Management

Read about our leadership team, Ribocure board and Science board below.

Leadership team

Dr Li-ming Gan

Chief Executive Officer

MD, PhD

Chief Executive Officer , Ribocure Pharmaceuticals AB President of Global R&D and Chief Medical Officer, Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co., Ltd.

Li-ming Gan is a physician scientist and has 20 years of pharma experience from AstraZeneca. He was responsible for the atherosclerosis and heart failure pipeline between 2007-2011. Between 2011-2013, he worked as a Translational Science Director to help bridging the early projects into the human setting. Between 2013-2018, Li-ming was appointed as a Senior Director Physician, and later Chief Scientist in early clinical research unit and was responsible for phase I and II clinical programs within the cardiovascular area. Until 31st of Dec 2021, Li-ming was VP and Head of Early Clinical Development in early Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism Biopharmaceuticals R&D AstraZeneca. Academically Li-ming holds a part-time position as professor and Chief physician at the department of cardiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.

Since 1st of January 2022, Li-ming joined Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co., Ltd. as President of Global R&D and Chief Medical Officer to devote his career and research focusing on RNA therapeutics. With his joining of Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co., Ltd. Li-ming has also been appointed as CEO for Ribocure Pharmaceuticals AB, a newly established international R&D center of Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co., Ltd. based in Gothenburg, Sweden. This unit will be devoting to developing Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co., Ltd.´s innovative drug projects on the global arena through close collaboration with Scandinavian and European academia and biotechs, global project leadership, as well as innovative clinical development approaches.

Dr Anders Gabrielsen

VP and Head of Global Clinical Development

MD, PhD

Anders Gabrielsen, MD, DMSc, Associate Professor, is a physician scientist with 10+ years of industry experience across the CVRM therapy area. Cardiologist and Internist by training at Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospitals, with subspecialty in heart failure and core clinical team duties across all aspects of cardiology and internal medicine. Long-standing research experience with translational cardiovascular research focusing on heart failure, pathophysiology, translational vascular biology, atherosclerosis and inflammation with explorative studies including target ID and biomarker exploration studies. Extensive global pharma industry experience working with Bayer, Novartis and AstraZeneca covering multiple CVRM development MoA’s, indications and launches. In the latest role with AstraZeneca served as executive group director for early clinical development with responsibility for cardiovascular and heart failure project clinical activities.

Dr Sara Svedlund

Head of Ribocure Clinic & Senior Medical Director

MD, PhD

Head of Ribocure Clinic, Ribocure Pharmaceuticals AB.

Sara Svedlund is chief physician and associate professor in non-invasive cardiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg. Sara has 15 years of clinical experience as physician and is specialized in cardiovascular, exercise and pulmonary physiology. She was licensed physician in 2011 and defended her thesis the same year. Sara became a medical specialist in 2017 and was appointed associate professor in 2019. She was Care Unit Chief Physician at the Clinical Department for Cardiopulmonary Physiology at Sahlgrenska University Hospital during 2016-2022. Research wise, Sara has focused on clinical trials, development and validation of different methodological aspects as well as identification of mechanisms and biomarkers in different cardiovascular patient populations. Further, she has worked extensively with methodological alignment in clinical trials and run an academic echocardiography core lab between 2015-2022. Since March 2022 she is Head of Clinical Operations at Ribocure.

Rebeckha Magnusson

Head of Clinical Operations & Quality Assurance

Head of Clinical Operations & Quality Assurance, Ribocure Pharmaceuticals AB.

Rebeckha Magnusson has worked in the Clinical Development area for more than 15 years. She has an extensive and broad experience from various positions, mainly within Clinical Operations and Project Management, in both big Pharmaceutical and small Biotech companies such as AstraZeneca and IRLAB. Most recent position as Clinical Project Director at Sobrebra Pharma and Head of Clinical Operations at Antaros Medical. Rebeckha is certified in Lean Six sigma and has led several successful process improvement projects within the R&D area. Rebeckha has a broad experience also within the Regulatory and QA field as responsible for compound regulatory strategies, leading a successful IND submission as well as setting up and maintain the Quality Management System at several small Biotech companies.

Maria Liljevald

Head of Global Regulatory Affairs

BSc

Maria Liljevald holds a BSc in molecular biology at the University of Gothenburg and she has 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. She started her career at AstraZeneca as a lab-based molecular biologist in the transgenic research laboratory in 2004. She moved into preclinical Toxicology 2012. As a Global Toxicology Project Lead, Maria supported drug projects from pre-clinical up to Ph2b, covering various modalities such as oligos, small molecules and Fixed Dose Combination programs in a variety of therapeutic areas. Based on her expertise and experience, she has been on the European Register of Toxicologist (ERT) since 2019. In 2021 Maria took the role as Global Regulatory Lead supporting projects from pre-clinical into Ph2b. She has successfully steered projects through multiple INDs, global Ph2 clinical trial applications, and Health Authority interactions. Recently Maria took on a role as European Regulatory Affairs Lead for a project in the late stage of Ph3 preparing for MAA application. Maria joined Ribocure Pharmaceutical AB in June 2023 as Head of Global Regulatory Affairs.

Dr Lotta Egnell

Global Head of DMPK & Clinical Pharmacology

BSc, PhD

Lotta (Ann-Charlotte) Egnell has extensive senior leadership experience in Clinical Pharmacology and DMPK with 20 years big pharma industry experience in the CVRM therapy area. Lotta is a pharmacist by training at Uppsala University, Sweden and holds a PhD in translational and computational modeling of atypical enzyme kinetics of drug metabolizing cytochrome P450s from the University of Manchester, UK. Lotta has led the implementation of model based preclinical drug discovery approaches within the CVRM research area at AstraZeneca, and more recently led a team of Clinical Pharmacology Scientists and Clinical Pharmacometricians, supporting a model based clinical development, impacting decision making from Ph1 up to life cycle management. Her project impact spans several different modalities, and from target selection to life cycle management. Lotta also holds a Master in Leadership and Organization, and has extensive line management as well as project leadership experience.

Dr Johannes Wikström

Head of Bioscience and Global projects

MSc, PhD

Johannes Wikström is a biologist with 15 years of pharma experience from AstraZeneca. He has led bioscience work in early cardiovascular drug projects from target identification and validation and up to regulatory filing and progress of drug projects to clinical Ph2, where he has recent experience of leading a Ph2b Chronic kidney disease project as Global project leader. Johannes was appointed cardiovascular in vivo Team leader in 2011, and from 2019 he held a Principal scientist role. He has been AstraZeneca Principal investigator in multiple collaborations with distinguished academic groups from Peking University, Karolinska Institute, Uppsala University, Gothenburg University, University of Virginia, and Harvard University. Johannes joined Ribocure Pharmaceuticals AB from 1st of September 2022 as Head of Bioscience and global projects.

Dr Anna B Granqvist

Senior Project Director

MSc, PhD

Anna B Granqvist has a PhD in Renal medicine/physiology and experience both from working in Academia (15 years) and big pharma company (10 years at AstraZeneca).
She has a broad experience in pre-clinical models (in vitro and in vivo) and was the renal in vivo Team leader for several year supporting the renal strategy and pipeline build at AstraZeneca. She has been Project leader and principal investigator for both pipeline and technical platform projects as well as collaborations with both academic groups and biotech companies.

Dr Julia Grönros

Project Director External Innovation

MSc, PhD

Julia Grönros holds a MSc in biology and a PhD in physiology at University of Gothenburg from 2008. She did her post doc at Karolinska Institute in a joint venture with AstraZeneca, Gothenburg. Her research interest is within cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction, as well as type 2 diabetes. She has worked extensively with developing preclinical animal models for disease and for target validation, with an expertise in ultrasound imaging techniques. Before joining Ribocure, she worked seven years at the Grants and Innovation Office at University of Gothenburg, as responsible research coordinator in the establishment of a successful research Centre within translational and molecular medicine. Julia joined Ribocure in March 2022 as Project Director for External Innovation.

Pontus Boman

Head of Data Science & IT

MSc

Pontus has more than 30 years of experience from Pharmaceutical and Clinical Development. He has worked within the big pharma, small pharma, CRO, technology vendor and public health care sectors in various positions at AstraZeneca, VGR IT, Oncopeptides, Replior, TFS Health Science and Aixial Group. The focus during the last 20 years has been on biometrics, data science and computerized systems catalyzing clinical trials.
Pontus holds a M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from Chalmers University of Technology, augmented with various university courses in data science, life science and quality management.

Malin Westberg

Business Planning Lead

Malin Westberg has over 30 years of experience from administrative roles within the pharmaceutical industry. Between 2016 and 2023, Malin was a Senior Administrator and Team Leader within Pharmaceutical Sciences at AstraZeneca. There, she tackled the challenges of recruitment, planning, and shaping of the newly created department, and working closely with the Head of Business Planning and Operations. Malin particularly excels at strategic partnering and business development.

John Taylor

VP Business Development

PhD

John is a Business Development leader and has worked across search & evaluation, due diligence & with transactions. He has an established track record of success concluding many in-licensing & out-licensing deals. He has a strong network across global pharma, biotech, and academic environments. John spent significant time at AstraZeneca in Business Development in Gothenburg. Before this a biology department head in AZ Lund, Sweden. John also spent ten years at Pfizer as a Project Leader. John has a Ph.D. for studies on DNA-protein recognition with Prof. Steve Halford (FRS) at Bristol. He then studied DNA mismatch repair with Prof. Paul Modrich (Nobel Laureate 2015) at Duke in the USA.

Anders Waas

Business Development Lead

Business Development Lead , Ribocure Pharmaceuticals.

Anders Waas has over three decades of experience in the pharmaceutical, and biotech industry and has significant business development, commercial and R&D experience. He is consultant to GU Ventures in the Life-Science field assisting in establishing start-ups and building companies. He has held senior business development and commercial positions in several pharma companies including AstraZeneca, CVT Therapeutics and Actogenics. He is currently engaged as board member in several start-up and public companies.

Malin Westberg

Business Planning Lead

Anders Waas

Business Development Lead

Business Development Lead , Ribocure Pharmaceuticals.

Ribocure Board

Dr Li-ming Gan

Chief Executive Officer & Board member

MD, PhD

Chief Executive Officer , Ribocure Pharmaceuticals AB President of Global R&D and Chief Medical Officer, Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co., Ltd.

Dr Zicai Liang

Chair of Board

PhD

Chair of Board , Ribocure Pharmaceuticals AB Chief Executive Officer, Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co., Ltd.

Dr. Zicai Liang is the founder and CEO of Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co., Ltd. He is responsible for the company’s development and implementation of the R&D strategy for oligonucleotides, as well as the company’s financing and business development plan. Dr. Zicai Liang is a recognized international expert in the field of small nucleic acid technology and therapeutics. He has more than 20 years of experience in research and development of oligonucleotides and is the main initiator of small nucleic acid as therapeutic field in China. He has been a Professor and Head of research at the University of Beijing. He was also Associate Professor at Karolinska Institute in Sweden and Head of department for a research unit. After completing his PhD in molecular mycology at Uppsala University, he was a postdoctoral fellow at Yale University in the United States.

Dr Hongyan Zhang

Board member

PhD

Board member , Ribocure Pharmaceuticals AB President, Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co., Ltd.

Dr Hongyan Zhang is one of the co-founders of Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co., Ltd. Since 2007, she has been the Director of Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co., Ltd. responsible for the overall management and operations of the company. Dr. Hongyan Zhang has more than 20 years of experience in academia and biomedicine. She is an expert in small nucleic acid technology and has vast experience in the establishment and operation of biotechnology companies. Under her leadership, Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co., Ltd. has established a professional and efficient R&D department and from scratch, presided more than ten major new drugs to first time in man. Thereby the company realized the first small nucleic acid therapeutics platform in China. Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co., Ltd. has gathered and trained a large number of high-level professional researchers in small nucleic acid technology and pharmaceuticals, formed the largest innovative research and development platform involving the entire technology chain in Asia. Dr. Hongyan Zhang received her Ph.D. in molecular biology from Uppsala University in Sweden and did her postdoctoral research at Yale University School of Medicine in the United States.

Science Board

Professor Lilach Lerman

Advisor renal diseases

MD, PhD

Lilach O. Lerman, MD, PhD, is the Arthur M. and Gladys D. Gray Professor of Medicine and of Physiology in the Mayo Medical School and the Mayo Graduate School. She is the Director of the Renovascular Research Laboratory, Head of the Nephrology Research Unit, and Director of the Regenerative Nephrology Section in the Division of Nephrology & Hypertension at Mayo Clinic. Prof. LO Lerman has been involved in translational nephrology and hypertension research for over 30 years, with a focus on renovascular disease, physiological imaging, the microcirculation, and regenerative medicine.

Professor Stefano Romeo

Advisor NASH and lipids

MD, PhD

Stefano Romeo is Professor in Molecular and Clinical Medicine at the University of Gothenburg and Senior Consultant in Endocrinology at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital. He is also a Faculty Member of the Unit of Human Nutrition at the Department of Medical and Surgical Science, University Magna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy. Stefano Romeo has an Italian PhD fellowship carried out at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2006-2009), Dallas, USA, and a Clinical Lectureship at the University of Cambridge, UK (2009-2011). He earned his Medical Degree at Campus Biomedico University in Rome 2001 and completed his residency in Endocrinology and Metabolic Disease 2006 at Sapienza University of Rome. Since 2014, he has been Director of the Lipid Clinic at the Department of Cardiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital.

Professor Claes Wahlestedt

Advisor CNS

MD, PhD

Claes Wahlestedt is Leonard M. Miller Professor and Director of the Center for Therapeutic Innovation at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine where he also serves as Associate Dean for Therapeutic Innovation. A native of Sweden, Dr. Wahlestedt obtained his MD and PhD degrees from Lund University. Prior to joining the University of Miami, Dr. Wahlestedt was a founding Professor and a Director at The Scripps Research Institute’s Florida campus. Between 1997 and 2005 he ran the Genome Center at the Karolinska Institute (a joint venture with Pharmacia & Upjohn) where he was also an endowed Professor of Pharmacogenomics and Department Chair. He has also been a faculty member at Cornell University Medical College and at McGill University.

Professor Amir Lerman

Advisor cardiovascular diseases

MD, PhD

Amir Lerman, MD. is an endowed named Barbara Lips professor of medicine and a consultant in the department of cardiovascular disease at the Mayo graduate school of medicine. Prof. A Lerman serves as an associate chair of the department of Cardiovascular medicine, Rochester, MN and the Director of the Mayo Clinic cardiovascular research center, and the medical director of the chest pain and coronary physiology clinic Prof. Leman is serving as the associate editor in chief of the International Journal of Cardiology. Prof. A Lerman’s interest is the coronary physiology and imaging and the role of novel therapy of the microcirculation and endothelial function in cardiovascular diseases. Prof. A Lerman’s research program is also active and publishes in the area regenerative medicine, innovative technologies and digital health.

Professor Stephane Heymans

Advisor cardiomyopathies

MD, PhD

Stephane Heymans is Professor of Cardiomyopathies at the Maastricht University Medical Centre and head of Heart Failure Research (2009), Professor of Inflammation and Matrix Biology at the University of Leuven, Cardiovascular Research Department, Belgium (2011). His research focuses on genetic and molecular (inflammatory, fibrotic & metabolic) mechanisms in non-ischemic cardiomyopathies (including HFPEF, myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathies). Both presently and in the past, he is the chair of different European committees and working groups in the field of myocarditis and cardiomyopathies.

Contact us for collaboration opportunities and projects ideas!

Ribocure will be expanding heavily in Sweden and looking for new talents to join, and academic associations as well as small and large enterprise partners to collaborate with, with the joint goal of developing highly differentiated and innovative oligonucleotide therapeutics to help patients in need.