Lundbeck Foundation merges its portfolios of Danish and international biotech investments

‘We are certainly not happy to say goodbye to Mette, who has played a very important role in the development of the Lundbeck Foundation and built Lundbeckfonden Ventures to an international biotech-investor with a broad portfolio of exciting international biotech companies. We have made exciting investments which have led to the creation of new drugs and treatments and increased the Foundation’s assets thereby also contributing to the Foundation’s philanthropic activities,’ says Lene Skole, CEO of the Lundbeck Foundation.

‘The Lundbeck Foundation has been my professional life for 12 years and developing Lundbeckfonden Ventures into the internationally recognised investor that we are today has been a fantastic experience. A strong team effort has resulted in many successful investments and contributed to the approval of new drugs that benefit patients all over the world. Moreover, our activities have helped to attract important capital to Danish biotech companies,’ says Mette Kirstine Agger, Managing Partner at Lundbeckfonden Ventures.

Christian Elling will take the helm

Christian Elling, who heads the Foundation’s seed and ventures activities in Denmark’s vibrant biotech sector, will take over the leadership for the two teams, Lundbeckfonden Ventures and Lundbeckfonden Emerge, which until now have played different roles within the Lundbeck Foundation; Lundbeckfonden Ventures has led the Lundbeck Foundation’s international biotech-investments, which have contributed to the Foundation’s financial development and helped attract international biotech investors to Denmark and to Lundbeckfonden Emerge’s portfolio of Danish biotech start-ups.

‘Consolidating the two teams provides an excellent opportunity to rethink our ambitions, priorities and objectives. In the coming months, we will build the plan for how we will develop our seed and venture platform so that we – in line with the Foundation’s overall strategy – can continue to help develop Denmark as a life science nation within the global industry. As part of this, we will continue to develop and strengthen the bonds between our Danish biotech investments and our international partners,’ says Lene Skole.

Christian Elling will take over the full responsibility for the Lundbeck Foundation’s Danish and international biotech investments by the end of March 2022.

‘Lundbeckfonden Ventures and Emerge are in excellent hands with Christian Elling at the helm. Christian is a visionary leader with in-depth knowledge and understanding of both science and market. He is also highly experienced with transitioning new ideas, knowledge and science into entrepreneurship and business building, says Lene Skole and continues;

‘We will keep Mette Kirstine close for some time and are very pleased that we can continue to make use of her excellent experience and insight while we also look forward to seeing her open a new chapter in her long career, which has given her unique knowledge of the biotech market and industry. It is to a high degree thanks to Mette that Lundbeckfonden Ventures has become firmly established in international biotech and contributed to the Foundation’s financial assets, which enable us to invest in Danish research and neuroscience and in Danish healthcare companies,’ Lene Skole.