[Hørsholm, Denmark – December 03, 2024] – Contera Pharma A/S, a clinical-stage biotech company pioneering treatments for neurological disorders, is proud to announce the appointment of new members to its Board of Directors. These strategic additions reflect Contera Pharma’s commitment to advancing innovative patient-centered therapies.
Dr. Mahmoud Mahmoudian, FRS
Dr. Mahmoud Mahmoudian brings over 25 years of leadership in biotech innovation, fund raising, company building, and venture creation driving growth strategies to develop and commercialize novel medicines. He was recruited to Cobro Ventures as Partner operating across its portfolio as President, CEO, and Chief Business Officer. Prior to this position, he was Senior Vice President, Head of External Innovation Hub at Sumitomo Pharma establishing a corporate venture fund and developing strategic partnerships as an early-stage investor.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Mahmoudian led global drug development and innovation teams at Merck, GlaxoSmithKline and Ferring with 10 FDA approvals ($15B sales). Dr. Mahmoudian earned his Doctor and Master of Science in Biotechnology from the Imperial College London. He is on the Board of Directors of BioEclipse Therapeutics and Caravan Biologix, an Executive in Residence at Columbia and Princeton Universities, and a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). Dr. Mahmoudian joins Contera Pharma as an independent board member.
Dr. Paul E.G. Kristjansen
Dr. Paul E.G. Kristjansen, MD, PhD, and DMSc, brings decades of expertise in research, clinical development, and business strategy. With a background at the University of Copenhagen, Harvard University, Novo Nordisk, and Lundbeck A/S, Dr. Kristjansen has led R&D initiatives in oncology, autoimmunity, and neurological diseases, with specific focus on early-stage drug development and translational disease models. Dr. Kristjansen has authored more than 100 scientific papers, book chapters, reviews, and patents.
In his five years in business development at Lundbeck A/S, Dr. Kristjansen successfully directed in-licensing and M&A activities. Most recently, he joined The Lundbeck Foundation, where he as Senior Scientific Director manages the Frontiers Grants program to accelerate basic research toward biotech innovation. Dr. Paul E.G. Kristjansen joins as an independent board member.
Sooyeon Park
Sooyeon Park, RPh, MBA, brings over 25 years of experience in clinical operations, regulatory strategy, and global team management, including leadership roles at GSK where she has earned extensive expertise in managing clinical programs and served in industry advisory committees. Currently employed at Bukwang Pharmaceutical, Sooyeon serves as an important link between Contera Pharma and its parent company and owners, leveraging her broad expertise to support Contera Pharma’s clinical and strategic objectives.
A Strengthened Vision for the Future
Thomas Sager, CEO of Contera Pharma, shared his enthusiasm for the new board appointments:
“The addition of Dr. Mahmoudian, Dr. Kristjansen, and Ms. Park marks a significant milestone for Contera Pharma. Their collective expertise will be instrumental in positioning Contera Pharma as a biotech leader in RNA therapeutics and advancing our pipeline of innovative treatments for neurological and associated disorders. This board expansion will also support our strategy to onboard new partners and/or investors”.
Mr. Woo-Hyun Lee, Chairman of the Board at Contera Pharma, further comments: “I am delighted to welcome the new members to Contera Pharma’s board of directors. Their exceptional expertise across drug development, innovation, and strategic business management will be pivotal in driving Contera Pharma’s mission forward. With their guidance, we are well-positioned to accelerate the development of transformative therapies for patients with neurological disorders and thereby create sustainable growth for the company”.
About Contera Pharma A/S
Contera Pharma A/S is dedicated to developing transformative treatments for patients with neurological disorders. By integrating precision medicine approaches and robust data analytics, the company identifies human disease-validated drug discovery targets to drive its pipeline. Its lead asset, CP-012, is advancing toward Phase Ib clinical testing for Parkinson’s disease nocturnal immobility and morning akinesia. Founded in 2010, Contera Pharma is located in Hørsholm, Denmark.
For more information, visit www.conterapharma.com.
