Dr. Gaël Hedou PhD – Chairperson of Board
Gaël received his PhD in Natural Sciences at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland, in the field of Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology studying brain and behavioral plasticity related to drug addiction. Following a postdoc at the ETH on brain plasticity and repair, he joined the pharmaceutical industry originally at GlaxoSmithKline in Verona, Italy. Gael held several positions of increasing responsibility at GSK and subsequently Merck Serono KGaA in the field of psychiatric and neurological diseases. In 2013, Gael co-founded Relief Therapeutics SA which became listed on the Swiss SIX stock exchange in 2016 and he was the Group CEO until 2019. Gael continues his career as COO of Sonnet BioTherapeutics CH SA, a fully owned subsidiary of the NASDAQ-listed US-based Sonnet BioTherapeutics Inc in charge of the development of Sonnet’s clinical-stage assets. Gael is also the owner of Django Trading Sàrl, a consultancy and investment company based in Switzerland.
Gaël received his PhD in Natural Sciences at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland, in the field of Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology studying brain and behavioral plasticity related to drug addiction. Following a postdoc at the ETH on brain plasticity and repair, he joined the pharmaceutical industry originally at GlaxoSmithKline in Verona, Italy. Gael held several positions of increasing responsibility at GSK and subsequently Merck Serono KGaA in the field of psychiatric and neurological diseases. In 2013, Gael co-founded Relief Therapeutics SA which became listed on the Swiss SIX stock exchange in 2016 and he was the Group CEO until 2019. Gael continues his career as COO of Sonnet BioTherapeutics CH SA, a fully owned subsidiary of the NASDAQ-listed US-based Sonnet BioTherapeutics Inc in charge of the development of Sonnet’s clinical-stage assets. Gael is also the owner of Django Trading Sàrl, a consultancy and investment company based in Switzerland.
Dr. Harald Petry - Board Member, co-founder and CEO
Harald has 20+ years of experience in the field of gene therapy. After his PhD on retroviruses, retroelements and cancer, he worked for 10 years at the German Primate Center on vaccines. During this time, he worked on a Polyomavirus-based gene delivery system which was transferred to Jenapharm GmbH for further development.
Harald joined Jenapharm GmbH in 2000. In 2002 he joined Berlex Biosciences (US) as Project Leader. In 2007, he became the Director of Research at Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics (AMT, which later became uniQure). In 2012 he was appointed CSO. During his 10 years at AMT/uniQure he was involved in the development of several gene therapy programs including Glybera for lipoprotein lipase deficiency. Glybera is the first gene therapy product approved in EU.
Harald holds a PhD degree from the Justus-Liebig University of Giessen (GER).
Harald has 20+ years of experience in the field of gene therapy. After his PhD on retroviruses, retroelements and cancer, he worked for 10 years at the German Primate Center on vaccines. During this time, he worked on a Polyomavirus-based gene delivery system which was transferred to Jenapharm GmbH for further development.
Harald joined Jenapharm GmbH in 2000. In 2002 he joined Berlex Biosciences (US) as Project Leader. In 2007, he became the Director of Research at Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics (AMT, which later became uniQure). In 2012 he was appointed CSO. During his 10 years at AMT/uniQure he was involved in the development of several gene therapy programs including Glybera for lipoprotein lipase deficiency. Glybera is the first gene therapy product approved in EU.
Harald holds a PhD degree from the Justus-Liebig University of Giessen (GER).
Dr. Maximilien Murone PhD – Board member and co-founder
Maximilien is a Scientific Executive with experience in start-up establishment, management and fund raising. He joined Cellestia as co-founder in 2015 and COO in 2017, with 20+ years of experience in the pharma/life sciences industry. Before joining Cellestia, Maximilien served as the Managing Director for AdipoGen Life Sciences. In addition, Maximilien served for 10 years as Associate Director at Debiopharm International SA, where he was managing the Early Projects team. Maximilien holds a PhD from the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, and an executive MBA from HEC Lausanne. He spent three years as postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Molecular Oncology at Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, USA.
Maximilien is a Scientific Executive with experience in start-up establishment, management and fund raising. He joined Cellestia as co-founder in 2015 and COO in 2017, with 20+ years of experience in the pharma/life sciences industry. Before joining Cellestia, Maximilien served as the Managing Director for AdipoGen Life Sciences. In addition, Maximilien served for 10 years as Associate Director at Debiopharm International SA, where he was managing the Early Projects team. Maximilien holds a PhD from the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, and an executive MBA from HEC Lausanne. He spent three years as postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Molecular Oncology at Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, USA.
Dr. Kostas Kaloulis PhD - Board member and co-founder
Kostas has more than 18 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with roles in business development, corporate strategic innovation, entrepreneurship (3 start-ups) and technology transfer. Kostas is the CEO of Arctos Medical, a gene therapy company developing a new solution for specific forms of blindness and a Venture Partner at NanoDimension Capital. He co-founded the ReMedys Foundation to support clinical development of innovative products to treat orphan diseases.
Kostas has more than 18 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with roles in business development, corporate strategic innovation, entrepreneurship (3 start-ups) and technology transfer. Kostas is the CEO of Arctos Medical, a gene therapy company developing a new solution for specific forms of blindness and a Venture Partner at NanoDimension Capital. He co-founded the ReMedys Foundation to support clinical development of innovative products to treat orphan diseases.
Dr. Gaël Hedou PhD – Chairperson of Board
Dr. Harald Petry - Board Member, co-founder and CEO
Dr. Maximilien Murone PhD – Board member and co-founder
Dr. Kostas Kaloulis PhD - Board member and co-founder
Harald has 20+ years of experience in the field of gene therapy. After his PhD on retroviruses, retroelements and cancer, he worked for 10 years at the German Primate Center on vaccines. During this time, he worked on a Polyomavirus-based gene delivery system which was transferred to Jenapharm GmbH for further development.
Harald joined Jenapharm GmbH in 2000. In 2002 he joined Berlex Biosciences (US) as Project Leader. In 2007, he became the Director of Research at Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics (AMT, which later became uniQure). In 2012 he was appointed CSO. During his 10 years at AMT/uniQure he was involved in the development of several gene therapy programs including Glybera for lipoprotein lipase deficiency. Glybera is the first gene therapy product approved in EU.
Harald holds a PhD degree from the Justus-Liebig University of Giessen (GER).
Harald joined Jenapharm GmbH in 2000. In 2002 he joined Berlex Biosciences (US) as Project Leader. In 2007, he became the Director of Research at Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics (AMT, which later became uniQure). In 2012 he was appointed CSO. During his 10 years at AMT/uniQure he was involved in the development of several gene therapy programs including Glybera for lipoprotein lipase deficiency. Glybera is the first gene therapy product approved in EU.
Harald holds a PhD degree from the Justus-Liebig University of Giessen (GER).
Gaël received his PhD in Natural Sciences at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland, in the field of Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology studying brain and behavioral plasticity related to drug addiction. Following a postdoc at the ETH on brain plasticity and repair, he joined the pharmaceutical industry originally at GlaxoSmithKline in Verona, Italy. Gael held several positions of increasing responsibility at GSK and subsequently Merck Serono KGaA in the field of psychiatric and neurological diseases. In 2013, Gael co-founded Relief Therapeutics SA which became listed on the Swiss SIX stock exchange in 2016 and he was the Group CEO until 2019. Gael continues his career as COO of Sonnet BioTherapeutics CH SA, a fully owned subsidiary of the NASDAQ-listed US-based Sonnet BioTherapeutics Inc in charge of the development of Sonnet’s clinical-stage assets. Gael is also the owner of Django Trading Sàrl, a consultancy and investment company based in Switzerland.
Maximilien is a Scientific Executive with experience in start-up establishment, management and fund raising. He joined Cellestia as co-founder in 2015 and COO in 2017, with 20+ years of experience in the pharma/life sciences industry. Before joining Cellestia, Maximilien served as the Managing Director for AdipoGen Life Sciences. In addition, Maximilien served for 10 years as Associate Director at Debiopharm International SA, where he was managing the Early Projects team. Maximilien holds a PhD from the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, and an executive MBA from HEC Lausanne. He spent three years as postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Molecular Oncology at Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, USA
Kostas has more than 18 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with roles in business development, corporate strategic innovation, entrepreneurship (3 start-ups) and technology transfer. Kostas is the CEO of Arctos Medical, a gene therapy company developing a new solution for specific forms of blindness and a Venture Partner at NanoDimension Capital. He co-founded the ReMedys Foundation to support clinical development of innovative products to treat orphan diseases.
Board of Directors