Our scientific founders
Scientific founders from left to right:
Carl-Henrik Heldin, Kohei Miyazono and Bengt Westermark.
Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt
”Science with purpose,
designed for patients.”
Kohei Miyazono
Special University Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo and former Executive Director at RIKEN. Miyazono’s work has significantly advanced the understanding of how TGFβ signaling influences cancer biology and the role of tumor suppressor genes. His findings have implications for developing therapeutic strategies against cancer.
Carl-Henrik Heldin
Professor in Molecular Cell Biology at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology at Uppsala University. Professor Heldin has previously been chairman of the Nobel Committee and has a broad scientific global network.
Bengt Westermark
Professor of Tumor Biology at the Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology at Uppsala University. Co-founder of the HGCC glioblastoma biobank with a broad network among practicing physicians and researchers in glioblastoma.
Ryo Tanabe
Project Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Medicine at The University of Tokyo. Prominent researcher with experience from Uppsala University and the University of Tokyo. Researcher under Professor Kohei Miyazono, where he has mapped signaling pathways and studied proteins that drive cancer development for ten years.
Words from the CEO
"Transforming the therapeutic landscape for glioblastoma"
Why did you join Mesenkia?
I was impressed by the work they did identifying essential signaling pathways and the development of their antibodies with unique blocking capacities. I have a background from other biotech companies and now I wanted to be a part of bringing new therapies into the clinic for glioblastoma.
Why Mesenkia?
The best part of Mesenkia is the highly devoted and skilled team conducting the research and development. We have a unique competence in antibody validation and characterization that accelerates the selection process of our lead antibody assets. We have many collaborations worldwide, but it is at Mesenkia we coordinate and evaluate the important results.
What are your goals for Mesenkia?
There is an arising interest from the pharmaceutical sector in brain cancer treatments. Mesenkia has gotten a lot of traction for our single domain assets in the glioblastoma area. During the coming year we continue the clinical development for our lead asset HV01.
- Moa Fransson, CEO
Team
Cecilia Drakskog
Project manager
Project manager with experience within life science, with a special focus on the development of biological drugs in the pre-clinical space.
Experienced CEO in the biotech startup scene with documented history in leading innovative projects and developing strategic partnerships.
Moa Fransson, PhD
CEO
Gerald Pettersson
Advisory IP
Patent attorney with strategic IP and business experience from working as external counsel to companies and organizations in medtech, biotech and pharma in pre-clinical and clinical phase.
Jennie Lundell
Business advisor
Experience from business development and developing partnerships & driving business development efforts to secure deals and agreements.
Liselotte Larsson, PhD
CMC expert
Leveraging a long experience in biotech, from CMC to Business Development, with focus on antibody based therapeutics in clinical development.
Jonas Gibson
Advisory Legal
Life sciences lawyer with experience from working in-house and as external counsel to companies and organizations in medtech, biotech and pharma.
Board of Directors
An international team with the capacity to brake new ground
Johan Lund, Chairman
MD, PhD
CEO of NeuVentis, CSO of Aqilion. Over 20 years in pharmaceutical industry leading research and early development within Celgene, Pfizer and AstraZeneca.
Carl-Henrik Heldin
PhD
Professor in Molecular Cell Biology at Uppsala University. He has been director of the Uppsala branch of Ludwig Cancer Research since 1986 and the chairman of the Nobel Foundation.
Åsa Wallin
PhD
Accomplished innovation expert, with over a decade of experience in innovation and business development. Supported numerous companies navigate the complex world of commercialization.
Miyuki Shimane
BD Asia-Pacific region
Experienced board member of an antibody venture company in Japan. Board member of Modalis Therapeutics and formerly R&D leader at Chugai pharmaceuticals.
Bengt Westermark
MD, PhD
Professor of Tumor Biology, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology at Uppsala University. Co-founder of the HGCC glioblastoma biobank and a member of the Royal Swedish academy of sciences and the European Molecular Biology Organization.
Göran Forsberg
PhD
35+ years of experience in pharmaceutical development. Previous CEO of Cantargia and head of business development at Active Biotech.
Our partners
Mesenkia is proud to be supported by leading Life Science investors in Sweden
