Saniona’s Nomination Committee Proposes John Haurum as New Chairman of the Board of Directors
The Nomination Committee of Saniona AB (“Saniona”) today announces its proposal to elect John Haurum as Chairman and Jørgen Drejer as Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting 2025. Jørgen Drejer, the current Chairman, will continue to serve in his role until the Annual General Meeting, which is planned for May 28, 2025. The Nomination Committee’s other proposals will be announced in connection with the notice to the Annual General Meeting.
Jørgen Drejer has been Chairman of the Board of Directors since 2022, a member of the Board of Directors since 2014, and previously served on the Board of Directors of Saniona A/S since 2012.
“Today, I informed Saniona’s Nomination Committee of my intention to step down as Chairman at the 2025 Annual General Meeting,” says Jørgen Drejer. “Saniona’s roots date back nearly 40 years. Throughout that time, the common thread has been our commitment to innovative research aimed at developing novel CNS drugs by modulating ion channel activity in nerve cells. I am immensely proud of our world-class CNS team and the milestones we’ve achieved. With the transformational partnering deal secured in late 2024, Saniona now has a robust financial foundation to advance our unique CNS drug candidates. I am very happy that John Haurum has agreed to take on the chairmanship. With his exceptional track record in biotech and pharma leadership, as well as his success in driving financial exits, I am confident he will guide Saniona to its next phase of growth. Although I plan to step down as Chairman, I remain deeply committed to Saniona and am honoured by the Nomination Committee’s support for my proposed re-election as Deputy Chairman of the Board at the upcoming AGM.”
John Haurum, who joined the Saniona Board of Directors in 2024, brings extensive operational, commercial, and financial experience in the biotech industry, including expertise in R&D, corporate development, business development, and investor relations. He was the CEO of F-star in Cambridge, UK (2012-2018), where he built a successful biotech company, that progressed several products into clinical development, and completed four high value BD transactions with partners such as BMS, AbbVie, Merck and Denali. Previously he was VP Research at ImClone Systems, New York (2010-2012) and cofounder and Chief Scientific Officer of Symphogen A/S, Denmark (2000-2009). After graduating in Medicine in Aarhus Denmark 1992, John Haurum received a D.Phil. in Immunology from the Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, England.
John Haurum currently serves as Chairman of ADCendo ApS, Solid Therapeutics ApS, and Synklino A/S, and as a Board Member of MC2 Therapeutics A/S and Neophore Ltd. Dr. Haurum holds a medical degree from Aarhus University, Denmark, and a D.Phil. in Immunology from the University of Oxford, England.
John Haurum (partially through John Haurum controlled companies) and his wife hold a total of 1.272.448 shares and 462,865 warrants series TO 4 in Saniona. He is considered independent in relation to Saniona, its management and major shareholders.
The Nomination Committee will include the proposal to elect John Haurum as Chairman and Jørgen Drejer as Deputy Chairman in its complete proposals to the 2025 Annual General Meeting.