Apmonia Therapeutics was founded in 2019 as spin-off of CNRS and Reims university (UMR 7369 MEDyC). Executive team now gathers together members with decades of experience in leading research institutes and biotech industry.
We have embarked on an ambitious adventure to develop groundbreaking therapeutic agents targeting the extracellular matrix. We make our best effort every day to fulfill the legitimate expectations of our partners, with the social commitment to improve the lives of patients suffering from life-threatening diseases around the globe.
Whether you are a potential corporate partner, a scientific researcher or someone looking for an exciting career, we appreciate very much your interest in Apmonia Therapeutics, and will welcome your encouragement to make it a leader in the future of biotech industry.
PhD
Dr. JEANNE completed his PhD in biochemistry and cell biology within CNRS 7369 MEDyC research unit. He has authored 13 peer-reviewed scientific publications on TSP-1 pathobiology and won numerous international awards. During past professional experience as a project manager, he developed his expertise in translational drug development while building capacity to manage research programs, partnerships, and reach deliverables. As a co-inventor of TAX2 patents, he engineered the first ever antagonists being selective for TSP- 1/CD47 interaction. Beyond scientific background, Albin JEANNE acquired strong management skills and strategic insights as he completed the Challenge+ program at HEC international business school.
Stéphane LOZE
PhD
A former researcher at the Institut Pasteur, Georges RAWADI was Vice-President of Business Development & Intellectual Property and a member of the management team at Celyad.
He previously served in various business development roles at Cellectis, Galapagos, ProStrakan and Sanofi-Aventis and led strategic alliance development consulting assignments.
He holds a PhD in Microbiology from Pierre and Marie Curie University (France) and a master’s degree in Management and Strategy in the Health Industry from ESSEC Business School.
PhD
Dr. LACHGAR has a strong background of over 20 years in biopharmaceutical industry, mainly in immunotherapy. Further to his PhD in immunology, he contributed to the initiation, management and development of different biotech companies. He was involved, as top-manager, in various national and international drug developments and clinical trials. In addition to his scientific and management expertise, he acquired a strong background in science and technology assessment and forecasting. Concomitantly, Abderrahim was actively involved in different international scientific collaboration as advisors at the Academy of Sciences as well as at different government agencies and organizations. He was involved in the French research agency programs design (ANR-2030) as member of the prospective team and in Medicen Cluster as Board member and member of the translational research steering committee.
After taking his bachelor degree in a Business School in Paris, Jérôme Majoie obtained an MBA specialized in International Marketing and Management from Hartford University (CT, USA).
For 14 years, he successively worked for LIPHA-MERCK, PFIZER and LABORATOIRES FOURNIER, gaining international experiences in Sales, Marketing, Research and Management in numerous countries (France, USA, UK, Sweden, Japan and Belgium)
From June 2004 till December 2012, Jérôme Majoie worked for BLUE MEDICAL SPRL, in collaboration with Bernard Majoie, to provide strategic advices, analysis and funds to biotech start-up companies involved in Research & Development and Services activities in the field of cancer and neuro-degenerative diseases.
Since 2017, Jérôme Majoie took over Bernard Majoie at the position of CEO of the Fondation Fournier-Majoie. Created in 2007, the Foundation recognized of Public Utilities from the start, allocates resources, competences and provides coaching to researchers willing to become entrepreneurs in the field of oncology. In 2022, 19 laureates out of 300 projects benefited from its networks and services. More than 9 million euros were spent for innovative therapeutics, diagnostics, or medical devices projects to save cancer patient’s lives.
Virginie MIATH is an Investment Director at Capital Grand Est, holds triple Master degrees from the University Paris-Sud and Groupe INSEEC in Paris, in fields of Genetics, Economy of Innovation, Corporate Finance. She has more than 12 years of in-depth professional experience in various fields around technology transfer, business and finance, including start-up development as well as management of research and investment projects.
MSc
Alexandre KORESSIOS is a member of the management board of the VC fund FINOVAM GESTION since 2015. Specialized in deeptech start-ups, he monitors a dozen of Finovam Gestion investments in the digital and healthcare sectors. Graduated from the Master Grande Ecole of Neoma Business School (2004), Alexandre KORESSIOS started his career at Deloitte in auditing. In 2006, he joined Réseau Entreprendre Paris as a Business Manager. There, he provided financial and strategic support to more than 60 young companies (My Little Paris, Greenweez, Balyo...) in collaboration with the experienced business leaders of the Network. In 2010, he decided to join one of these startups, Isidor (acquired in 2013 by the Doro Group), which designed ergonomic computer interfaces. In 2012, he joins the innovation capital fund Starquest Capital as an investment manager. He took part in about thirty closings (Art-Fi, Fretbay, Vodeclic...). After Starquest, he joined Creative Valley, an innovation centers group where he developed the support offer for startups and participated in the creation of a digital investment fund, in collaboration with Auriga Partners.
Aurore ANDRE
MS, MBA
Aurore is an international executive and business strategist with a focus on market and business development. She is the Founder and CEO of Azapharm, a management consulting firm that assists life science entrepreneurs and enterprises in developing innovative healthcare products and services for patients. She previously served on the board of directors and as a stakeholder in a leading European expert services firm specializing in clinical development, regulatory affairs, biometry, and safety. She is immersed in the innovation ecosystems of Europe and Israel, working with incredible entrepreneurs, corporations, and institutions who want to make a true impact on people's lives.
In addition to serving as Azapharm's CEO and in keeping with her entrepreneurial vision, she was also the CEO of Emosis Ltd Innovation Center in Israel from 2017 to 2020, developing in vitro diagnostic tests to enhance medical decision-making for cardio-neurovascular disorders.
She also works with the EIT (European Institute of Innovation and Technology) Health as an independent expert reviewer and assessor.
Aurore is a graduate of Sciences Po Paris, has an MBA from La Sorbonne. She enjoys studying, most recently (2022), she earned a certificate in artificial intelligence in healthcare.
Professor Stéphane DEDIEU holds a PhD from the University of Bordeaux where he was trained in biochemistry and molecular biology during the early 2000s. He currently leads a 40 people research team within a multidisciplinary CNRS labelled unit (UMR CNRS 7369 MEDyC) affiliated to the University of Reims. He has expertise in cancer biology and therapeutic targeting of matricellular receptors. Prof DEDIEU carries out numerous missions of scientific advice and expertise. In particular, he has been a member of the National Committee for Scientific Research since 2012 (commission dedicated to pharmacology, health engineering and technologies) and member of the board since 2016. He is a member of the Scientific and Clinical Committee of Canceropole-Est and has served on the Interregional Scientific Council of the League Against Cancer for the past four years. Prof DEDIEU is co-founder of Apmonia Therapoutics and co-inventor of the patents exploited by the company.
Alexandra LEARY, MD, PhD is a medical oncologist and translational researcher specializing in gynecological tumors at Gustave Roussy. In 2011, she joined the Gustave Roussy Cancer Center as a medical oncologist treating ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancers with a special focus on early phase drug development. She is also team leader for gynecological oncology translational research within the laboratory of Predictive Biomarkers and Novel Targeted Therapeutics (INSERM U981) at Gustave Roussy. She obtained her medical degree from Georgetown University Medical School in Washington, DC and completed an Internal Medicine Residency at Northwestern University Hospital in Chicago. She then pursued her training in Medical Oncology at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London and obtained a PhD from the Institute of Cancer Research/University of London. Nationally, she sits on the board of the French clinical trial intergroup, GINECO and is President of the GiNEGEPS (GINECO group on Early Phase Studies). Internationally, she is a member of the ENGOT translational research group, French representative at the GCIG (Gynecological Cancers InterGroup) and co-chair the GCIG phase II trial group.
Professor Armand BENSUSSAN completed his PhD training during the early 1980s in the laboratories of Professor Jean DAUSSET (Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris, France) and Professor Stuart F SCHLOSSMAN (Harvard Medical School, DFCI, Boston, MA). He is currently Research director at INSERM and chief of the Skin Research Center and of the INSERM unit 976 at Saint-Louis Hospital in Paris, France. He obtained several awards including two distinct French Academy of Sciences awards, the clinical investigation award from the French foundation for medical research, the immunology Bernard HALPERN award and the national award of projects leaders for the creation and/or the development of highly innovative technology companies. He was the past president of the French society of immunology. He is author of more than 340 international scientific publications, editor of two scientific books and designated as co-inventor in more than 30 patents, which most of them are licensed to industry.
MD, PhD
Olivier BOUCHE, MD, PhD is a hospital practitioner specializing in gastroenterology and digestive oncology. He is affiliated with the Robert Debré Reims Hospital where he is Head of the ambulatory oncology-haematology unit. He is also in charge of the multidisciplinary tumour board meeting of digestive cancerology. He is the coordinator of the steering committee of the National Digestive Cancer Thesaurus and was scientific president of the Fédération Francophone de Cancérologie Digestive between 2010 and 2016. He is also member of the ARCAD (foundation in digestive oncology) and ONCOCHA (regional oncology association) network of which he was vice-president, and scientific honorary member of the French association of GIST (Gastro-Intestinal Stromal Tumour) patients. He has participated for many years in numerous clinical trials and is the author of nearly 300 referenced scientific articles.
Liliana SCHAEFER
MD
University of Frankfurt/Main, T. Jefferson University Philadelphia
Liliana Schaefer is a Professor of Nephropharmacology at the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Frankfurt/Main and Adjunct Research Professor of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, with an area of expertise in matrix biology and proteoglycans. Her laboratory has investigated the role of the small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs), decorin and biglycan, in inflammation, innate immunity and renal fibrosis. She has made significant contributions to the field of innate immunity by discovering that both SLRPs, when in soluble form in the blood and body fluids, can act as endogenous “danger” signals and thus directly involved in modulating the activity of TLRs. She has occupied several leadership positions, both nationally and internationally, in the field of matrix biology e.g.: the President of the International Society for Matrix Biology, the President of theGerman Society for Matrix Biology, President of the Histochemical Society, Deputy Editor of Matrix Biology and Matrix Biology Plus journals, Deputy Editor of Cellular Signaling, and Associate Editor of the Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry, Associate Editor of FASEB BioAdvances. Currently she is an Editor-in-Chief of American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology and the Past-President of the Histochemical Society. She has organized a number of international conferences including the 8th International Conference on Proteoglycans (2013, Frankfurt), and the Meeting of the European Matrix Biology (2014, 2016, 2018) and the joint meeting of three societies; the American Society for Matrix Biology (ASMB), the American Society for Investigative Pathology (ASIP), and The Histochemical Society (HCS) entitled; Tissue, Matrix, and Pathobiology, that will take place October 22-25, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She has been the Chair of the Gordon Research Conference on Proteoglycans 2022. She was awarded the Hugo-Schottmüller Prize, and the Medal Award for scientific achievements in the field of Matrix Pathobiology and Cell Signaling, University of Patras. Dr. Schaefer has published over 150 papers and has an h-index of 70, 29.500 citations according to Google Scholar.