Larry Edwards is an executive officer with a successful track record of M&A, financing, building, growing, and leading companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. Larry is currently CEO of AiCuris, a role he has held since 2023, and brings more than 20 years of hands-on experience in financing, commercial operations, corporate development, investor relations, marketing, sales, team building, and business development. Before joining AiCuris, Larry served as CEO of La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company (NASDAQ: LJPC), where his strategic leadership drove the company to profitability and ultimately led to its acquisition by Innoviva for a significant premium. Previously, he was CEO of Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: TTPH), where he led the U.S. and global launch of XERAVA® and guided the company’s acquisition by La Jolla. Earlier in his career, Larry led global commercialization strategies for the launch of ZERBAXA® at Cubist Pharmaceuticals, prior to its acquisition by Merck. He further held multiple U.S. and global commercial leadership roles at Merck. In addition to Orikine Bio, Mr. Edwards currently serves on the Board of Directors of Clarametyx Biosciences and Utility Therapeutics.

Larry Edwards

Sabrina Kuttruff-Coqui brings extensive experience in biotechnology spanning R&D, business strategy, corporate development and capital markets. She joins Orikine following her role as Chief Financial Officer of AiCuris, where she supported the company through its $920 million acquisition by Asahi Kasei. Previously, Sabrina held several leadership positions at Immatics, including Vice President of Business Planning and Portfolio Strategy, where she developed the company’s strategic plan and managed communications with the Board of Directors, investors and analysts. She also led Business Planning, Capital Markets and Risk Management, playing a pivotal role in the company’s SPAC merger with Arya and subsequent NASDAQ listing. Earlier in her career, Sabrina served as development lead for Immatics’ flagship asset and contributed to the establishment of its U.S. subsidiary. She holds a PhD in Immunology from the University of Tübingen and brings a strong combination of scientific expertise, strategic leadership and capital markets experience to Orikine. She is passionate about translating innovative science into transformative therapies and building biotechnology companies with the potential to improve patients’ lives.

Sabrina Kuttruff-Coqui 

Ariadna brings 8+ years of experience in synthetic biology biologics design (cytokines and antibodies) and innovation fostering. She holds a PhD in Biomedicine from Universitat Pompeu Fabra and the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), has authored six peer-reviewed publications, and co-invented two patents. Her recognitions include the CERCA Pioneer Award for her doctoral thesis and the Academy for Women’s Entrepreneurs fellowship (U.S. Consulate) in 2021, as well as being selected for the CERCA Lindau Nobel Selection (2020) and a TEDx official speaker (2024). She also holds an Executive MBA from ESADE (2022-2024), majoring in innovative technologies and completed executive course work at UW Foster School of Business, Thunderbird School of Business and Berlin. At Orikine, Ariadna strengthens innovation processes and investor communications while building compliant data infrastructures that support corporate development, partnerships, and financing.

Ariadna Montero, PhD MBA

Joachim brings more than 25 years of experience in life sciences, spanning immunology, cellular therapy, and antibody-based therapies across academia and biotech. He combines scientific excellence with strategic leadership, offering a unique perspective across research, development, and business. Joachim is an Adjunct Professor of Biochemistry at Goethe-University Frankfurt and has authored more than 90 peer-reviewed publications. Prior to joining Orikine, he served as Vice President and Head of Discovery Research & Translational Immunology at Affimed, where he defined scientific strategy, led preclinical and translational programs supporting multiple INDs, and was instrumental in establishing strategic partnerships with Genentech and Roivant. Most recently, Joachim advised biopharma companies on R&D strategy and IND-enabling development, including serving in fractional CDO and Scientific Advisory Board roles.

Prof. Joachim Koch

Alejo has shaped the direction of the company by conceptualizing its pipeline, leading the development process, and securing a €5.5 million seed round from international investors. With over six years of experience in business development, corporate management, and strategic investments, Alejo focuses on transforming scientific innovations into successful business ventures within the life sciences sector. Currently, Alejo is also an Operating Partner at AdBio Partners, where he supports early-stage investments and company-building activities. Prior to this role, he was part of the BD&L team at BIAL Pharmaceuticals, where he played a key role in the $130 million acquisition of Lysosomal Therapeutics and the establishment of Bial Biotech Investments in Cambridge. Alejo holds a PhD in Immunology and spent over a decade in translational immunology research before transitioning to the business side. He has co-authored more than 35 publications in top-tier journals (citations 4857; h-index 30), filed several patents, and received several prestigious fellowships. His post-doctoral research was conducted at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, and his tenure at Rockefeller University included a role in the technology transfer office.

Alejo Chorny

Partner at Asabys, Sylvain joined Asabys at its inception in 2018. At Asabys, Sylvain invests in the biopharma and medtech industries. He currently serves on the board of directors of Anaconda Biomed, Orikine Bio and Gradient Denervation Technologies and is an observer on the boards of SpliceBio and Medlumics. Prior to Asabys, Sylvain was an associate at Ysios Capital, a VC firm based in Barcelona and investing in biopharmaceuticals. With an academic background in molecular biology and gene therapy, Sylvain previously worked in research laboratories in France and the US, where his work focused on RNA editing and lysosomal storage disorders.

Sylvain Sachot

Jesús is a protein scientist with a PhD from the University of Murcia, where he studied PKC kinase regulation and druggable targets in cancer. He worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford’s Centre for Medicines Discovery, focusing on CDKs as therapeutic targets for myotonic dystrophy type 1. His expertise spans protein engineering, protein science, and structural biology, including cryo-EM and X-ray crystallography, applying structural insight to advance drug discovery

Jesús Baltanás, PhD

Rosa has over a decade of experience in life sciences, with expertise spanning protein engineering, early-stage drug discovery, and end-to-end protein development for diagnostic and pre-clinical applications. She joined Orikine in September 2024, where she is building and expanding the company’s protein capabilities in support of its R&D programs. Prior to Orikine, Rosa held protein science roles at SpyBiotech, Exact Sciences Innovation (formerly Base Genomics), and Immunocore, contributing to vaccine development, next-generation sequencing technologies, and T-cell receptor–based therapeutics across oncology, infectious disease, and autoimmune indications. Rosa holds an MSc in Molecular Biology and Genetics from the University of Pavia and a BSc in Biology from the University of Naples Federico II.

Rosa D’Agostino, MSc 

Clément is Partner at Adbio partners. He brought AdBio his expertise in financial negotiations, his knowledge of the public sector, and his operational skills in addition to his academic background in molecular biology. Previously, he was Operating Partner for AdBio, he was involved in the initial development of Thabor Therapeutics (IBD) before co-founding and being CEO of Calida Therapeutics in the field of thrombo-inflammation, based on a US technology re-located to France. Before joining AdBio Partners, Clément was deputy governmental delegate for business restructuring, leading a team of 50 people and directly reporting to the Ministers in charge of Economy and Finance, Industry, and Labor. His actions contributed to maintaining the jobs of more than 20k people in highly sensitive flagship cases; He also held several positions at the French Treasury, BNP Paribas, CIB New York and GDF Suez. Clément had a background in biology with several internships in epigenetics at the Institut Curie and Cancer Research UK. He is engineer in chief of the French Corps des Mines.

Clément Bertholet

Pilar Casado joined Orikine Bio as Chief Financial Officer in 2024, bringing over 20 years of extensive expertise in financial leadership across a range of industries, with a particular focus on biotechnology and health-tech. She has an impressive track record in guiding venture-backed companies from early-stage funding through to Series A and B, driving international expansion. With a strong background in fundraising, M&A, and strategic financial management, Pilar has been a trusted advisor to CEOs, founders, and investors. Her experience spans both public and private sectors, where she has played key roles in securing capital, developing growth strategies, and leading financial operations for companies in biotech, diagnostics, and SaaS industries. Pilar’s deep understanding of the biotech landscape, combined with her strategic vision, makes her a critical asset to Orikine as the company continues its mission to develop breakthrough cytokine therapies for immune-mediated diseases.

Pilar Casado

Dr. Andreas Muehler, M.D., M.B.A., is a seasoned life sciences executive with more than 30 years of leadership experience across the U.S. and European biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Throughout his career, he has led clinical development, regulatory strategy, medical affairs, product launches, business development and licensing initiatives, while also contributing to venture capital financings and corporate growth. His track record spans the successful advancement of innovative therapeutic programs, strategic company building, and executive leadership roles in both privately held and publicly traded organizations.  Most recently, Dr. Muehler co-founded Immunic AG in 2016 and served as Chief Medical Officer, helping transform the company into NASDAQ-listed Immunic, Inc. Under his scientific and clinical leadership, multiple small molecule programs advanced from preclinical development into human clinical studies, generating proof-of-concept data in autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases and establishing a strong foundation for late-stage development.   Prior to Immunic, Dr. Muehler held numerous executive leadership and board positions within the life sciences sector, including Chief Executive Officer, President, and Corporate Development roles at several U.S.-based biotechnology and medical technology companies. He earned his M.D. from Humboldt University in Berlin and his M.B.A. from Duke University, and is a co-inventor on more than 25 patents and author or co-author of over 80 peer-reviewed scientific publications.

Andreas Muehler 

Angela holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and brings over six years of experience in regulated CRO/CDMO environments. She leads complex development programs for novel biological entities—including pDNA, mRNA and bispecifics—driving them from early research stages through IND-enabling studies with strong operational discipline. Angela combines scientific depth with efficient program execution, aligning cross functional teams and resources in dynamic environments. Her expertise in protein characterisation and MS based approaches is complemented by a strategic, solution oriented leadership style focused on operational excellence and scalable processes. She plays a key role in advancing Orikine Bio’s therapeutics through critical development.

Ángela Fernandez, PhD

Leah began her career in London, where she spent over a decade supporting senior executives and leadership teams within investment management, hospitality, and international consumer brands. She held senior Executive Assistant and Office Management roles, providing high-level business and private support. In 2019, Leah relocated to Spain, continuing her career in executive support roles within globally operating organizations. She later served as Executive Assistant to the CEO and C-suite at Pronovias, a multinational bridalwear group, before starting with Orikine in October 2025. She holds a BA (Hons) from Coventry University and a CELTA qualification.

Leah Petts

Marta holds a PhD in Biomedicine and completed a six-year postdoctoral research position in the Immunology Group at Universitat Pompeu Fabra. She has over a decade of research experience in immunology, with expertise in innate immune responses and a focus on myeloid cells. Marta has co-authored a patent and over 15 publications, which have been cited more than 1,000 times (h-index 15), primarily in immunology and metabolism journals. She joined Orikine in 2023, where she is responsible for the design, development, and execution of in vitro functional immunology assays to support multiple therapeutic programs. Her work involves characterizing immune cell responses, with particular emphasis on myeloid cell polarization and T-cell activation, providing functional insights that guide the development and optimization of therapeutic assets for immune-mediated diseases.

Marta Riera, PhD

Professor Edgardo Ferran is a renowned researcher with a deep background in bioinformatics, computational biology, and systems pharmacology. His career spans over multiple decades, during which he has held influential positions both in academia and the pharmaceutical industry. He earned his Doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Buenos Aires in 1989 and has been heavily involved in the fields of systems biology and drug discovery. Professor Ferran has worked as a visiting scientist and collaborator at the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) and has served as a key scientific contributor at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona. Throughout his career, he has contributed significantly to bioinformatics, applying machine learning and computational models to drug discovery, particularly in understanding complex biological systems. His expertise in quantitative systems pharmacology has made him a sought-after speaker and workshop organizer at international conferences. Edgardo Ferran has been instrumental in shaping the intersection of academic research and the pharmaceutical industry, bridging the gap between computational science and practical drug development, and contributing to cutting-edge biopharmaceutical strategies.

Edgardo Ferran

Carlos joined the Orikine team as Office Manager in April 2024. Prior to this, he worked at In Vitro as a Research and Development (R&D) Research Associate and held several research positions at institutions such as the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and (FIBAO), among others. At Orikine, Carlos manages laboratory purchasing orders, ensures timely invoice payments, provides operations management support, and works on process and efficiency optimization. He also handles administrative duties and supports smooth workflow across the organization.

Carlos Rodrigues, PhD 

Sonia holds a PhD in Biomedical Research and has over 13 years of experience in immunology, with a particular focus on T and B lymphocytes. She has co-authored 12 publications, which have received 389 citations, and has an H-index of 7. At Orikine, Sonia oversees the immunological and functional assays across multiple programs. She characterizes cytokine potency in a variety of cell lines and primary human immune cells, develops experimental designs, and evaluates the functional effects of cytokines on lymphoid and myeloid cell differentiation and activity.

Sonia Tejedor, PhD

Luis is a world leader in Systems and Synthetic Biology, and director of the CRG since 2011. Previously, he was group leader and head of the structural and computational program at the EMBL. He is the scientific co-founder of seven companies (En Vivo Pharmaceuticals, Triskel, Diverdrugs, Cellzome acquired in 2012 by GSK for US $99M, Pulmobiotics). He has published more than 400 articles in addition to being the inventor of more than 20 patents. He has also coordinated 4 large EU projects, and has been the recipient of 3 advanced ERC grants and 3 ERC PoC.

Prof. Luis Serrano

Marta holds a bachelor’s in biotechnology and a master’s degree in health economics and Pharmacoeconomics from Universitat Pompeu Fabra Business School . Additionally, she completed a master’s program in Business Administration and Bioentrepreneurship at Copenhagen Business School and the University of Copenhagen. With over 8 years of experience in technology transfer, she has been involved in licensing agreements for spin-offs from Universitat Autonoma Barcelona and innovative R&D projects in life sciences, as well as at Sant Pau Hospital Research Institute. She also worked as an analyst at In Vivo Partners Venture Capital Fund investing in early-stage biotechnology companies. At Orikine, coordinates and lead partnering activities to establish collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, conduct market research and competitive intelligence activities, indication selection for different programs.  Marta also coordinate contract negotiations with scientific collaborators, CRO, CDMO and licensing partners. In addition, she will spearhead and coordinate all patent filing and prosecution activities in collaboration with our IP attorneys

Marta Tort, MsC

Nicole obtained her master’s degree in Genomic Approaches to Drug Discovery at the University of Sheffield. She has more than 5 years of hands-on experience in the biotech industry. She has specialised in CRISPR screens in primary human T cells and monocytes using FACS-based and scRNA-Seq readouts. At Orikine, she is part of the Immunology Team since 2024. Nicole performs functional experiments primarily using primary human immune cells for different Orikine programs.

 Nicole Untermoser, MSc 

Javier serves as a consultant for Orikine. He was awarded a PhD in Organic Chemistry by the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid in 2005. Prior to his doctoral studies, he gained experience as a Software Analyst, working in the Software Development Cycle (SDC) at Banco de Santander and Telefonica I+D. Following his PhD, he pursued a postdoctoral fellowship at VIB from 2008 to 2010, where he expanded his expertise in the field of Structural Biology through the development of custom-made computational tools. Currently, he holds the position of Senior Bioinformatician at Luis Serrano's Lab at CRG in Barcelona, where he specializes in in-silico engineering of interleukins with improved stability, specificity, and affinity. His work relies on the expert utilization of advanced computational tools such as FoldX and ModelX. Additionally, Javier Delgado is one of the individuals responsible for the development of FoldX/ModelX, groundbreaking technologies that enable protein design using the FoldX force field.

Management

Team

Board of Directors

Founders