Session: Navigating from discovery to preclinical candidate and beyond

By Pharmaron, TTxD & Oncopreneur- Aglaia Oncology Funds

Ernst Geutjes | Venture Partner Aglaia Oncology Funds |
EiR Oncology Techs

As a biotechnology entrepreneur and investment professional, Ernst specializes in oncology drug development and venture creation. Ernst has held key roles, including Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Sapreme Technologies, Chief Business Officer at Flindr Therapeutics and Genase Therapeutics.

Currently, I serve as a venture partner at Aglaia Oncology Funds, CBO at Inthera Bioscience, CEO at Genase Therapeutics, advise oncology biotechs, investors and the venture creator Cumulus Oncology. Ernst developed this entrepreneurial spirit in his academic life working in the laboratory of Hidde Ploegh at Harvard Medical School and at the translational cancer research group of Prof. Rene Bernards at the Netherlands Cancer Institute.

About Oncopreneur

Oncopreneur is an independent consultancy and interim-management firm established by Ernst Geutjes, PhD, a biotechnology entrepreneur and investment professional with over 15 years of expertise in cancer research, oncology drug development and venture creation.

He has worked on both sides of the table as an executive (EiR, CBO, CEO) in new venture creation and as an investor in oncology start-ups. Ernst is strategically and operationally involved in all aspects of biotech company formation, Ernst’s strengths are to simplify complexity at the very early stages of venture creation and develop solid business propositions to enable venture finance investments or dealmaking with pharma. Activities include corporate and scientific development (business plan, pitch decks), corporate branding, preparation and preparation and execution of fundraising and pharma campaigns, oversight to CROs and academic collaborators, lead development/review of license agreements, MSAs, MTAs, FFS, investment docs, gap analysis, competitive evaluation, asset/technology/target evaluation or due diligence.

About Aglaia Oncology Funds

The Aglaia team has decades of experience in cancer research and oncology drug development. Since 2004, Aglaia has built an excellent reputation in starting up biotech companies that focus on oncology drug development.
Aglaia is committed to define the strategic directions of the companies it invests in in close collaboration with innovators and entrepreneurs. Aglaia brings hands-on experience in designing research and development plans, ranging from early screening and animal feasibility studies through clinical studies.

Through its Oncology Funds I and II, Aglaia has invested in 12 early stage companies, of which 6 were founded by Aglaia. Aglaia Growth Fund(s) further invest in selected portfolio companies. The experienced team has been involved in the development of more than 100 oncology products. The continuous strategic and operational involvement of the team with portfolio companies has contributed to a marked success rate in transitioning early-stage portfolio companies to clinical-stage companies. By doing so, Aglaia has de-risked and matured these companies up to the level at which they become attractive candidates for licensing, acquisition or IPO.