Ghent, Flemish Region, Belgium
Scientifically driven biotech executive with over 25 years of experience leading innovation across drug discovery, preclinical development, and clinical translation in the US and EU. As CEO of Tanai Therapeutics, I’m driving a new frontier in obesity and metabolic disease treatment through first-in-class, tissue-selective therapies that activate the body’s energy expenditure pathways. Backed by Novo Nordisk A/S, BGV, V-Bio Ventures, VIB, and Qbic, Tanai is transforming metabolic health with a mechanism guided by human genetics and animal models.
Tanai Therapeutics is pioneering a new approach to obesity and cardiometabolic disease by activating the body’s own energy expenditure pathways. Founded with support from Novo Nordisk A/S, BGV, V-Bio Ventures, VIB, and Qbic, Tanai is developing a first-in-class small molecule designed to drive energy expenditure in a tissue-selective manner, promoting fat loss while preserving muscle mass. Human genetics and animal models guide our mechanism of action, providing strong biological confidence and clear differentiation from appetite-suppressing approaches. Our vision is to transform metabolic health through genetically validated, patient-centric therapeutics that complement and enhance current obesity treatments. Based in Belgium, Tanai brings together world-class metabolic scientists and biotech entrepreneurs advancing next-generation therapies for obesity and related cardiometabolic diseases.
• Established and manage PROsVenture, a life science consultancy serving biotech, pharma, and investment firms. • Conduct rigorous biotech due diligence for investment firms, facilitating well-informed investment decisions. • Provide expert scientific, clinical, and regulatory support to investors and biotech enterprises, guiding venture creation and expansion. • Completed a comprehensive Board Training & Certification program in Amsterdam, focusing on governance, leadership, and strategic board responsibilities. The program, organized by The Visionary Board, enriched my expertise in board governance and decision-making
Precigen Actobio. is pioneering a new class of microbe-based ActoBiotics® biopharmaceuticals that enable expression and local delivery of disease-modifying therapeutics. The ActoBiotics® platform produces biologics through oral or topical administration with treatment applications across many diseases including oral, gastrointestinal, and autoimmune/allergic disorders. This cost-effective approach is being developed to provide safer and more efficacious treatments than injectable biologicals. Precigen ActoBio has a strong R&D pipeline with the latest stage candidate in Phase 2b and an extensive portfolio of candidates ready for clinical development across a number of potential indications.