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Founded in 2024 by the University of Southern Denmark and Argobio, Inverna is a next-generation RNA therapeutics company built on cutting-edge academic research.

Our strength lies in our people. We bring together world-leading experts in splice modulation, experienced industry leaders, and passionate innovators who work together to turn groundbreaking RNA science into therapies for severe genetic disorders.

Leadership Team

Poul Sørensen, PhD

CEO

Poul Sørensen, PhD

CEO

Poul Sørensen, PhD, CEO brings more than 25 years leadership experience from top tier companies (Pharmacia, LEO Pharma, Micromet, ALK-Abello, Stallergenes Greer) with a passion for translating ground-breaking innovation into therapeutics and venture creation. Poul holds a PhD in Biochemistry from Copenhagen University and is Honorary Professor in Biomedicine at Aarhus University.

Brage S. Andresen, PhD, FRCPath

Co-founder and CSO

Brage S. Andresen, PhD, FRCPath

Co-founder and CSO

Prof. Brage S. Andresen, co-founder and CSO, is Professor of Human Molecular Genetics and Head of the Translational Biology section at the University of Southern Denmark. He holds a PhD in Medical Sciences from Aarhus University and is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Pathologists, UK. Brage has more than 30 years of experience in molecular genetics with a special emphasis on the regulation of pre-mRNA splicing in human disease.

Mads A. Jensen, PhD

Co-founder and CBO

Mads A. Jensen, PhD

Co-founder and CBO

Mads A. Jensen, PhD, co-founder and CBO, has extensive experience in R&D leadership, external innovation and business development from biotech and pharma, including Santaris Pharma, Roche, Scandion Oncology, Zerion Pharma and Acesion Pharma. He is the inventor of several patents in the RNA therapeutics area. Mads holds a PhD in Medical Sciences from Aarhus University and did postdoctoral work on alternative RNA splicing at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, US.

Pontus Klein, PhD

CDO

Pontus Klein, PhD

CDO

Pontus Klein, PhD, CDO, brings experience spanning from discovery to translational science. At ProQR Therapeutics (NL), he worked on discovery and preclinical oligonucleotide programs for repeat expansion diseases, including Huntington’s Disease. He also brings experience from Orphazyme, Vesper Bio, and Aloop Therapeutics in discovery and preclinical development. Pontus holds a PhD from Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Germany.

Scientific Adisory Board

Adrian R. Krainer, PhD

Adrian R. Krainer, PhD

Dr. Adrian R. Krainer is the St. Giles Foundation Professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NY, where he co-leads the Gene Regulation & Inheritance Program of their Cancer Center. He earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Harvard University and has spent four decades advancing RNA splicing research. Dr. Krainer is a co-founder and director of Stoke Therapeutics and serves on several scientific advisory boards. In collaboration with Ionis Pharmaceuticals and Biogen, his work led to the development of nusinersen (Spinraza), the first approved antisense oligonucleotide therapy for spinal muscular atrophy. His lab continues to develop ASO-based strategies to correct splicing defects in neurological and genetic diseases and for cancer therapy. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and has received multiple major scientific awards. He contributes unparalleled expertise in RNA biology, antisense drug development, and translational innovation to the advancement of splice-modulating therapies.

Michelle L. Hastings, PhD

Michelle L. Hastings, PhD

Dr. Michelle L. Hastings is the Pfizer Upjohn Research Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Michigan Medical School and directs the Nucleic Acids Therapeutics Program in the Center for RNA Biomedicine. She earned her Ph.D. from Marquette University and completed postdoctoral training at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Previously, she served as Professor and Director of the Center for Genetic Diseases at Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University. Her work focuses on RNA-based therapeutics, particularly antisense oligonucleotides that modulate splicing and gene expression in genetic and neurodegenerative disorders. Her lab has pioneered candidate therapies for Usher syndrome, Batten disease, cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease and developed an ASO medicine that is being used to treat children with an ultra-rare variant in CLN3 Batten disease. Dr. Hastings holds many patents for her discoveries and serves on multiple editorial and advisory boards. She contributes extensive experience in RNA therapeutics, translational research, and clinical development to inform strategic decision-making.

Niels Skotte, PhD

Dr. Niels Skotte is Assistant Professor and Principal Investigator at the Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology at University of Copenhagen, where he leads the Skotte Group. He earned his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Copenhagen and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of British Columbia. Returning to Denmark, he specialized in biofluid mass spectrometry at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research. His research bridges discovery and application, spanning biomarker development, gene therapy design, and preclinical drug evaluation in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Huntington’s disease. His team applies advanced platforms including single-cell-type proteomics, biofluid profiling, and disease-relevant mouse models to identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets. He leverages his deep experience in neurodegeneration and biomarker discovery to support translational and therapeutic development efforts.

Laura Sepp-Lorenzino, PhD

Dr. Laura Sepp-Lorenzino is Senior Scientific Advisor at Intellia Therapeutics, where she previously served as Chief Scientific Officer overseeing early-stage research and development. She earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from New York University after undergraduate studies in Biochemistry and Pharmacy at the University of Buenos Aires. Her career spans leadership positions in RNA and gene therapy at Alnylam, Vertex, and Merck, as well as early academic work at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She currently serves on the boards of AskBio, Taysha Gene Therapies, the American Association for Cell and Gene Therapy, and the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, and chairs the SAB of Travin Bio. She also holds advisory roles with Thermo Fisher Scientific, Arsenal Capital Partners, and the UK Nucleic Acid Therapy Accelerator. Dr. Sepp-Lorenzino applies her extensive knowledge in RNA therapeutics, oligonucleotide drug development, genome editing, and translational strategy to guide innovative programs.

Inverna Therapeutics Aps,
Cortex Park 26E, 1.
5230 Odense M, DENMARK

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