NorthSea Therapeutics B.V. (NST), a private late-stage biotechnology company focused on metabolic, cholestatic, and fibrotic diseases, has announced two strategic appointments to its leadership team, positioning the company for its next phase of growth and clinical development.
Strategic Leadership Expansion
Melissa Bradford-Klug, M.B.A., joins NST as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer, bringing more than two decades of experience in strategic finance and business development. Her track record includes orchestrating $6 billion in equity, debt financings, and strategic partnerships across rare disease-focused companies. Most recently, as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Business Officer at Akari Therapeutics, she successfully led the company's merger with Peak Biosciences.
Sophie Jeannin, M.D., assumes the role of Chief Medical Officer, contributing significant expertise in research, clinical development, and regulatory strategy for orphan and metabolic diseases. At her previous position as CMO of Summit Clinical Research, Dr. Jeannin demonstrated prowess in leading global studies and medical strategy. Her tenure at GENFIT included successful regulatory engagements with the FDA and EMA for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and primary biliary cholangitis programs.
Advancing Clinical Programs
The appointments come at a crucial time as NST progresses its innovative pipeline of structurally engineered fatty acids (SEFAs). The company anticipates several key milestones:
- SEFA-1024 Phase 2a clinical trial in severe hypertriglyceridemia (SHTG) expects topline data in Q3 2025
- Orziloben Phase 2a trial in intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD) projects interim data by H1 2026
Rob de Ree, Chief Executive Officer of NorthSea Therapeutics, emphasized the strategic importance of these appointments: "Melissa and Sophie bring an exceptional combination of strategic leadership capabilities and deep expertise in biotechnology innovation, making them both invaluable additions to NorthSea's team at this pivotal stage."
Strategic Vision and Development Focus
Bradford-Klug's appointment strengthens NST's financial and business development capabilities as the company advances its pipeline. Her experience spans both large healthcare organizations and biotechnology startups, including roles at Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, AMAG Pharmaceuticals, and Eli Lilly.
Dr. Jeannin's extensive background in hepatology and metabolic disease research, coupled with her regulatory expertise, positions NST to effectively navigate the clinical development landscape. Her experience includes leadership roles at major pharmaceutical companies such as Bayer and GSK, along with significant contributions to industry collaborations through the Liver Forum.
The company, backed by an $80M Series C financing co-led by Ysios Capital and Forbion Growth, continues to leverage its proprietary SEFA platform to develop potential first-in-class treatments for diseases with significant unmet medical needs.
