Ghent, Belgium, 22 January 2025 – Tanai Therapeutics (“the Company” or “Tanai”), a VIB spin-off company developing a new therapeutic class of obesity treatments, today announces the appointment of Pieter Rottiers, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Director.

Pieter Rottiers, PhD, has a proven track record of leading start-ups and emerging biotechnology companies to success, demonstrating exceptional expertise in advancing innovative solutions. As CEO of Precigen ActoBio Inc., he spearheaded early-stage and clinical programs targeting gastrointestinal and autoimmune disorders. His prior senior roles at Intrexon Actobiotics NV, ActoGeniX NV, and VIB further highlight his leadership in driving breakthroughs in molecular biology and biotechnology.

“On behalf of Tanai’s Board of Directors, I am delighted to welcome  Pieter Rottiers as the CEO of our Company,” said  Sara Vandenwijngaert, Chair of Tanai. “With his exceptional leadership in biotech and drug development, Pieter is perfectly poised to guide our mission of pioneering innovative, first-in-class therapies for obesity. We are confident his expertise will drive meaningful progress for the Company.”

“I am honored to take on this important role at Tanai”, added  Pieter Rottiers. “Tanai’s novel drug target holds immense potential in addressing obesity, a growing global challenge that is linked to numerous comorbidities. Backed by a strong investor syndicate and the deep scientific expertise of our team, Tanai is uniquely positioned to make transformative impact. I look forward to leveraging my experience and working alongside this talented team to drive the Company’s success.”

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Bio Pieter Rottiers, PhD

Dr. Pieter Rottiers is a seasoned executive with extensive expertise in medical biotechnology and drug development. He brings a wealth of experience from leadership roles in innovative biotechnology companies.

Prior to joining Tanai Therapeutics, Dr. Rottiers served as CEO and Director of Precigen ActoBio Inc. starting in 2018, where he successfully advanced a diversified portfolio targeting gastrointestinal and autoimmune disorders, including overseeing early-stage and clinical development programs. Under his leadership, the company made significant progress in advancing therapeutic candidates through various stages of clinical development. From 2015 to 2018, he was Vice President at Intrexon Actobiotics NV  and served as Managing Director until 2024. Before that, he held senior roles at ActoGeniX NV, a VIB spin-off company acquired by Intrexon Corporation in 2015, and worked as Principal Investigator at the VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research.

Dr. Rottiers holds a PhD in Biotechnology from the University of Ghent and a postgraduate degree in Business Management from EHSAL Management School in Brussels.

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About Tanai Therapeutics

Tanai Therapeutics is a Belgian biotech company pioneering a novel treatment for obesity. It was founded in 2023 as a spin-off from VIB and UGent with the support of V-Bio Ventures and Qbic. Its scientific foundation originates from the ground-breaking research of Prof. Savvas Savvides and Prof. Charlotte Scott from the VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research. Tanai Therapeutics is developing an oral, first-in-class therapeutic targeting a genetically validated pathway in obesity critical to energy expenditure. The company has raised over EUR 6 million in seed financing from a syndicate of investors, including V-Bio Ventures, Qbic, VIB, BioGeneration Ventures and Novo Nordisk.

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