People

Lophora is led by an experienced executive team with a strong scientific and commercial track record. Meet the founders, board members, scientific advisors and key team behind the programs.

Executive Management

Bo Tandrup, MSc (Pharm) – CEO & Co-Founder

Mr. Tandrup is a distinguished pharmaceutical executive and serial entrepreneur with +15 years of experience managing early-stage life science companies. He began his pharmaceutical career at Sanofi-Aventis in 1998 and in 2006 he founded his first company, Alkalon, a successful VC-backed global nicotine business, that was the first to challenge the worldwide duopoly in the smoking cessation market.

Following this success, Mr. Tandrup co-founded Vanadis, a gastro drug company and Atrivita, a medical device trading company. He has also served as a technical and business adviser to organizations such as Quotient Sciences, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, and various large and small pharmaceutical companies. Through his M&A advisory firm, he acted as Financial Adviser to Gelmedic in the sale of its nicotine assets to Perrigo in 2020.

As a board member, Mr. Tandrup has contributed to the growth of several SME healthcare companies, including CC Pharma GmbH, TTS Pharma Ltd., and Kibodan A/S. Most recently, he served as CEO of the Norwegian cannabinoid company Balancial. Mr. Tandrup holds a Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from UCPH and has received executive training from CBS and Harvard Business School.

Jesper L. Kristensen, Prof., PhD – CSO & Co-Founder

Jesper Kristensen is a professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Following his PhD in 2002, which included a secondment at Stanford University, he joined Lundbeck, a global pharmaceutical company focused on CNS, as a medicinal chemist working on the discovery of new ligands for various CNS targets.

In 2003, he returned to academia, and from 2005 to 2015, he was responsible for ligand discovery and development within the Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging (Cimbi). During his tenure, the PET-imaging agent [11C]-Cimbi36 was taken from bench to bedside and is currently used in clinical research to image the Serotonin 2A receptor.

Jesper has published over 100 papers in the scientific literature, with more than 30 detailing the discovery, synthesis, pharmacological characterization, radiolabeling, development, and application of new ligands targeting the Serotonin 2A receptor.

Emil Märcher-Rørsted, PhD – CRO & Co-Founder

Emil holds a PhD degree in medicinal chemistry from Copenhagen University and has been responsible for the hands-on development of the LPH compounds series.

Emils academic research has focused on understanding the structural mechanism of 5-HT_2AR selectivity driven through the development of several highly selective agonists for this receptor sub-type leading to multiple scientific publications across the field of medicinal chemistry, organic synthesis, drug-development and pharmacology.

Emil has led several Lead-op programs resulting in the development of multiple lead candidates for several bio tech entities and currently functions a key operator within Lophora. Emil also acts as a drug-discovery and development consultant and has held operational and advisor positions within small-molecule biotech, venture capital and non-profit organisations including Pangea Bio, CEPDA and CarMa seed investments.

Board of Directors

Ian Laquian – Chair of the Board

Entrepreneur in residence at Novo Seeds, with +15 years of experience in building companies, franchises, portfolios, and products within the CNS area. Head of Takeda’s CNS strategy and served as Global Program Lead and Brand Lead responsible for the development and marketing of the antidepressant drug Brintellix.

Don deBethizy, PhD – Board Member

President of Custom Coaching and White City Consulting providing coaching to executives. 30+ years working in life sciences, as a biotech entrepreneur and previously Chair or Director of numerous biotech boards. Director of Proterris Inc and Vice-Chair of the Argenx NV board.

Team Members & Advisors

Mikael Thomsen, PhD – Advisor, Drug Development

+20 years of experience with pre-clinical pharmacology/toxicology and drug development. Mikael has unique experience in advancing drug discovery programs to Phase I and II from big and small pharma and as a consultant for numerous biotech companies.

René Egebro, MSc (Pharm) – Advisor, Pharmaceutical Development

René Egebro has more than 25 years of experience from senior and principal positions in Chemical, Manufacturing & Control from pre-clinical development to late-stage clinical development. He has a broad experience as Director and CMC outsourcing manager in managing International CMOs for the development, manufacture, formulation and analysis of cGMP Drug Substances and Drug Products. Mr. Egebro has held positions at Novo Nordisk, Lundbeck, NeuroSearch and several small biotech leading CMC development, ensuring progress and oversight of multiple development programs, providing strategic advice on CMC development, and representing the company in front of FDA and other regulatory authorities.

Mr. Egebro holds a master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Copenhagen.

Kaare G. Rasmussen, PhD – Advisor, Chemical Development

Kaare G. Rasmussen has more than 25 years of experience from senior and principal positions in Chemical, Manufacturing & Control from pre-clinical development to late-stage clinical development. He has a broad experience as Director and CMC outsourcing manager in managing International CMOs for the development, manufacture, formulation and analysis of cGMP Drug Substances and Drug Products. Mr. Rasmussen has held positions at Novo Nordisk, Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Ascendis Pharma leading CMC development, ensuring progress and oversight of multiple development programs, and providing strategic advice on CMC development.

Mr. Rasmussen holds a Ph.D. degree in organic chemistry from the Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Aarhus.

Tim Haines, BSc, MBA – Advisor, Commercial Strategy

Chairman & Managing Partner at Abingworth. Former CEO of Astex Therapeutics, Datascope Corp., and Thackray Inc., and previously held senior roles including General Manager at Baxter UK.

Torben Alexander von Lowzow, MSc, HD, MBA – Advisor, Finance & M&A

Torben is an experienced banker and chairman. He earned a Master of Science in Engineering in 1987, an HD in Finance in 1998, and an MBA from IMD in 1992. Throughout his career, he has held executive positions in the financial sector, including as Vice Director at Danske Bank, CEO of Gudme Raaschou Bank, and Partner at Capman Invest. Torben has held several board positions, including Chairman of Herlufsholm.