Laurent Meijer

Co-founder, Molecular and Cellular Biology

Laurent Meijer holds a PhD from University of Paris (1983). He brings his internationally recognized scientific expertise in the field of disease-relevant kinases and their pharmacological inhibitors, on which he has focused most of his work for the last 30 years.

He is currently a Research Director at the CNRS and heads a team of 17 people at the “Station Biologique” in Roscoff (Brittany, France).

He extensively identified several PKIs, including CDK inhibitor R-roscovitine, which is currently in phase 2 clinical trials against cancers. He spent part of his career in the USA, successively working with three Nobel Prize recipients. In 1985-86, with Edwin Krebs (Nobel Prize award 1992), he extensively characterized the so-called M-phase specific Histone H1 kinase (which turned out to be CDK1/cyclin B). In the late ‘80s, with Tim Hunt (Nobel Prize award 2001), he identified the CDK1 associated regulatory subunit as cyclin B. With Paul Greengard (Nobel Prize award 2000), he has been studying brain protein kinases and pharmacological inhibitors thereof for three years (2001-2004) at the Rockefeller University (New York City).

Laurent Meijer is author of more than 230 scientific articles (H factor: 57) and co-inventor on 36 patents. He is the main editor of 6 books. He is the recipient of distinguished honors (such as Bronze and Silver medals from the CNRS, and prizes from the “Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale” and the “Fondation de France”).

Son of a paleontologist and a painter, aged 56, married (two children), Laurent is an ever-curious and enthusiastic person with an infectious optimism. Apart from kinases, he is deeply passionate about marine life, underwater and low tide exploration, natural product drugs, 19th and 20th century paintings, Buddhist philosophy, Nietzsche, “Le Monde”, hiking and naps in the shade! As a French and Dutch citizen, Laurent is used to international environments and always appreciates exploring the diversity of cultures and countries, with special feelings for Brittany, Burgundy, Japan, Libya and Manhattan!

Hervé Galons

Co-founder, Organic Chemistry

Hervé Galons graduated as a pharmacist from the University of Paris, and obtained his PhD in 1976 at Paris-Orsay University. Hervé Galons has focused all his research in the chemical modifications of biological compounds: amino acids, carbohydrates, steroids, and purines.

Apart from his academic work, Hervé Galons has kept a strong interest in drug development, and has been involved in several start-up companies. Hervé Galons is a Professor of Organic Chemistry at the Université Paris Descartes, in the very center of Paris. He is presently leading a group of 10 people in his lab at the University, with state-of-the-art organic chemistry technical facilities.

Hervé Galons is a corresponding member of the National French Academy of Pharmacy. He is the author of 150 papers in organic chemistry, co-inventor on 7 patents and single author of 2 organic chemistry books.

Aged 58 and a father of two children, Hervé is a sharp-minded researcher who works with great professionalism. He is also known by colleagues and students as a thoughtful person and a captivating teacher. Hervé is a sporty person who writes organic chemistry books while listening to XVII century music. His dual interest for Mediterranean cultures and wind-surfing led him to explore numerous spots of the Aegean Sea. He presently feels that the location of the Perharidy peninsula, facing strong western winds, is a very reasonable choice of location for innovating in organic chemistry!

Francois-Xavier Floren

Co-founder, Non-Executive Chairman

Francois-Xavier Floren acts as the Chairman of ManRos Therapeutics. He brings to the company his international experience in finance and business development. Francois-Xavier Floren is currently CEO of Orsyp, a worldwide provider of IT automation solutions and services based in Paris - La Défense.

Previously, Francois-Xavier Floren served as COO and Board Member of Altran, the European leader in high technology consulting services. He also worked at Ricol Lasteyrie & Associés in Corporate Finance and Business Development, and spent 15 years at Cap Gemini in North America, Southern Europe and France. He resided 4 years in the United States where he was instrumental in the merger of consulting activities between Cap Gemini and Ernst & Young.

Emmanuel de Maistre

Chief Executive Officer

Emmanuel de Maistre holds a MSC in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the Ecole Normale Supérieure Paris (ENS Ulm). He also graduated from HEC Business School in 2006, with a specialized master’s degree in Entrepreneurship (HEC Entrepreneurs).

Previously, Emmanuel de Maistre worked at Aelios Finance, a leading corporate finance advisory firm in Paris, where he advised start-up companies through fundraising operations and M&A deals. Emmanuel de Maistre joined ManRos Therapeutics in 2008.

Aged 26, married (one child), Emmanuel is an entrepreneur-minded individual, also considered as a fast-tracker by close friends and family. He is a great fan of outdoor activities such as scuba diving, spearfishing, sailing, underwater hockey or rock climbing.

Image: The ManRos team (in 2010). From left to right: Laurent, Emeline, Joannah, Claire, Nassima, Arnaud, Guillaume, Hervé, Emmanuel, Kotalo. If you would like to join the team, please contact us.

Scientific Advisory Board

ManRos Therapeutics’ scientific Advisory Board gathers together a wide diversity of renowned experts and leaders in their fields:

• Jean-Pierre Bazureau, PhD, Professor in Organic Chemistry, Université de Rennes, France.
• Christian Berthou, MD, PhD, Head of the Department of Haematology, Centre Hospitalier de Brest, France.
• Christian Doerig, PhD, Research Director, INSERM, Wellcome Centre of Molecular Parasitology, The Anderson College, Glasgow, U.K.
• Marc Flajolet, PhD, Senior Research Associate, The Rockefeller University, Laboratory of Molecular and cellular Neurosciences (dir. Paul Greengard, Nobel Price), New York, USA.
• Sir Tim Hunt, PhD, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2001, Cancer Research, London Research Institute, Clare Hall Laboratories, South Mimms, Herts, U.K.
• Benoit Joseph, PhD, Professor in Chemistry, Laboratoire de Chimie Organique 1, Université Claude Bernard, Lyon 1, Lyon, France.
• Andrea Mussachio, PhD, Full Professor, Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
• Peter J. Nelson, MD, Assistant Professor in Nephrology, New York University School of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Smilow Research Center, New York, NY, USA.
• Li-Huei Tsai, PhD, Picower Professor of Neuroscience, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Investigator, RIKEN-MIT Neuroscience Research Center, Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
• Eric Raymond, MD, PhD, Professor of Medical Oncology at the University Paris VII (Denis Diderot), Head of the Department of Medical Oncology (Service Inter Hospitalier de Cancérologie) at Bichat-Beaujon University Hospitals in Paris.