NOVEL THERAPIES FOR WOMEN’S AND MEN’S HEALTH
WHO WE ARE
- We are a clinical stage drug development company focusing on women’s health
- Our lead program is a novel, tissue specific solution for endometriosis
- Our core competence is in intracrine hormone mechanisms and the HSD17B enzyme family
INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS
Forendo has strong investors with broad international contacts:
• Novo Seeds
• Karolinska Development
• Innovestor
• Novartis Venture Fund
• M Ventures
• Vesalius Biocapital III Partners
• Sunstone Life Science Ventures
STRONG AND EXPERIENCED TEAM
• Founded in 2013 by leading academic endocrinology professionals and Finnish drug development pioneers • Highly skilled in all phases of drug development • 8 Ph.D’s in the team of 21 employees
MEET OUR BUSINESS CONTACTS
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Risto Lammintausta, Chief Executive Officer
Risto Lammintausta, M.D., Ph.D. Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology. He has over 30 years of drug development experience in different positions of R&D management, from Farmos Group, Orion Pharma, Hormos Medical and QuatRx. During his career, five new compound discoveries have been launched to global markets, including Ospemifene. In 2013, he co-founded and became CEO of Forendo Pharma. Risto has served as board member of multiple biopharma companies and has had positions of trust in associations of Finnish Bioindustry, Chemical Industry and Pharma Industry.
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Janne Komi, Chief Medical Officer
Janne Komi, M.D., Ph.D., has over 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and has held various positions ranging from R&D lead roles in early drug discovery to clinical development both in Finland (Hormos Medical) and in the US (QuatRx Pharmaceuticals Company). In addition, Dr. Komi has over 5 years of regulatory experience at the Finnish Medicines Agency (Fimea) and Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) at the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
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Maarit Merla, Head of Business Development
Maarit Merla, Head of Business Development, MSc (Econ), eMBA, is a life science business professional, with over 17 years of international experience in the medical device, diagnostics and pharmaceutical industries. She has been responsible for several operational and R&D functions, marketing and business development, working in global teams across Europe, Middle East and Africa, North America and Asia.
Maarit joined Forendo Pharma in August 2015. In her Business Development role at Forendo, she is responsible for fundraising, licensing, partnering and marketing activities.
MEET OUR BOARD MEMBERS
Stephan Christgau (Ph.D.)
Founding Partner, Eir Ventures Partners AB
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Stephan is a founding partner of a new VC fund, Eir Ventures, since late 2019. During his career at Novo A/S, he worked as Investment Director of Novo Seeds from 2007 to 2019. Stephan obtained his MSc degree from the Technical University of Denmark, for a project in diabetes immunology, conducted at Hagedorn Research Institute and University of California, San Francisco. Prior to joining Novo Seeds, Stephan was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Osteologix where he played a leading role in the development of the company, taking the lead candidate drug through all stages from lead identification to Phase II testing for osteoporosis treatment. He also played an active role in the company’s financing including a public listing in the USA on the OTC exchange through a reverse merger with a public shell company. Previously Stephan has worked in the metabolic bone disease and arthritis areas in Nordic Bioscience and Osteometer Biotech and as a protein chemist in Novo Nordisk A/S.
Søren Møller (Ph.D.)
Managing Partner, Novo Holdings A/S, Novo Seeds
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Søren joined Novo A/S in 2011 as Managing Investment Director of Novo Seeds. Søren obtained his MSc degree from the Technical University of Denmark in 1993 and his PhD degree in molecular biology in 1997 from the Technical University of Denmark. In addition, Søren has academic training as postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University School of Medicine. Prior to joining Novo Seeds, Søren served as global manager of Genomics at Novozymes. Before Novozymes, Søren was CSO and Vice President of R&D at Exiqon A/S. During Søren’s tenure, Exiqon completed an IPO and the company was acquired by Qiagen in 2016. Previously, Søren worked in cancer drug development as head of Lead Identification at BioImage and as research scientist at Novo Nordisk. Søren serves on the Board of Directors of EpiTherapeutics (sold to Gilead), AMRA, Biosyntia, Reapplix and Northsea Therapeutics. Since 2008, Søren has been board member of Danish Biotech (the Association of Biotechnology Industries in Denmark) and DVCA (Danish Venture Capital Association).
Viktor Drvota (MD, Ph.D. (Assoc. Prof. Cardiology))
Chief Executive Officer, Karolinska Development
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Viktor Drvota has over 16 years of Venture Capital experience with several investements, significant fundraisings, IPOs and exits. He was responsible for Life science at SEB Venture Capital 2002-2016. During his appointment at SEB VC he also served as a Board member in several biotech and Medtech companies such as Arexis AB, SBL Vaccin AB, Nuevolution AS, Index Pharma AB, Scibase AB, Airsonett AB among others. Before joining SEB in, Dr Drvota worked as Senior Consultant and Associate Professor in Cardiology at the Karolinska Institutet/hospital, Stockholm. Dr Drvota has experience from preclinical as well as clinical research in drug development and medical devices. Dr Drvota has 29 published research articles.
Anja König (Ph.D.)
Managing Director of Novartis Venture Fund in Basel, Switzerland
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Dr. Anja König is a Managing Director in Basel, Switzerland. She is active in the UK, Switzerland and the rest of Europe. Prior to joining NVF, she was an Associate Partner at McKinsey and Company in New York, a global consultancy, where she worked with healthcare companies in the US, Europe and Emerging Markets. Anja holds a PhD in physics from Cornell University. She serves on the boards of Bicycle Therapeutics, F2G and Forendo Pharma.
Stéphane Verdood
Managing Partner Vesalius Biocapital
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Stéphane is a recognized venture capitalist. He started his career with Arthur Andersen as information technology auditor. After having led the mergers and acquisitions division of Arthur Andersen in Belgium from 1989 to 1995, he founded and led Arthur Andersen’s business consulting division in Belgium and Luxembourg. He served on the European Board of Partners of Arthur Andersen. Since October 2000, before he joined Vesalius Biocapital, Stéphane has been active as a venture coach for early-stage companies. He was a founder and managing partner at Value4Growth, a specialized Life Science consulting firm supporting start-up companies in all aspects of company formation, product strategy and fund raising.
Hakan Goker (Ph.D.)
Senior investment director at M Ventures, the corporate venture capital fund of Merck Serono
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Hakan Goker, PhD, joined M Ventures in 2013. Previously, Hakan was a partner at Aescap Venture in Amsterdam which he joined in 2010. Prior to Aescap, he was at Atlas Venture in London until their cessation of European operations. He was instrumental in the creation and financing, in addition to, business and R&D strategy of various companies including Orphazyme-DK, f-Star NL, Protaffin- Austria/UK, Bicycle Therapeutics -UK, Nimbus Discovery -US, Lumavita -CH, Nitec now Horizon Pharma -CH/US, and Egalet -DK. In addition to the UK, US, Benelux and Switzerland, his global investment and deal flow experience includes the geographies of Scandinavia and Asia. Hakan received his Ph.D. in oncology from the Institute of Cancer Research/ University of London, UK and continued his scientific career with post doctoral work at the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Centre/Royal Marsden Hospital. He gained his B.Sc. Hons, from University College London.
Claus Andersson (Ph.D.)
General Partner, Sunstone Life Science Ventures
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Claus Andersson is General Partner in Sunstone Life Science Ventures and has been with the team since it was established. Claus has been engaged with more than 20 companies and has held either chairing positions or board memberships to share his experience from the last 16 years of working with entrepreneurs, co-investors and consultants in life sciences. Claus has extensive experience in strategy execution and development from various parts of the Life Science ecosystem: both as an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, scientist, and corporate manager. Claus holds a Master’s degree in Civil Chemical Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and a PhD in Mathematical Statistics from the University of Copenhagen and the Humboldt University in Berlin.
David Colpman
Director, Colpman Consulting Ltd
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David Colpman joined Shire in 1999 and was instrumental in delivering the M&A and licensing strategy which was successful in building the company to become a global leader in rare diseases and specialty medicines. Reporting to the CEO he led a team of over 20 BD professionals. Notable transactions included the $4.2bn acquisition of ViroPharma and the acquisition of Sarcode for $160M which delivered the now launched putative blockbuster Xiidra for Dry Eye. Earlier in his career at Shire he identified and led the acquisition of TKT which went on to become the cornerstone of Shire’s successful rare disease business . He also in-licensed Lialda, which achieved of $700M to become sector leader in ulcerative colitis. On leaving Shire David established Colpman Consulting Ltd which is delivering strategic BD advice to Biotech and Pharma sectors. Colpman Consulting has secured transformational deals for Alligator AB, Cormorant AB, Agalimmune ltd and Diaprost AB. Prior to Shire David enjoyed senior roles in BD at Novo Nordisk and Glaxo Wellcome. David is a pharmacist by training and also serves on the Boards of Orexo AB and HRA Pharma.
Risto Lammintausta (M.D., Ph.D.)
CEO of Forendo Pharma
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Risto Lammintausta, M.D., Ph.D. Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology. He has over 30 years of drug development experience in different positions of R&D management, from Farmos Group, Orion Pharma, Hormos Medical and QuatRx. During his career, five new compound discoveries have been launched to global markets, including Ospemifene. In 2013, he co-founded and became CEO of Forendo Pharma. Risto has served as board member of multiple biopharma companies and has had positions of trust in associations of Finnish Bioindustry, Chemical Industry and Pharma Industry.
ENDOMETRIOSIS
Endometriosis is a chronic condition that affects up to 10% of women in reproductive age and causes repeated pain symptoms, infertility and impaired quality of life. Currently available treatments for endometriosis have limitations in efficacy or cause harmful side effects. They often lead to systemic estrogen depletion, with known safety issues on bone mineral density and menopausal symptoms. There is no known cure for the disease. Download a pdf about endometriosis »
TARGETED TREATMENT – HSD17B1 INHIBITOR
Forendo Pharma has developed a potential new treatment for endometriosis based on inhibition of the HSD17B1 enzyme, a novel drug target for tissue specific regulation of hormone activity. Proof of efficacy for this novel mechanism has been demonstrated in primate model of endometriosis. The clinical compound FOR-6219 inhibits the conversion of low potency estrone into highly potent estradiol in endometriotic tissues. The most important expected differentiator of FOR-6219 compared to currently available treatments is its selective activity and the ability to act locally in the target tissues, without impacting systemic hormone levels. This selective activity allows a safe and well tolerated, long term treatment opportunity for endometriosis. FOR-6219 is currently in Phase I clinical development
DUAL HSD INHIBITOR PROGRAM
The DUAL HSD Inhibitor compounds, currently in discovery phase, combine two mechanisms of action whereby estrogen inhibition and direct anti-inflammatory effect can be combined locally in target tissues, without affecting systemic hormones. The DUAL HSD Inhibitor program was initiated in 2016 and Forendo is planning to select the product candidate for further development in 2019. These novel compounds have broad indication opportunities in endometriosis and other gynecological conditions.
Endometriosis, Estradiol Synthesis and HSD17B type 1
Our solution
Forendo Pharma Pipeline
MALE UROLOGICAL CONDITIONS
Fispemifene is a novel selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), with a unique tissue specific pharmacological profile. In the completed Phase I and II studies Fispemifene has been safe and well tolerated in over 250 men exposed so far.
OUR SOLUTION
Fispemifene has potential in 3 different indication areas of male urological conditions
Secondary hypogonadism:
Proven ability to increase testosterone. By diminishing the negative feedback of estrogen at the level of hypothalamus/pituitary gland, Fispemifene has shown to increase production of LH and subsequently endogenous testosterone levels.
LUTS/Chronic prostatitis:
Demonstrated antiestrogenic and anti-inflammatory effects in the lower urinary tract and prostate in preclinical models. The increase in systemic testosterone levels with the antiestrogenic effect in selective tissues provides novel approach to treat LUTS and chronic prostatitis.
Prostate cancer:
Potential to increase the efficacy of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), as a combination drug, by blocking the estrogen action in the prostate. As testosterone is blocked by ADT, there is no risk of unwanted testosterone level increase. Fispemifene is expected to prolong the duration of ADT treatment, thereby offering longer progression free survival and overall survival to prostate cancer patients.
Forendo is currently under a Letter of Intent, aiming for a global licensing agreement of the Fispemifene asset.
CONTACT US
Please let us know how we can provide you with more information about our company or products. Forendo Pharma is located in the 7th floor, staircase B of Pharmacity building, close to the Kupittaa railway station (Turku–Helsinki connection) and the Helsinki motorway (E18).
Forendo Pharma Ltd Head Office Itäinen Pitkäkatu 4 B FI-20520 Turku FINLAND Forendo Pharma Ltd Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry Biologintie 3G FI-90570 Oulu FINLAND
firstname.lastname@forendo.com www.forendo.com
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