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.

Data Driven

Compounds are synthesized and analyzed in an iterative fashion.

Research Led

Extensive experience in research and development from academia and industry.

Patentable

Atrogi has a competitive intellectual property strategy and a robust patent portfolio.

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
– 32 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
– 19 years of experience in scientific research
– 20+ scientific publications
– Unique knowledge of MOA
– Experienced team builder

ERIK ROLLMAN WAARA

Head of Preclinical and Clinical Development

– PhD in Infectious disease control
– 24 years of experience in life science research
– 15 years of industrial experience in drug development
– Experience from several pharma collaborations
– 30+ scientific publications

Jessica Olsen

Carina Halleskog

Senior Research Scientist

– PhD in Molecular Pharmacology
– Specialized in receptor biology and signaling
– Extensive experience in biochemistry

Anastasia Kalinovich

Anastasia Kalinovich

Senior Research Scientist

– PhD in Biochemistry
– Specialized in mitochondria physiology and whole-body dynamics
– Preclinical development

Carina Halleskog

Anna Sandström

Lab technician

– MSc in Molecular Physiology
– In vitro pharmacologist
– Extensive laboratory experience

GOPALA KRISHNA YAKALA

Senior Research Scientist

– PhD in Medical Biology
– Specialized in cardiovascular metabolic diseases
– Extensive experience in molecular and medical biology

JASPER DE JONG

Senior Research Scientist

– PhD in Physiology
– Over 13 years of experience studying metabolic disease
– Specialized in preclinical obesity research
– Certified data analyst

MUHAMMAD HAMZA BOKHARI

Research Scientist

– MSc in Molecular Physiology
– Specialized in adrenergic signaling in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue
– Extensive experience in Obesity and Diabetes Research

PRAERONA MURAD

Research Assistant

– MSc in Molecular Biology
– In vivo and in vitro pharmacology 
– Preclinical development

CHRISTINE KALLENBERG

Research Assistant

– MSc in Molecular Biology
– In vivo and in vitro pharmacology 
– Preclinical development

ERIKA WETTERDAL

Research Assistant

– MSc in Molecular Biology
– In vivo and in vitro pharmacology 
– Preclinical development

DIANE NATACHA ALLELUIA

Lab technician

– MSc in Biology 
– Specialization in Biotechnology and Molecular biology
– Experience in pharmacology and research Laboratory

PIA ANDERSSON

Lab technician

– Extensive laboratory experience
– Preclinical development

Meet Our Board of Directors

Tore Bengtsson

Founding Board member

Education
– 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

Anders Ekblom

Chairman of the Board since 2022

Education
– Board-certified MD (Anesthesiology and Intensive Care) and DDS, Karolinska Institutet
– Associate Professor and PhD in Physiology, Karolinska Institutet
Experience
– Executive VP Global Medicines Development, Global Head Clinical Development, Global Therapy Area Head, and CEO, AstraZeneca AB Sweden.
– Director and Chairman of the board, Karolinska university Hospital
Other assignments
– Chairman/Non-Executive Board member of AnaMar AB, Alligator Bioscience AB, Elypta AB, Flerie Invest AB, Mereo BioPharma Group Plc, and Xspray Pharma AB

Maarten De Château

Board member since 2017

Education
– 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 Sixera Pharma
– Board member of Amarna Therapeutics BV, Cavis Technologies AB and Xintela AB

Giovanni Fili

Founding Board member

Education
– 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 Sting (Stockholm Innovation & Growth) advisory board.
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 member

Experience
– More than 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur and investor from various industries
– Founder/co-founder of several companies in 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 2017

Education
– 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, Buzzard Pharmaceuticals AB, Pharmacolog AB, KAHR Medical Ltd, EpiEndo Pharmaceuticals ehf

Roger Berlin

Board member since 2017

Education
– 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
– Scientific and Regulatory Advisory Board – 3D Communications

Sangwoo Lee

Sangwoo Lee

Board member since 2019

Education
– 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, Geneos Therepeutics, and PDC*line Pharma

DISCOVER THE FUTURE

We are a multi-disciplinary team committed to focused and efficient drug development.