Chairman, 2025 (Board member since 2024)
John Haurum, M.D., D.Phil., has an extensive operational, commercial and financial experience from the biotech industry, both in terms of managing early to mid-stage R&D, corporate development, business development and investor relationships. He was the CEO of F-star in Cambridge, UK (2012-2018), where he built a successful biotech company, that progressed several products into clinical development, and completed four high value BD transactions with partners such as BMS, AbbVie, Merck and Denali. Previously he was VP Research at ImClone Systems, New York (2010-2012) and cofounder and Chief Scientific Officer of Symphogen A/S, Denmark (2000-2009).
After graduating in Medicine in Aarhus Denmark 1992, John Haurum received a D.Phil. in Immunology from the Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, England. Currently, John Haurum serves as chairman of the board of Monivent (SE), Solid Therapeutics ApS (DK) and Synklino A/S (DK). Other current positions: Board member of MC2 Therapeutics A/S (DK) and Neophore Ltd. (UK).
John Haurum is considered independent in relation to Saniona, its management and major shareholders.
John Haurum (partially through John Haurum controlled companies) and his wife hold a total of 1,792,448 shares.
Deputy Chairman, 2025 (Board member since 2014)
Jørgen Drejer is a neurobiologist with more than 30 years of experience in discovering and developing novel approaches to modulate pathways within the brain. His research has led him to found multiple companies and publish more than 75 scientific articles.
Drejer founded Saniona in 2011, served as founding Chief Executive Officer until January 2020 and now serves as chairman of the Saniona board of directors. Prior to founding Saniona, he co-founded NeuroSearch A/S in 1989, holding various leadership roles including deputy CEO and head of research over a 20-year period in which NeuroSearch became a major European biotechnology company. Drejer holds a PhD in neurobiology from the University of Copenhagen.
Drejer has served on the Saniona board since 2012. He also serves on the board of Cephagenix and Qlife and has previously served as a member of the Board of Directors for NeuroSearch A/S, Origio A/S, NsGene A/S, Atonomics A/S, Azign Bioscience A/S, Ellegaard Göttingen Minipigs ApS, Force Technology, Monta Biosciences A/S and 2CureX AB.
Drejer is not independent in relation to Saniona and its management but is independent in relation to major shareholders. He holds 2,689,711 shares.
Board member since 2018
Anna Ljung is CEO of Moberg Pharma AB, a Swedish listed pharmaceutical company operating in the field off dermatology.
In addition to serving as CEO of Moberg Pharma, she also currently board member of ADDvise AB, a publicly-traded Swedish healthcare and research facilities company and chairman of Biosergen AB, a publicly-traded Swedish company in the field of antifungal drugs. Prior to becoming CEO of Moberg, Ljung served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer for 13 years, and prior to that she was CFO at Athera Biotechnologies AB and Controller for Lipopeptide AB. She also previously was an independent consultant within the field of technology licensing. Ljung received her M.Sc. in Economics and Business Administration from Stockholm School of Economics. Additional previous board positions have included OncoZenge AB, MPJ OTC AB and Advantice Health AB. Ljung is independent in relation to both Saniona and its management as well as major shareholders.
Ljung is independent in relation to both Saniona and its management as well as major shareholders.
She holds 12,033 shares .
Board member since 2015 (board member of Saniona A/S since 2016)
Carl Johan Sundberg is a physician and professor of molecular and human physiology with extensive experience in healthcare entrepreneurship, investment and science communication.
He currently serves as a dean of Karolinska Institutet. He also currently serves as a board member for Arne Ljungqvist Anti-doping Foundation AB and Medkay Konsulting AB. Sundberg’s affiliation with Karolinska Institutet spans over 35 years and includes work in molecular and applied exercise physiology in healthy individuals and patients, medical innovation and bioentrepreneurship.
He also cofounded and managed Karolinska Investment Fund, a EUR 60 million biomedicine venture capital fund. His communications experience includes previous working periods with Svenska Dagbladet (a large morning daily) and ABC Television, U.S. He serves in membership and advisory positions with the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, Swedish Professional Associations for Physical Activity, Research!Sweden and the World Anti-Doping Agency. Sundberg earned his medical degree and Ph.D. from Karolinska Institutet. Previous board positions include Cobra Biologics Holding AB, Karolinska Development AB and NsGene A/S.
Sundberg is independent in relation to both Saniona and its management as well as major shareholders. He holds 195,429 shares.