In 2022, the Swedish biotechnology company Cereno Scientific significant progress in its quest to develop innovative treatments for patients affected by common and rare cardiovascular diseases. All clinics were activated and are now actively recruiting patients in the ongoing Phase II study with the lead candidate CS1At the same time, two new candidates were announced within the company's preclinical program: CS014 and CS585.
Cereno strengthens management
In order to raise awareness of the company's progress, Cereno significantly increased its scientific communications activities during the year. During the fourth quarter, Cereno's CMO participated Bjorn Dahlof at the annual training meeting Global Cardiovascular Clinical Trialists (CVCT) Forum in Washington DC, an invitation-only event. Cereno then launched Insights Series during February. This is a video series that provides knowledge about cardiovascular diseases and the company's development program for thrombosis and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Read more here.
In addition to strengthening its communications efforts, Cereno has focused on strengthening its management team in recent months. The additions in 2022 were Fredrik Frick as Head of Clinical Operations in May, followed by Nick Oakes as Head of Preclinical Development. Both took office after long and extensive careers at the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca which brings significant clinical and preclinical operational development expertise to Cereno. Later in December, the Bjorn Dahlofs role as CMO by also including responsibilities as Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Clinical Development.
Increased focus on business development
At the end of January, Cereno announced another addition to its management team. Since March 1, Etienne Adriansen The company's strategic growth and commercial efforts as Chief Business Officer. The position was recently created as a separate role within the company as the development of its pipeline progresses with an increased focus on commercial and strategic partner activities. These will form key components of the company's continued growth strategy.
Cereno Scientific CEO Sten R Sorensen had this to say about the new recruitment:
“I am delighted to welcome Etienne to Cereno. He will complement our management team well as we increase our focus on commercialization and business development. Etienne has extensive experience in strategic portfolio management, commercialization, licensing and business transactions. He will play a significant role in establishing strategic partnerships for Cereno and securing commercial value in our highly promising drug portfolio with CS1 in Phase II, as well as two preclinical programs, CS014 and CS585, both in preparation for clinical development.”
Etienne holds an MSc in Business Administration & Commercial Law and has over 20 years of combined experience in various commercial roles, business development and R&D from companies such as lundbeck, Newcomed and LEO PharmaEtienne comes to Cereno from Cessatech where he held the role of Senior Director Business Development.
CBO comments
BioStock contacted Etienne Adriansen to learn more about his new role as Chief Business Officer at Cereno.
Etienne, could you tell us a bit more about your background?
– My background is financial, but I have had various commercial roles in the industry with business strategy and planning, portfolio management and especially for many years the different parties involved in driving Business Development.
With such extensive experience in the life science field, especially with pharma companies like Nycomed, Lundbeck and LEO Pharma, what made you choose Cereno as the next step in your career?
- I like the cross-field between R&D and Commercial, to be involved in the critical steps to pursue drug development for optimal commercial utility and ultimately the development of patient value to all with unmet medical needs. From having worked within pharma on the buy-side; with screening, evaluation, due diligence and closure of deals between partners for a win-win scenario, I have also come to enjoy putting my skills, experience and network to use in the fast pace and development in biotech.
– Understanding Cereno's pipeline, meeting the exceptionally strong team and global high-level expertise and collaborators involved in driving the vision forward together with Cereno, I was immediately attracted to the company. Realizing the significant potential of Cereno's pipeline of drug candidates and the possibilities to provide disruptive solutions to high unmet needs within cardiovascular disease and diseases such as PAH and thrombosis – and having a mother suffering from CVD myself – made my decision easy.
What key skills did you acquire from these past experiences that will come in handy at Cereno?
– My past experiences pursuing business growth and commercial collaborations will come well to use at Cereno which is on a fast-track development path with three very exciting programs. Every pharma, as well as biotech company, needs a clear growth strategy for the company, portfolio, and each individual asset. To be heading up the pursuit of identification, evaluation, due diligence and not least closing transactions with the right partner for these assets, is very motivating.
What will be your main focus as Cereno's CBO?
- The focus will primarily be two-sided. I will head up our continuous work with strategy and ensure that our pipeline and asset strategies are driven forward with a commercial focus driven by optimal delivery of patient value. Further the pursuit of an effective operational plan for securing the right collaborative partner/s for each of our great assets in development. The identification and approach to partners don't happen by itself, even if you have good assets. We have projects with such high potential and with a fit to many big pharma companies, but we need to identify and close a deal with the right one for each of them. I will lead the team's efforts to make that happen at the right time and with the best outcome for Cereno.