Empower your career - a female perspective
This session is powered by TOPX Network
21 May 2026 - Utrecht
In this session, each panelist will share a bit about their journey, from where they started to how they reached their current roles. After the introductions, we’ll dive deeper into their unique career paths. Our speakers will discuss the key lessons they've learned along the way and offer valuable advice for women looking to follow in their footsteps. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from and connect with women who are making waves in the Life Sciences!
Speakers
Junda Kel | Director Global Business Development | Pharming
Junda has worked for 8 years at Pharming N.V., a biopharmaceutical company focused on rare diseases. During these years, she fulfilled four different roles. Her most recent role was Director of Global Business Development. In this role, she was responsible for identifying new opportunities—such as licensing deals, acquisitions, and partnerships—that could expand Pharming’s portfolio. Before that, she served as Program Director, where she managed the late-stage development and commercial launch of Joenja®, a therapy for rare immunological disorders. Earlier she was Director PMO and responsible for building Pharming’s Project Management Office (PMO) from the ground up. Initially, she joined Pharming Group as a Project Manager.
Before joining Pharming, Junda worked at Triskelion B.V., a contract research organization (CRO). As a Project Manager in Immunology, she managed preclinical research projects, ensuring they met scientific, regulatory, and commercial requirements. She also played a key role in expanding the immunology department, translating scientific expertise into services that met market demands.
Junda’s career started in academia, where she earned her PhD in Medicine from Leiden University, and thereafter worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Immunology at the Erasmus Medical Center and Amsterdam Medical Center.
Throughout her career, Junda has taken on diverse challenges—from lab-based research to commercial strategy—and has continuously developed her skills in project management, business development, and leadership. Her journey shows how you can transition from science to business, build expertise in different areas, and take on increasing responsibility in the biotech industry.
About Pharming
Pharming Group N.V. is a global biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development, production, and commercialization of innovative protein replacement therapies and precision medicines to serve the unserved rare disease patient. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Leiden, the Netherlands, Pharming is dedicated to transforming the lives of patients with rare, debilitating, and life threatening diseases. Pharming is publicly traded on Euronext Amsterdam (PHARM) and the NASDAQ (PHAR).
The company’s lead product is RUCONEST® (conestat alfa), a recombinant human C1 esterase inhibitor, approved for the treatment of hereditary angioedema (HAE), a rare and potentially life-threatening genetic disorder. The second commercial product is JOENJA® (leniolisib), an oral, selective phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta (PI3Kδ) inhibitor, as a treatment for activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta syndrome (APDS), a rare primary immunodeficiency.
Pharming’s pipeline includes the development of leniolisib for additional primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs), including (1) genetically identifiable PIDs with immune dysregulation linked to altered PI3Kδ signaling and (2) common variable immunodeficiency, or CVID, with immune dysregulation identified independently of genetics.
Pharming also executes the development program of napazimone (KL1333) for mitochondrial DNA-driven primary mitochondrial disease. Mitochondrial disease is a rare and often very severe disease that occurs when the cell’s energy provider, the mitochondria, do not function properly. Napazimone (KL1333) is in a pivotal clinical study (FALCON), with a positive interim analysis achieved, in adult patients with genetically confirmed primary mitochondrial disease.
Pharming is recognized as a leader in rare disease therapeutics, combining scientific expertise with a strong focus on patient needs and global accessibility.
We are also developing rhC1INH for subsequent indications, including pre- eclampsia, Acute Kidney Injury and we are also investigating the clinical efficacy of rhC1INH in COVID-19.
In addition, we are studying our oral precision medicine, leniolisib (a phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta, or PI3K delta, inhibitor), for the treatment of activated PI3K delta syndrome, or APDS, in a registration enabling Phase 2/3 study in the US and Europe.
Furthermore, we are also leveraging our transgenic manufacturing technology to develop next-generation protein replacement therapies most notably for Pompe disease, which program is currently in the preclinical stage.
Junda Kel | Director Global Business Development | Pharming
Junda has worked for 8 years at Pharming N.V., a biopharmaceutical company focused on rare diseases. During these years, she fulfilled four different roles. Her most recent role was Director of Global Business Development. In this role, she was responsible for identifying new opportunities—such as licensing deals, acquisitions, and partnerships—that could expand Pharming’s portfolio. Before that, she served as Program Director, where she managed the late-stage development and commercial launch of Joenja®, a therapy for rare immunological disorders. Earlier she was Director PMO and responsible for building Pharming’s Project Management Office (PMO) from the ground up. Initially, she joined Pharming Group as a Project Manager.
Before joining Pharming, Junda worked at Triskelion B.V., a contract research organization (CRO). As a Project Manager in Immunology, she managed preclinical research projects, ensuring they met scientific, regulatory, and commercial requirements. She also played a key role in expanding the immunology department, translating scientific expertise into services that met market demands.
Junda’s career started in academia, where she earned her PhD in Medicine from Leiden University, and thereafter worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Immunology at the Erasmus Medical Center and Amsterdam Medical Center.
Throughout her career, Junda has taken on diverse challenges—from lab-based research to commercial strategy—and has continuously developed her skills in project management, business development, and leadership. Her journey shows how you can transition from science to business, build expertise in different areas, and take on increasing responsibility in the biotech industry.
About Pharming
Pharming Group N.V. is a global biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development, production, and commercialization of innovative protein replacement therapies and precision medicines to serve the unserved rare disease patient. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Leiden, the Netherlands, Pharming is dedicated to transforming the lives of patients with rare, debilitating, and life threatening diseases. Pharming is publicly traded on Euronext Amsterdam (PHARM) and the NASDAQ (PHAR).
The company’s lead product is RUCONEST® (conestat alfa), a recombinant human C1 esterase inhibitor, approved for the treatment of hereditary angioedema (HAE), a rare and potentially life-threatening genetic disorder. The second commercial product is JOENJA® (leniolisib), an oral, selective phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta (PI3Kδ) inhibitor, as a treatment for activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta syndrome (APDS), a rare primary immunodeficiency.
Pharming’s pipeline includes the development of leniolisib for additional primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs), including (1) genetically identifiable PIDs with immune dysregulation linked to altered PI3Kδ signaling and (2) common variable immunodeficiency, or CVID, with immune dysregulation identified independently of genetics.
Pharming also executes the development program of napazimone (KL1333) for mitochondrial DNA-driven primary mitochondrial disease. Mitochondrial disease is a rare and often very severe disease that occurs when the cell’s energy provider, the mitochondria, do not function properly. Napazimone (KL1333) is in a pivotal clinical study (FALCON), with a positive interim analysis achieved, in adult patients with genetically confirmed primary mitochondrial disease.
Pharming is recognized as a leader in rare disease therapeutics, combining scientific expertise with a strong focus on patient needs and global accessibility.
We are also developing rhC1INH for subsequent indications, including pre- eclampsia, Acute Kidney Injury and we are also investigating the clinical efficacy of rhC1INH in COVID-19.
In addition, we are studying our oral precision medicine, leniolisib (a phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta, or PI3K delta, inhibitor), for the treatment of activated PI3K delta syndrome, or APDS, in a registration enabling Phase 2/3 study in the US and Europe.
Furthermore, we are also leveraging our transgenic manufacturing technology to develop next-generation protein replacement therapies most notably for Pompe disease, which program is currently in the preclinical stage.
Lineke Pelleboer | Head of Marketing and Sales | Batavia Biomanufacturing
Lineke Pelleboer is a senior leader with over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. Her career spans the full spectrum of operations, including R&D, MS&T, Engineering, Quality Control, and Manufacturing. She has worked with more than 30 organizations, from early-stage biotech to large pharmaceutical companies, where she supported growth, optimized processes, and built bridges between departments across the organization
Known for her open communication style and strong people skills, Lineke is driven by a clear mission: to create synergy between teams and streamline collaboration across departments organizations and companies. Her strength lies in translating complex challenges into pragmatic solutions, always keeping both the business objectives and the human side in view.
Lineke Pelleboer | Head of Marketing and Sales | Batavia Biomanufacturing
Lineke Pelleboer is a senior leader with over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. Her career spans the full spectrum of operations, including R&D, MS&T, Engineering, Quality Control, and Manufacturing. She has worked with more than 30 organizations, from early-stage biotech to large pharmaceutical companies, where she supported growth, optimized processes, and built bridges between departments across the organization
Known for her open communication style and strong people skills, Lineke is driven by a clear mission: to create synergy between teams and streamline collaboration across departments organizations and companies. Her strength lies in translating complex challenges into pragmatic solutions, always keeping both the business objectives and the human side in view.
Moderator
Anne Vogel | Sr. Manager, Technical Strategy | Kite
Alex is a scientist by training, but communicating science is her true passion. In all her work, Alex aims to connect her passion for science with her belief that science can only have a positive impact when it is well communicated.Alex holds a PhD in immunology from the University of Amsterdam, which focused on the role of autophagy in host-virus interactions. After her PhD she focussed fully on scientific communications and marketing. Her current role is Marketing & Communications Specialist at Oncode Accelerator, an initiative funded by the Dutch National Growth Fund with a mission to collaboratively optimize and accelerate the development of new cancer therapies for the benefit of patients of all ages. Alex is an award-winning science communicator, enthusiastic speaker and event moderator, and writer and creator of "Microbial Mondays", a project that aims to improve public understanding of microbiology. On the Microbial Mondays website, Alex has published over a hundred articles and short videos that explain biological concepts in jargon-free language. Alex is also a junior ambassador for TOPX, a network and training platform for ambitious women in Life Sciences.
About Kite
Kite, a Gilead Company, is a global biopharmaceutical company based in Santa Monica, California. We are focused on achieving cures with cell therapy. As the global cell therapy leader, Kite has served more patients with CAR T-cell therapy than any other company. Kite has the largest in-house cell therapy manufacturing network in the world, spanning process development, vector manufacturing, clinical trial supply and product manufacturing. Our European cell therapy manufacturing facility is located in the Amsterdam area. With over 50 nationalities, our local culture can best be described as innovative, inspiring and multicultural.
Anne Vogel | Sr. Manager, Technical Strategy | Kite
Alex is a scientist by training, but communicating science is her true passion. In all her work, Alex aims to connect her passion for science with her belief that science can only have a positive impact when it is well communicated.Alex holds a PhD in immunology from the University of Amsterdam, which focused on the role of autophagy in host-virus interactions. After her PhD she focussed fully on scientific communications and marketing. Her current role is Marketing & Communications Specialist at Oncode Accelerator, an initiative funded by the Dutch National Growth Fund with a mission to collaboratively optimize and accelerate the development of new cancer therapies for the benefit of patients of all ages. Alex is an award-winning science communicator, enthusiastic speaker and event moderator, and writer and creator of "Microbial Mondays", a project that aims to improve public understanding of microbiology. On the Microbial Mondays website, Alex has published over a hundred articles and short videos that explain biological concepts in jargon-free language. Alex is also a junior ambassador for TOPX, a network and training platform for ambitious women in Life Sciences.
About Kite
Kite, a Gilead Company, is a global biopharmaceutical company based in Santa Monica, California. We are focused on achieving cures with cell therapy. As the global cell therapy leader, Kite has served more patients with CAR T-cell therapy than any other company. Kite has the largest in-house cell therapy manufacturing network in the world, spanning process development, vector manufacturing, clinical trial supply and product manufacturing. Our European cell therapy manufacturing facility is located in the Amsterdam area. With over 50 nationalities, our local culture can best be described as innovative, inspiring and multicultural.
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