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
– 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
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
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 memberEducation
– 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 2022Education
– 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 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 Sixera Pharma
– Board member of Amarna Therapeutics BV, Cavis Technologies AB and Xintela 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 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 memberExperience
– 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 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, Buzzard Pharmaceuticals AB, Pharmacolog AB, KAHR Medical Ltd, EpiEndo Pharmaceuticals ehf
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
– 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, Geneos Therepeutics, and PDC*line Pharma