Vaccines specialist Bionor Pharma has appointed Dr Anker Lundemose as its new president and CEO.
The Norway-based biotech, which is focused on peptide-based vaccines for HIV, said Dr Lundemose will take over the role from March 1, when his predecessor Steen Krøyer becomes deputy chairman of the board.
Dr Lundemose has spent many years in the biotech and pharma industry, including spells as CEO of Prosidion, executive VP corporate and business development at OSI Pharmaceuticals and business development director at Novo Nordisk.
He has experience in several mergers and acquisitions, including OSI’s acquisition by Astellas in 2010, and has co-founded several biotech companies.
“I am delighted to be joining Bionor Pharma at this crucial point in its development,” said Dr Lundemose, referencing the company’s three ongoing clinical studies investigating potential HIV vaccines Vacc-4x and Vacc-C5.”
He continued: “The two HIV vaccines in combination may have the potential to be part of an eradication strategy within HIV.
“In addition, the company has several other novel targeted vaccine technologies in its pipeline and an excellent R&D team, which I look forward to lead going forward.”
Bionor Pharma is also implementing further changes as the company looks to move from a technology-driven company to one focused more on development and commercialisation.
These plans include the departure of co-founder Birger Sørensen as a regular employee.