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MoonLake Immunotherapeutics (MLTX) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing therapies for inflammatory skin and joint diseases. The company is primarily engaged in the development of Sonelokimab (SLK), a novel tri-specific IL-17A and IL-17F inhibiting Nanobody. MLTX aims to address significant unmet needs in dermatology and rheumatology through its innovative therapeutic approach.
- Sonelokimab (SLK) - Develops a tri-specific IL-17A and IL-17F inhibiting Nanobody for treating inflammatory diseases such as Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Psoriatic Arthritis, and Psoriasis. SLK offers advantages like high affinity, selective binding, and enhanced tissue penetration due to its small size and albumin-binding domain.
| Name | Position | External Roles | Short Bio | Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dr. Jorge Santos da Silva Executive | Chief Executive Officer | Professor and Board Advisor at the School of Medicine at Minho University (Portugal). | Co-founder of MoonLake AG; leads MLTX's development of Nanobody® sonelokimab for inflammatory diseases. | April 2022 |
Dr. Kristian Reich Executive | Chief Scientific Officer | Guest-Professor at University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf; Medical Advisor at TFS HealthScience; Board Member at Derma2go AG, Dermagnostix GmbH, and ProDerma Foundation. | Co-founder of MoonLake AG; global clinical leader in dermatology and immunology with over 25 years of experience and 300+ peer-reviewed publications. | April 2022 |
Matthias Bodenstedt Executive | Chief Financial Officer | None | Former McKinsey Partner; oversees MLTX's financial strategy, including maintaining a strong cash position and supporting clinical development programs. | April 2022 |
Catherine Moukheibir Board | Director | Chair of Audit Committees at Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Biotalys, Oxford Biomedica, CMR Surgical, Asceneuron, and DNA Script. | Financial expert with extensive board experience in life sciences companies across the U.S. and Europe. | April 2022 |
Dr. Andrew Phillips Board | Director | CEO and President of Aleksia Therapeutics, Nexo Therapeutics, and Blossom Bioscience; Director at Enliven Therapeutics and multiple private biotechnology companies. | Leader in life sciences-focused investment management and executive roles in biopharmaceutical companies. | April 2022 |
Dr. Ramnik Xavier Board | Director | Core Institute Member at Broad Institute; Director of Klarman Cell Observatory and Broad's Immunology Program; Co-Director of Broad's Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program; Professor at Harvard Medical School. | Renowned biomedical researcher specializing in genetic variants, computational biology, and immunology; holds multiple leadership roles at prestigious institutions. | April 2022 |
Simon Sturge Board | Independent Chairperson | Director at Galapagos NV; Director at two private biotechnology companies, a private consulting company, and a private investment company. | Former CEO of Kymab Ltd and COO of Merck Group Germany; extensive experience in biotechnology and pharmaceutical leadership. | April 2022 |
Spike Loy Board | Director | Managing Director at BVF Partners L.P.; Director at multiple private biopharmaceutical companies. | Experienced in life sciences investment management and biopharmaceutical company leadership. | April 2022 |
Notable M&A activity and strategic investments in the past 3 years.
| Company | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
MoonLake Immunotherapeutics AG | 2022 | Deal value and structure: Completed on April 5, 2022, under a Business Combination Agreement dated October 4, 2021, with Helix Acquisition Corp. contributing $134,646,009 (including a $15,000,000 loan repayment), converting Series A preferred to common shares and issuing new classes of shares. Strategic rationale and capabilities: The acquisition advanced the development of Sonelokimab, a novel Nanobody® for treating inflammatory diseases, and repositioned the company with a new Nasdaq listing under MLTX. |
Merck Healthcare KGaA (SLK program) | 2021 | Strategic rationale and capabilities: The SLK program, focused on a tri-specific IL-17A/F nanobody that binds human albumin to extend its half-life, is positioned to be best-in-class for IL-17-driven inflammatory diseases, especially in a $44 billion market, with robust Phase II data in psoriasis supporting its development. Notable aspects: Although detailed deal value and structure were not provided, the acquisition strategically expands MoonLake's asset portfolio to target multiple inflammatory indications and compete against drugs like Bimekizumab. |