodic safety reports, provided input to Investigators Brochure, protocols, safety management and medical monitoring plans etc.
Louise P. Borrit, MA
Business Admin Manager – ESG, Finance, HR
Louise P. Borrit, MA
Business Administration Manager – ESG, Finance, HR
Louise has over 15 years of experience with Project Management, HR and Communications. She holds a master’s degree in communication, an IPMA certification (project management) and has helped several companies in developing, implementing, and operating all kinds of structures, processes and management.
Sisse Langkilde, MSc
Business Admin Manager – GDPR, Communication, IT
Sisse Langkilde, MSc
Business Administration Manager – GDPR, Communication, IT
Sisse holds a Master’s degree in Software Engineering and Project Management and brings over 18 years of experience working with organizations of all sizes – from global corporations like IBM to startups, nonprofits, and smaller companies. Her expertise spans complex systems, economic turnarounds, and transformational leadership. With four years of international experience in Washington, D.C., Sisse brings a global perspective to her work.
Scientific Advisors / KOLs
Prof. Carl Regillo, MD
Prof. Carl Regillo, MD
Dr. Regillo is the Director of the Retina Service of Wills Eye Hospital and Professor of Ophthalmology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He is the founder and former Director of the Wills Eye Clinical Retina Research Unit, former Chairman of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Retina Basic and Clinical Science Course, former Chairman of the Wills Eye Institutional Review Board, and prior Director of the Wills Eye Retina Fellowship. He has been an investigator on numerous major clinical trials developing new treatments for retinal disorders such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. He was named among the top 150 ophthalmologists in the US by Newsweek in 2021. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and performed both his ophthalmology residency and vitreoretinal fellowship at Wills Eye Hospital and has authored over 200 publications along with over 50 book chapters and 9 major books.
Dr. Jeffrey S. Heier, MD
Dr. Jeffrey S. Heier, MD
Dr. Heier currently serves as the Director of the Vitreoretinal Service and Retina Research at Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston (OCB), one of the largest multi-specialty ophthalmology practices in the United States. He is one of the leading retinal clinical researchers in the country for new treatments in exudative and non-exudative macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, venous occlusive disease, and diagnostic imaging of the retina, authoring numerous works in peer-reviewed journals. He received his Medical Degree from Boston University and completed his ophthalmology residency at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center.
Prof. Reinier O. Schlingemann, MD, PhD
Prof. Schlingemann, MD, PhD
Dr. Schlingemann is a medical retina specialist and one of the AMC Principal Investigators. Since 1996, he has worked as an ophthalmologist and as head of the Ocular Angiogenesis Group at the UvA Academic Medical Centre (AMC). Previously, he worked as a researcher in London and Oklahoma City and at the University of Leiden and Radboud University Nijmegen. The focus of his research is mainly on the role of growth factors in angiogenesis and wound healing in the eye, as well as the mechanisms that cause diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration.
Prof. Michael Larsen, MD, DMSc
Prof. Michael Larsen, MD, DMSc
Dr. Larsen is professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the University of Copenhagen and the Glostrup Hospital and National Eye Clinic of the Kennedy Center in Copenhagen. His research interests are in retinopathy and non-invasive techniques for assessment of retinal function and structure, with a focus on the relation between function, metabolism and perfusion in the retina under various types of metabolic challenges, including hypoperfusion, hypoxia, and unstable glycemia as seen in the diabetic retinopathy and the ocular ischemic syndrome.
Prof. Sayon Roy, PhD, FARVO
Prof. Sayon Roy, PhD, FARVO
Dr. Roy is currently a professor of Medicine, Section of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Nutrition, and a professor of Ophthalmology at Boston University School of Medicine. Recognized as an expert in retinal vascular biology, his seminal work led to the identification of several genes in the retina that are abnormally expressed in diabetic retinopathy and resulted in the development of novel gene modulatory techniques in retinal vascular cells using antisense oligonucleotides via intravitreal injection. He has received numerous awards including the American Diabetes Association Research Award for the commitment and dedication towards the fight against diabetes, the 2006 Mentor of the Year Award from Boston University, and the 2008 Innovative Award from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. He received his PhD from Boston University and completed his postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School, Harvard University.
Prof. Paul Squires, PhD, BSc, FPhysiol
Prof. Paul Squires, PhD, BSc, FPhysiol
Dr. Squires is a Professor in Biomedical Science (Diabetes & Endocrinology) at the University of Lincoln. His research interests are in diabetes mellitus, by which he aims to better understand the sub-cellular mechanisms that regulate insulin secretion and action in health and disease. He has been a member of the Research Advisory Boards for Diabetes UK (2005-2012), the Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation (2010-present) and the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (2012-present).
Dr. Ian Wilding, PhD
Dr. Ian Wilding, PhD
Dr. Wilding is an internationally recognized expert in the design, development and clinical evaluation of drug delivery systems, with over 20 years of diversified experience and proven success in drug development. In a long career commercializing science, he is the cofounder of R5 Pharmaceuticals, Zysis, Modern BioSciences and BioCity Nottingham. In 1990 he founded Pharmaceutical Profiles, a successful spinout company from the University of Nottingham, specializing in early phase clinical trials, where he served as Chief Executive and Chairman for over 15 years. He is a special Professor in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Nottingham, where he also received a PhD in biopharmaceutics. He has published over 250 research papers, abstracts and patents.
