Cellaïon announces update to its Board of Directors: Dr. Fouzia LAGHRISSI-THODE joins the biotech as Member of the Board

Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium, 29/03/2022: Cellaïon a Walloon biotechnology company developing Life saving advanced therapies to repair tissues and regenerate the liver today announced the following change to its Board of Directors. Highly experienced, Dr. Laghrissi-Thode has over 20 years of pharmaceutical industry leadership experience in the United States and Europe, in clinical development, global strategic marketing, business development, licensing, and mergers and acquisitions joined the Board of Director as an independent member, with effect immediate.

“Cellaïon is delighted to welcome Fouzia Laghrissi as an independent Board Member. Her large industrial expertise will booster the strategic development of Cellaïon and increase our international visibility for the next phases including commercialization and partnerships”, said Etienne Sokal, CEO and Board Director at Cellaïon.

“On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, we welcome Dr. Laghrissi-Thode to Cellaïon. Fouzia’s extensive track record in the pharma and biotech sector will allow Cellaïon to effectively navigate its upcoming milestones and achieve both clinical and commercial success”, said Chris Buyse.

Chief Executive Officer of DalCor Pharmaceuticals since April 2018 and most recently, Dr. Laghrissi- Thode was Vice-President at AstraZeneca of the US Renal-Cardiology Therapeutic Area. In her previous roles she led the global product and portfolio strategy of the cardiovascular, metabolism and renal therapeutic areas at AstraZeneca and Roche. She was a board member of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) Europe and was recognized by HBA in 2012 for her work in developing and promoting women’s leadership in healthcare. From 1992 to 2014, she was a faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. Dr. Laghrissi-Thode is certified in psychiatry and holds a doctorate in medicine from the School of Medicine of the University of Tours in France.

 

About Cellaïon SA and HepaStem®

Cellaïon is a Biotechnology company created in March 2021 and established in the Walloon biotechnological valley of cell therapy, in Mont-St-Guibert, Belgium.
Cellaïon develops cellular therapy using the anti-inflammatory and regenerative signaling properties of liver stem cells.
Its technology is protected by a wide range of patents resulting from academic research at UCLouvain (Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium) and its own research and development.

The leading indication, namely multi-organ failures that complicate the loss of liver function – Acute on Chronic Liver Failure – ACLF – is a fatal disease for which no treatment is currently available.

HepaStem® acts directly on the cells making up the inflammatory reaction and on the signaling pathways of hepatic regeneration. By restoring liver function, secondary failures of other organs also recover their functional capacity.

The company is in advanced clinical development after successfully passing safety studies. More than one hundred patients have already received HepaStem®. Cellaïon has developed a manufacturing method allowing HepaStem® to be administered by a simple intravenous infusion with perfect tolerance.

The capital of Cellaïon is held by Fund+, Sofipôle, WE, Truffle Capital, Newton Biocapital, Brabant Walloon Invest, 6K Venture Capital as well as by Belgian and German private shareholders.

Contact informations : Cellaïon SA 

info@cellaïon.com
www.cellaïon.com
Tel: +32 (0)10 39 43 00