PharmNovo enhances its Board ahead of Phase II development
PharmNovo AB announces changes to its Board of Directors, welcoming two new members as the company prepares for its next phase of clinical development. The new Board composition strengthens the company’s strategic capabilities ahead of Phase II development of its lead candidate PN6047.
PharmNovo is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing safe and effective drugs for neuropathic pain, an area with significant unmet medical need. The company’s lead candidate, PN6047, is a first-in-class DORA (Delta Opioid Receptor Agonist) with the potential to provide a non-addictive treatment for neuropathic pain. PN6047 is currently being prepared for Phase II proof-of-concept studies.
The changes to the Board of Directors were approved at an Extraordinary General Meeting held in December 2025. The new Board members bring complementary experience in drug development, clinical execution and partnering, supporting the company’s continued progress and dialogue with potential partners.
Johan Lund has been appointed Chairman of the Board and brings more than 25 years of experience as a physician-scientist and drug development executive from leading global pharmaceutical companies. He has held senior scientific and leadership positions at AstraZeneca and Pfizer, with a focus on CNS and inflammatory diseases, including as Chief Scientific Officer for Inflammation and Immunology at Pfizer, where he led the discovery and the development of multiple programs that are now globally approved drugs. Johan Lund also brings extensive board experience from life science companies, including Olink.
Karin Rosén brings more than 20 years of experience from global clinical development and medical affairs to the Board of Directors. She is a senior drug development executive with an MD and PhD and has held senior roles at companies such as Horizon Pharmaceuticals (Amgen), GSK, Genentech (Roche) and Aimmune (Nestlé). Karin Rosén has contributed to the development and launch of multiple biotech and pharmaceutical products.
“PharmNovo has built a strong foundation, with its lead candidate PN6047 now approaching Phase II. The Board will support the company when entering the next stage of development and work closely with management to maintain a clear, focused path forward, including constructive dialogue with potential partners,” said Johan Lund, Chairman of the Board.
The company’s Founder and Scientific Advisor Bengt von Mentzer stepped down from the Board as part of the renewal process and will continue to be closely involved in the scientific development of PN6047. In line with general practice, CEO Per von Mentzer will also step down from his Board position.
PharmNovo would like to thank Göran Lerenius, who has served as Chairman of the Board since 2017, for his valuable contributions and leadership during this period.
Johan Dighed, Helen Pettersson, David Kendall and Anthony Ford were re-elected to the Board.
PharmNovo looks forward to working with the newly elected Board as the company continues its development and preparations for the next phase.
For more information, please contact:
Per von Mentzer, CEO
Phone +46 705 44 32 50
Email: per.von.mentzer@pharmnovo.com
About PharmNovo
PharmNovo AB is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing safe and effective drugs for neuropathic pain. In this area, there is currently a lack of efficacious and safe treatments. The company has developed a portfolio of novel compounds based on a new generation of selective delta opioid receptor agonists (DORAs), intended to provide effective neuropathic pain relief without the adverse side effects of conventional opioids. The company’s lead candidate, PN6047 has been shown to effectively reduce neuropathic pain in preclinical studies. In addition to the Phase IIa PoC study in neuropathic pain currently being prepared, PharmNovo is planning for Phase IIa PoC studies with the lead candidate across several additional indications such as OWS (opioid withdrawal syndrome) / OUD (opioid use disorder), migraine, and chronic cough. PN6047 has the potential to combat the global opioid crisis. To learn more, visit pharmnovo.com and follow PharmNovo on LinkedIn.
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