Changing Faces: Board of Directors, January 2026

January was a relatively quiet month for Board news, but there were some notable moves here and there.

Read on for the full report.

Pain-focused pharma strengthens board leadership. PharmNovo, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing safe and effective drugs for neuropathic pain, made two key board appointments. Johann Lund was named Chairman of the Board, bringing senior scientific and leadership experience from AstraZeneca and Pfizer, with a focus on CNS and inflammatory diseases. Additionally, Karin Rosén joined the Board of Directors. She is a senior drug development executive who has held roles at Horizon Pharmaceuticals (Amgen), GSK, Genentech (Roche), and Aimmune (Nestlé).

Neuroscience biotech appoints serial CEO as chair. AstronauTx, a London biotech focused on treating neurological disorders by improving sleep architecture, named Adam Rosenberg as Chair of the Board of Directors. Rosenberg was CEO at Aliada Therapeutics, Athenen Therapeutics, Link Medicine, Rodin Therapeutics, and Teleos Therapeutics, all focused on neuroscience, and was also founding CEO at Sionna Therapeutics. He is currently CEO of RyCarma Therapeutics, and Chair of Seamless Therapeutics and VectorY Therapeutics.

Thymus rejuvenation company gains experienced chairman. TECregen, a Swiss biotech pioneering thymus rejuvenation to address conditions driven by impaired T-cell responses, appointed Bo Rode Hanson as Chairman. A seasoned biotech executive with over two decades of leadership experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, Hanson previously served as the CEO of Scandion Oncology A/S and was the founding president of Genevant Sciences, in addition to holding senior leadership roles at Roche and Santaris Pharma.

Ipsen adds former Merck Healthcare CEO to board. Ipsen, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on oncology, rare disease, and neuroscience, appointed Peter Guenter to its Board of Directors. Most recently, he served as CEO of Merck Healthcare and member of the Executive Board of Merck Group from 2021 to 2025. Prior to that, Peter was CEO at Almirall, where, from 2017 onward, he led the company's strategic refocus on medical dermatology. He also spent more than 20 years at Sanofi across numerous leadership roles.

Sequencing platform developer adds pharma R&D veteran. Enhanced Genomics, a Cambridge, UK-based developer of a genome-wide 3D sequencing platform, named Dr Katerina Leftheris to its Board of Directors. She brings over 30 years of experience in senior scientific positions in large pharma and biotech companies, including Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), Celgene (acquired by BMS), and Pliant Therapeutics.

Commercialisation partner welcomes oncology launch expert. Indegene, a life sciences commercialisation partner, appointed Jill DeSimone as independent director. She led the launch of Keytruda, Merck's first true oncology product, and has also held leadership roles at Teva and Bristol Myers Squibb.

Imaging analytics company adds BD and venture capital leader. Quibim, a company specialising in turning clinical imaging data into improved patient outcomes, named Jeanne Bolger as independent director and advisor. She has held senior roles in business development at leading companies such as GSK and Johnson & Johnson, with over a decade leading corporate venture at JJDC (Johnson & Johnson's venture capital arm).

ADC innovator expands advisory board. Tubulis, a Munich, Germany and Cambridge, MA-based innovator in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), appointed Dr Steve Kelsey to its Advisory Board. Currently president of research and development at Revolution Medicines, he brings more than two decades of global biotechnology experience spanning small molecules, antibodies, and ADCs, with a strong track record of translating innovative science into approved and transformative oncology therapies.

Brain health company assembles diverse advisory team. Brainscope, a commercial-stage medical neurotechnology company focused on applying artificial intelligence to develop non-invasive, objective diagnostic tools for brain health, added Emily Baxi, Melanie Leitner, Dr Edward Michelson, Dr José Hernan N. Posas III, Dr Jose Javier Provencio, and Genevieve Stein-O'Brien to its Advisory Board. This group of MDs and PhDs includes leaders from major philanthropic and academic institutions.

Transgene adds two heavyweight experts. Transgene, a Strasbourg, France-based biotech working on virus-based immunotherapies for cancer, made two additions to its Scientific Advisory Board: Dr Antoine Italiano, a renowned medical oncologist specialising in early drug development and precision medicine, and Dr Ignacio Melero, widely recognised for his pioneering work in cancer immunotherapy, particularly on immunostimulatory monoclonal antibodies and co-stimulation of antitumour immune responses.

Japanese biopharma establishes metabolic advisory council. Nxera Pharma, a Japanese biopharma company with assets in neurology, GI and immunology, metabolic disorders, and rare diseases, formed a Metabolic Advisory Council with Professor Sir Stephen O'Rahilly, Professor Tricia Tan, and Dr Mads Tang-Christensen as founding members. The founding members of Nxera's Advisory Council bring experience from the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, and Novo Nordisk, respectively.

That’s a wrap for January. Remember, you can send your own hires to editorial@pharmaphorum.com for inclusion in this column.