A COMPANY FOUNDED ON SCIENCE
Atrogi was founded in 2013 by professor Tore Bengtsson with support from private investors. Professor Bengtsson had been conducting ground-breaking research on adrenergic signaling at Stockholm University for over 15 years and discovered how to selectively stimulate blood glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. This finding was used to develop a revolutionary new solution for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) with minimal side effects.
Unprecedented scientific expertise from academia and broad drug development competence from the pharmaceutical industry is the perfect set-up for reaching the goal of developing a treatment of type 2 diabetes.
FOCUS ON MARKETABLE RESULTS
Atrogi has on its team leading experts who know what it takes to bring a compound through clinical studies and into the market. Our focus is to create value by developing a drug that will transform the way we treat type 2 diabetes today.
The process of bringing a compound from research and development, through to clinic stages and into the market is always a challenge. With a combination of solid experience from clinical and business development, Atrogi is well-positioned to succeed in bringing this unique treatment for type 2 diabetes to the global market.
Meet Our Team

Alexandra Ekman Ryding
CEO– PhD in Medical Epidemiology
– Experience in venture capital and corporate broking
– Experience in health economics and outcomes research
– Member of the board of directors of several organizations and companies

Tore Bengtsson
Founder & CSO– Professor of Physiology at Stockholm University
– 25 years of experience in pharmacology and physiology
– 60+ scientific publications
– 20+ patent applications
– Entrepreneur and founder of several companies

Benjamin Pelcman
Head of Chemistry and IP– PhD in Organic Chemistry
– 30 years of industrial experience in drug development
– Experience from several pharma collaborations
– 10 years of experience in scientific research
– 60+ patent applications
– 20+ scientific publications

Nodi Dehvari
Head of Biology– PhD in Neuroscience
– 13 years of experience in scientific research
– 16 scientific publications
– Unique knowledge of MOA
– Experienced team builder

ERIK ROLLMAN WAARA
Head of Preclinical and Clinical Development– PhD in Infectious disease control
– 20 years of experience in life science research
– 13 years of industrial experience in drug development
– Experience from several pharma collaborations
– 30+ scientific publications

Carina Halleskog
Senior Research Scientist– PhD in molecular pharmacology
– Specialized in receptor biology and signaling
– Extensive experience in biochemistry

Anastasia Kalinovich
Senior Research Scientist– PhD in biochemistry
– Specialized in mitochondria physiology and whole-body dynamics
– Preclinical development

Emanuela Talamonti
Senior Research Scientist– PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology
– Extensive experience of biotechnology and immunology
– Preclinical development

Anna Sandström
Lab technician– M.Sc in molecular physiology
– In vitro pharmacologist
– Extensive laboratory experience
Meet Our Board of Directors

Tore Bengtsson
Founding Board member – 2013Education
– Professor in Physiology at Stockholm University
Experience
– 25 years of experience in pharmacology and physiology
– 50+ scientific publications
– 10+ patent applications
Other assignments:
– Co-founder of Symcel AB, Glucox AB, Sigrid Therapeutics AB

Maarten De Château
Chairman of the Board since 2017Education
– MD and PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology, Lund University
Experience
– Medical Director, Swedish Orphan Biovitrum
– Medical Advisor, Sanofi
– Financial analyst, Aragon Securities, Swedbank Markets
– CEO and Founder of Cormorant Pharmaceuticals
Other assignments:
– CEO of Sixthera AB
– Board member of Oxthera AB, Cavis Technologies AB, AddBio AB, SVP Medical Strategy and Innovation, Camurus AB

Åsa Inde
Board member since 2015Education
– BSc in Physical Therapy
– Degree from Business Education Institute (FEI)
Experience
– 25 years of business development
– Founder of Frösundagruppen and Team Olivia
Other assignments
– Board member of Creperie & Logi AB, Gotlandsbyggen AB, Hemsehem AB, Abisko AS, Markethill Inc and Comai AB

Giovanni Fili
Founding Board memberEducation
– M.Sc. in Business and Administration with a double major in Finance and Information Management, Stockholm School of Economics
Experience
– Founder and CEO of Exeger
– Senior adviser to Royal Institute of Technology, Applied Finance Institute
– Member of the entrepreneurial forum advising Minister Mikael Damberg on the entrepreneurial situation in Sweden
Other assignments:
– Entrepreneur and investor with investments from real estate development, nanotechnology, IT, and life science to pharmaceutical companies
– Member of several boards of directors

Robert Taflin
Founding Board memberExperience
– More than 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur and investor from various industries.
– Founded/co-founded several companies, from Real estate development, brokerage, med-tech and life science.
– CEO and member and chairman of the board of several companies.

Carl-Johan Spak
Board member since 2017Education
– PhD in Dentistry Karolinska Institutet
Experience
– Senior Advisor, Flerie Invest AB
– Executive Vice President, Global Technologies, Recipharm AB
– Director Nordic Region, Country Manager Sweden, Meda AB
Other assignments
– Board member of Symcel Sweden AB, Xspray Pharma AB, Prokarium Ltd, Buzzard Pharmaceuticals AB, Pharmacolog i Uppsala AB, KAHR Medical Ltd, EpiEndo Pharmaceuticals ehf, Provell Pharmaceuticals LLC,

Roger Berlin
Board member since 2017Education
– M.D., Weil Cornell Medical College
– Advanced Management Program, Harvard Business School
Experience
– Founder & Principal – 1.618 Consulting LLC
– Chief Medical Advisor – Banner Health Science
– Board of Directors – rTerra
– CEO – Arno Therapeutic
– President Global R&D – Wyeth Consumer Healthcare
– Executive Director of International Regulatory, Merck
– Executive Director Clinical Research – Merck Research Laboratories
– Gastroenterologist in Clinical Practice
– Resident & Research Fellow in Gastroenterology – Stanford U Hospital
Other assignments
– Board member – Sigrid Therapeutics AB,
– Scientific and Regulatory Advisory Board – 3D Communications

Sangwoo Lee
Board member since 2019Education
– B.S and M.S. in Control and Instrumentation Engineering from Seoul National University
Experience
– Managing Director of Investments at Korea Investment Partners (KIP)
– Head of Korea Investment Partners’ US office based in Silicon Valley
– 18 years of industrial experiences in diverse area and companies in IT including Samsung Electronics, Dasan networks, as well as successful venture startups including Neomtel and Polidigm
Other assignments
– Board member of Prokarium Ltd, Enlivex, KAHR medical and more