About HepaRegeniX
HepaRegeniX is advancing therapies to treat acute and chronic liver diseases based on the groundbreaking discoveries of a novel cellular target and small molecules that enable the liver to regenerate rapidly. We do so by harnessing the liver’s inherent regenerative power not only in healthy but also in diseased livers. The company’s lead candidate, HRX-215, an orally available small molecule currently in a Phase Ib/IIa trial, selectively inhibits Mitogen-Activated Protein (MAP) Kinase Kinase 4 (MKK4), a master regulator of liver regeneration. Building on demonstrated safety in clinical trials, HepaRegeniX is progressing HRX-215 to prevent post-hepatectomy liver failure, facilitate transplantation of smaller living donor liver grafts, and treat severe alcohol-associated hepatitis. Beyond liver diseases, the company is also developing HRX-233 to target kinase inhibitor treatment resistance in KRAS-driven tumors.
HepaRegeniX is backed by experienced life science investors, including Vesalius Biocapital IV, Novo Holdings A/S, Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund (BIVF), Coparion, High-Tech Gründerfonds, Ascenion GmbH and Wellington Partners.
Our People
Elias Papatheodorou
Chief Executive Officer
Elias Papatheodorou is a seasoned biotechnology executive with 30 years of work experience. He was the CEO of Swiss/French clinical stage fibrosis company Genkyotex ($GKTX.PA, acquired by Calliditas $CALT). Prior to Genkyotex, he was CBO of Swiss bispecific antibody biotechnology company Covagen (acquired by Janssen), SVP of Munich based Medigene (MDG1) and CEO of German biotechnology company Novosom AG (acquired by Marina Biotech). He has served as Chair of Board of Memo Therapeutics (Zurich) and HepaRegeniX (Tübingen). Currently he sits on the Board of Scandinavian Tribune Therapeutics. Mr. Papatheodorou started his career from Philip Morris International and The Coca-Cola Company. He studied in the United States at Ithaca College and Cornell University.
Dr. Wolfgang Albrecht
Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Wolfgang Albrecht served as the Founding CEO/Managing Director of HepaRegeniX beginning in early 2017 before being appointed COO in October 2019. Prior to joining HepaRegeniX, he worked in a mid-sized pharmaceutical company for over two decades with several years of experience in DMPK and as Department Head for drug discovery, early drug development, and chemical research. Wolfgang is a biotechnologist by training with an engineering doctorate degree from the Technical University of Berlin.
Dr. Linda Greenbaum
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Linda Greenbaum joined HepaRegeniX in early 2024 as Chief Medical Officer and is leading the development of the company’s clinical programs. She is a hepatologist with 10 years of experience in both early and late-stage clinical development. She recently served as executive director in the Biomedical Research division of Novartis, where she supported early-stage liver disease development and strategy. Linda received her medical degree from the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and Gastroenterology and Hepatology fellowship training at the University of Pennsylvania. She served on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania and Thomas Jefferson University College of Medicine where she combined clinical care with research programs in liver regeneration and liver stem cell biology.
Christoph Enderle
Chief Financial Officer
Christoph Enderle is a Fractional CFO with over 15 years expertise in financial strategy and operations in family-owned and private equity-backed businesses across various industries. He was CFO of the Swiss/German circular economy company CEBS AG. Prior, he was CFO for the UK premium powertool manufacturing company, Festool, spearheaded strategic projects in corporate development, restructuring, and international expansion for TTS Holding in Germany and worked for the audit and advisory company RSM in multinational projects. He holds a Diploma in Economics from the University of Hohenheim.
Hedda Wold
Lead Clinical Operations
Hedda Wold has extensive experience in planning, managing, and executing clinical trials across Phases 1–3 in biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Her expertise spans multiple therapeutic areas. Before joining Heparegenix in early 2025, she served as Clinical Operations Team Lead and Senior Clinical Trial Manager at Nykode Therapeutics. As Clinical Operations Lead at HepaRegeniX, she supports the CMO and team in managing and executing the company’s clinical program. Hedda holds a Master’s degree in Biology and Cell Physiology and has completed multiple professional trainings in GCP and clinical trial management.
Dr. Roland Selig
Lead Medicinal and Process Chemistry
Dr. Roland Selig is a chemist by training with 15 years of experience in early drug development, chemical research and process development. He has been working in a mid-sized pharmaceutical company for close to 6 years and joined HepaRegeniX over 7 years ago as project manager in medicinal chemistry, process development and drug substance manufacturing. Roland studied chemistry at the University of Tübingen, where he earned his PhD in the field of medicinal chemistry.
Stefan Zwirner
Lead In vitro Pharmacology
Stefan Zwirner is a biotechnologist by training and worked for more than 10 years in drug discovery and development with a strong focus on cancer research and liver diseases. Stefan was a PhD in Prof. Lars Zender´s laboratory at the University of Tübingen and joined HepaRegeniX in mid-2021 as a scientist. He published HepaRegeniX´s ground-breaking work in the high-profile journal Cell as a first author in 2024. Stefan supports the preclinical as well as clinical drug development at HepaRegeniX to expand its therapeutic pipeline.
Dr. Aldo Trylesinksi
Executive Medical Director
Aldo has been working in small & big pharmaceutical companies for more than 25 years, leading the strategy and implementation of pre-launch medical activities, including clinical development and other medical activities for new therapies for patients with liver disease. During the last 10 years he work at Intercept/Advance, he previously worked in Novartis headquarters, Gilead and Roche. Aldo completed his training in Internal Medicine and hepato-gastroenterology in France. He worked as consultant in the Immunology Clinical Department at the Academic European Georges Pompidou Hospital until 2009, he holds a French board qualification in internal medicine, and several post-docs. He has contributed to more than 80 clinical trials. He has authored more than 95 publications. He joined EASL in 1987. He is interested in reimagining medicine, transforming science and improving health outcomes for patients.
Our Board
Dr. Martin Bonde
Chair of the Board
Martin Bonde is CEO of Danish oncology company Akylox Therapeutics Aps. With 30+ years of experience from the biotech industry, Martin has held several leadership positions as CEO, for example, Inthera BioScience AG, Vaccibody AS (now Nykode Therapeutics AS, Euronext Growth Oslo:VACC), Epitherapeutics Aps (sold to Gilead Sciences, Inc.), NatImmune A/S (sold to Azanta A/S), Combio A/S (sold to Arpida AG), Torsana Biosensor (sold to Celtor Bioscience, Inc.), and Osteometer Biotech (now Nordic Bioscience A/S). Martin currently serves as Chairman of the Board in private Swedish oncology company Asgard Therapeutics AB. Moreover, he serves on the board of Directors in privately held Danish digital pathology software company Visiopharm A/S, in Swiss oncology company Inthera Bioscience AG and in BioInnovation Institute (BII), an international life science incubator funded by the Novo-Nordisk Foundation. Martin holds a Master of Science and Ph.D in Chemical Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark as well as a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (HD i Udenrigshandel) from Copenhagen Business School.
Dr. Fabienne Roussel
Board Member / Vesalius Biocapital
Fabienne holds a PhD in Pharmaco-toxicology from Université Paris VII-Denis Diderot and is a Registered Technology Transfer Professional. She started her career as a researcher with experience at Pfizer Central Research, University of Arizona, and University of Texas Medical Branch before training in Patent Law as a patent agent in Houston and Rockville. She then joined several Technology Transfer offices in Belgium and Luxembourg, specializing in identifying and shaping the development of promising research results towards their industrial application. Fabienne joined Vesalius Biocapital III as an analyst and then Vesalius Biocapital IV as a partner, bringing her expertise in the value chain of drug development.
Dr. Manuel Baader
Board Member / Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund
Manuel is an Investment Manager with over 20 years of professional experience in Pharma R&D and BD&L. Manuel holds a PhD in Biomedical Science from the Biozentrum of the University of Basel in Switzerland. He joined Boehringer Ingelheim in 2011 as Lab Head in Cardio-Metabolic Diseases Research. He played a key role in setting up the MASH research group and made major contributions to the preclinical portfolio. Following his transition to BD&L in 2018, Manuel took on the role of Global Head of BD&L for Cardio-Renal-Metabolism & Retinal Health and member of the Therapeutic Area Leadership in 2019. He played a pivotal role in expanding the company's pipeline through the in-licensing of numerous preclinical programs. On February 1, 2025, Manuel transitioned to the BIVF.
Dr. Emmanuelle Coutanceau
Board Member / Novo Holdings A/S
Emmanuelle is Partner in the Seed Investment team at Novo Holdings, with over 16 years’ experience as a life science venture investor. Prior to Novo Holdings, Emmanuelle was Partner at Auriga Partners and oversaw the Seed Stage Investment Programme at Omnes Capital (formerly Crédit Agricole Private Equity). Emmanuelle has a PhD in Microbiology from the Universite Paris Cite and an MSM, Medical management from ESCP Business School. Current positions: Member of the Board of Directors of Augustine, Minervax, Draupnir, Corwave, Heparegenix, and BiOrigin.
Dr. Frank Hensel
Board Member / High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF)
Frank holds a PhD in biology and has a longstanding experience as Entrepreneur in a start-up developing human monoclonal antibodies for cancer treatment. Since becoming part of HTGF in 2015, Frank built a solid portfolio of start-ups with a focus on drug development companies. Out of this portfolio several companies entered the clinical stage, and 2 companies (Amal Therapeutics and Cardior Pharmaceuticals) were successfully exited to global pharma companies with a deal volume of up to 1030 Mio. €.
Stéphane Verdood
Board Observer / Vesalius Biocapital
Stéphane Verdood has over 26 years of experience in the life sciences industry. In 2007, he co-founded Vesalius Biocapital after a long career in business consulting and mergers and acquisitions in Europe, and served as Managing Partner for VBC I, VBC II and VBC III. Stéphane was Founder and Managing Partner at Value4Growth, a specialized life science consulting firm. He also founded and led Arthur Andersen’s Business Consulting division in Belgium and Luxembourg and served on the European Board of Partners of Arthur Andersen. Stéphane was also an active venture coach for early-stage companies. He has an MBA and a Master’s degree in Commercial Engineering from the Catholic University of Leuven.
Dr. Rainer Strohmenger
Board Observer / Wellington Partners
Dr. Rainer Strohmenger joined Wellington Partners in 1997 and became a Partner in 2000 with responsibility for the Life Science portfolio. During his 27 years in venture capital, he has been responsible for the financing of more than 30 portfolio companies, 17 of which were taken public or successfully exited through trade sales (including Actelion, Definiens, MTM Laboratories, immatics, invendo and Oxford Immunotec). Dr Strohmenger currently represents Wellington on the boards of portfolio companies AMB, Adrenomed, Amboss (observer), eGenesis (observer), HepaRegeniX (observer), iOmx, Koa Health, Quanta and SphingoTec. Prior to joining Wellington Partners, Dr Strohmenger was involved in research work in the fields of cardiovascular physiology and health economics. He holds Doctor of Medicine and Master of Economics degrees, both from Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich (Germany), and was trained at the Entrepreneurship Center of MIT, Boston (USA). Dr. Strohmenger is a Member of the Senate of the German Association of Small and Medium-sized Businesses (BVMW) and served as a Member of the Venture Capital Council at InvestEurope.
Investors
