Current board member and advisor for several biotech companies, Gilles Avenard is Medical Doctor and was the co-founder and COO of BioAlliance Pharma SA – ONXEO (NYSE EURONEXT) until 2010. He was notably involved in the development of several innovative medicines through to their official registration on both European and North-American territories. Before that, he worked as Project Director for Hoechst Marion Roussel (Sanofi) and was Medical Director of Bio-Transfusion (LFB).
Karista – Board Member
Catherine Boule
Partner at Karista, Catherine Boule graduated with a Master of Science in Molecular Biology from the University Paris VI and obtained a degree in Management of Technological Innovation in Bio-Industries from the INA Paris-Grignon / Reims Management School. She worked at the Curie Institute (CNRS) in Paris before working with innovative biotechnology start-ups for an incubator in the Paris region.
M.D., Ph.D. – Independent Board Member
Jean-Pierre Cazenave
Honorary Professor of Hematology and Transfusion at the University of Strasbourg, Jean-Pierre Cazenave is also president of the Strasbourg medical research association ARMESA, president of the strategic committee of Health & Biotech France, and permanent member of the French National Academy of Medicine. After obtaining his medical degree in 1970 from the University of Strasbourg, he moved to Canada to McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario where he was appointed assistant professor of Pathology and worked towards a PhD on platelet physiology and pharmacology. Back in Strasbourg in 1978, he went on to work at the Blood Transfusion Center to ultimately create an INSERM research unit in 1986 dedicated to Biology and Pharmacology of Hemostasis and Thrombosis. From 1987 to 2013, he held the position of director at the Blood Transfusion Center EFS-Alsace in Strasbourg. Former president (1992-1995) and vice-president (2002-2010) of the Société Française de Transfusion Sanguine, he is currently member of several international medical societies and author of 620 scientific publications.
Medionalum – Board Member
Rinaldo Del Bono
Rinaldo Del Bono, founder of Mediolanum farmaceutici in 1972 in Milan, Italy, is an entrepreneur and executive within the pharmaceutical industry. His vision, since the founding days, was to distribute the company’s own products internationally and to significantly invest in innovation. Mediolanum farmaceutici is now a pharmaceutical group comprised of a dozen companies including Leurquin-Mediolanum Laboratories and Elsalys Biotech in France. In the past few years, the Mediolanum group has increased its R&D efforts by investing in several projects covering various therapeutic areas such as rheumatoid arthritis, endocrinology, ophthalmology and anti-cancer vaccination. Mediolanum has been an early investor in Acticor Biotech and glenzocimab R&D since 2016.
Newton Biocapital – Board Member
Guy Heynen
Thirty two years-experience in drug development (Pfizer, International Medical Director). Previous Board Director and Advisory Board Member of Ogeda (acquired by Astellas in 2017), actual Board Member of Chromacure SA, DIM3 and Ncardia. Presently serves as Chief Scientist and Regulatory as well as Senior Partner in Newton Biocapital Partners with office locations in Brussels and Tokyo.
MD, Ph.D. AIH-CCA – Independent Board Member and Chairman of the Board
Alain Munoz
Physician qualified cardiology and intensive care he has over 30 years of experience in the industry at senior management level. Served as SVP for international development in the Sanofi Group and in the pharmaceutical division of Fournier Laboratories. He has been a member of the Scientific Committee of the French drug agency and Chairman of the Board of Hybrigenics SA and Novagali Pharma SA. He presently serves on the scientific advisory board of Valneva SA and in is an independent board member of Amryt Pharma plc (Nasdaq: AMYT), Auris Medical Holding AG (Nasdaq: EARS) and Zealand Pharma A/S (Nasdaq: ZEAL).
GO Capital - Board Member
Leila NICOLAS
Graduated with a Master of Science in Cellular Biology and a Master in Management of the Healthcare companies, Leila NICOLAS worked in marketing and business development for almost 10 years in the pharmaceutical industry and two life sciences start-ups. Leila joined GO Capital in 2013 and she manages health investment operations mainly in seed and early stage, in both medtech and therapeutic companies.
M.D. - A&B (HK) Company Limited – Board Member
Huaizheng Peng
General Manager of International Investment and Operations for China Medical System Holdings, a specialty pharmaceutical company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Dr Huaizheng Peng oversees international operations for the Company, including pharmaceutical asset acquisition, product licensing-in/out, international business development, outbound investment and asset management. He obtained both his Bachelor and Master’s degrees in medicine from Hunan Medical College (now Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine) in Changsha, China and subsequently worked towards a PhD in molecular pathology at the Medical School of University College London in the UK where he also practiced as a clinical lecturer. Former private equity partner at the Northland Bancorp firm, he also worked as head of life sciences and director of corporate finance at Seymour Pierce, a London-based stockbroker and investment bank. Earlier in his career, Huaizheng was a senior portfolio manager specializing in global life science and Asian technology investment at Reabourne Technology Investment Management Limited.
Having obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at the University of California Davis and a Master of Science in Biological Sciences (Cell Biology) from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Kim Hyun Tae oriented his professional career towards business development, sell-side equity and venture capital. After 4 years working on the development of generics and herbal medicine, licensing, and regulatory affairs at Korean pharmaceutical companies; he pursued as sell-side equity analyst covering Korean pharma’s, biotechs, medtechs, and cosmetics for 10 years at Shinyoung Securities, KDB Daewoo Securities, and Mirae Asset Daewoo. Currently venture capitalist at Mirae Asset Capital, his activities involve investments in private or public companies developing innovative drugs, medical devices, healthcare services.
Newton Biocapital – Observer
Alain Parthoens
Director of Ogeda, Promethera Biosciences, Profibrix, Voluntis, NCardia (ex-Pluriomics) and Epics Therapeutics, Alain Parthoens was formerly chairman of the BVA and member of the Invest Europe VC council. Currently based in Brussels, he benefits from 20 years of experience in the food and biotech industries (Nestle, Monsanto/Searle, PWC) as well as from 15 years in venture capital (ING Bank, Vesalius Biocapital) during which he notably developed about 30 investments in early and neglected late-stage companies, typically as lead investor.
