Asceneuron have appointed Peter Van Vlasselaer to new Chair of the Board of Directors. The biotech entrepreneur has a PhD and over 20 years of executive and entrepreneurial experience. This is fitting to the role at the Swiss-based company developing orally bioavailable modulators of tau pathology for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Before starting at the company, he was Founder, President and CEO of Armo Biosciences, subsequently acquired by Eli Lily. Prior to this, he was in other executive and founding positions at many companies over the years.
Van Vlasselaer was a Post-Doctorate fellow in the Division of Immunology and Rheumatology at Stanford University Medical School and DNAX Research Institute. He has written much scientific literature and is the inventor on many patents.
Van Vlasselaer said: “There is a strong industry and scientific interest in tau approaches to Alzheimer’s disease and orphan tauopathies such as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).”
Alongside his Chairman role, Van Vlasselaer will be serving on the boards of Blade Therapeutics, Comet Therapeutics and Rgenix.
Commenting on the appointment, Dirk Beher, Asceneuron CEO and Founder said: “His extensive experience in all aspects of biotechnology, drug and corporate development will be invaluable as the company progresses its orally-bioavailable tau modifiers through clinical development.”