Bernard Sagaert Chief Executive Officer
Bernard comes with extensive operational and strategic experience in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry. He has expertise in manufacturing & distribution, and has an extensive operational background, both in companies and as consultant. He is a pharmacist from the University of Leuven, Belgium and has obtained the qualification of Qualified Person. He was a former QA & Supply Chain Director at Mylan in Belgium, and VP QA EMEAA at Sterigenics, a Sotera company.
Etherna
Ronald Openshaw Chief Financial Officer
Ronald’s career spans over a dozen years as an investment banker with blue chip firms such as Panmure Gordon, one of the UK’s oldest City names, and Jefferies & Co. the US based investment bank. He also gained great direct industrial expertise in leading Pharmagene plc, as its CFO and then CEO, to create Asterand plc, a UK London Stock Exchange listed company focused on the core research and tools in translational medicine. Ronald started his career as a scientist and then qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG in London.
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Phil Challis SVP Manufacturing
Phil has 30 years of experience in the Pharmaceutical and Biotech industry having worked for small SME’s, larger pharmaceutical companies & CDMO’s. He has broad experience in manufacture of biologicals and NCE’s with experience in transfer of processes from R&D, process development through clinical phases and process validation & commercial manufacture.
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Stefaan De Koker VP Technology & Innovation
Stefaan is Principal Scientist with over 15 years of research experience in immunology, immuno-oncology, vaccine design & nucleic acid delivery. He has a publication track record of over 50 publications and is the key author of a number of patents.
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Philip Van der Auwera VP HUMAN RESOURCES
Philip is an accomplished Human Resources Leader with over 20 years of experience over various industries in developing and re-engineering comprehensive HR functions & a proven ability to coach and guide all levels of strategic partnerships. He is driven by the desire to cultivate positive and efficient work environment by one supporting the ultimate corporate vision of people helping people.
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Florence Lambolez Director Pharmacology
Florence is an expert in mucosal T cell development and function with over 20 years of immunology and immune-oncology experience including 7 years of life science industry expertise. Before joining etherna, Florence was a team leader in in vitro Pharmacology at iteos therapeutics and Instructor/Principal Investigator at La Jolla Institute for Immunology, San Diego USA. A holder of few patents and widely published, she completed her postdoctoral training at La Jolla Institute in the Department of Mucosal Immunology. Florence earned her PhD in Immunology from Descartes Paris V University, France.
Etherna

Our mission is to drive discovery and solve challenges for our partners, enabling them to deliver cost-effective, differentiated, and efficacious RNA therapeutics.

At etherna, we have the skills and technologies to provide our partners with top-notch support in their development & manufacturing needs to acquire nucleic acid-based therapeutics and vaccines. We have an expansive portfolio of intellectual property and know-how, particularly on customizable Lipid Nano Particles (cLNPs), supported by RNA chemistry and process technologies. With a careful balance in our skillset, state-of-the-art facilities, and specialized equipment, we tackle complex challenges efficiently.

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