WHAT IS YOUR ROLE WITHIN VESPER?  

AS CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER OF VESPER, I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFINING AND DRIVING THE OVERALL SCIENTIFIC DIRECTION OF THE COMPANY. I IDENTIFY KEY AREAS OF INNOVATION AND ENSURES THAT THE RESEARCH IS ALIGNED WITH COMMERCIAL GOALS OF THE COMPANY. I ALSO OVERSEE THE R&D PROGRAMS FROM EARLY DISCOVERY THROUGH PRECLINICAL DEVELOPMENT.  

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO VESPER?  

MANY YEARS AGO, I CONTRIBUTED TO THE DISCOVERY OF SORTILIN, THE PRIMARY DRUG TARGET OF VESPER BIO. I LATER IDENTIFIED SEVERAL OF ITS LIGANDS AND BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS—FINDINGS THAT HELPED VALIDATE SORTILIN AS A PROMISING THERAPEUTIC TARGET FOR THE TREATMENT OF NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES. BUILDING ON THESE DISCOVERIES, I CO-FOUNDED VESPER BIO WITH MY COLLEAGUE, MADS KJØLBY, WHO NOW SERVES AS THE COMPANY’S CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER. 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ASPECT OF WORKING AT VESPER?  

COLLABORATING WITH A CREATIVE AND DEDICATED TEAM TO TRANSLATE OUR BASIC SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES INTO NOVEL THERAPIES FOR PATIENTS AFFECTED BY A DEVASTATING DISORDER WITH HIGH UNMET MEDICAL NEED. 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ANIMAL? AND WHY?  

IT’S A DOG. IT GREETS YOU EVERY MORNING WITH JOY AND OFFERS BOUNDLESS LOVE AND UNWAVERING DEVOTION. WALKING A DOG PROVIDES PRECIOUS TIME TO THINK, SPARK IDEAS, REFLECT ON HOW TO SOLVE EXCITING CHALLENGES, AND SIMPLY UNWIND. PLAYING TOGETHER IS ESPECIALLY REWARDING. AND BEFORE BED, YOU MIGHT WHISPER TO YOUR DOG THE HIGHLIGHTS—AND, IF NEEDED, THE STRESSES—OF THE DAY. SOMEHOW, IT ALWAYS UNDERSTANDS. 

WHAT IS A FAVOURITE QUOTE?  

“SUCCESS IS NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU ACHIEVE, BUT WHAT YOU OVERCOME.”