Thestra Oy has appointed Juuso Juhila as Chief Executive Officer of the company effective April 1, 2026.
Juhila joins Thestra at an important stage in the company’s development as it advances the commercialization of its EPLINEX® technology for stratification of head and neck cancer patients.
Juuso Juhila has extensive experience in strategy, business development and building growth-oriented organizations. In his role as CEO, he will focus on strengthening Thestra’s strategic partnerships, supporting the company’s portfolio development and securing the resources needed for the next stages of commercialization.
Having previously served on Thestra’s Scientific Advisory Board, Juhila is already familiar with the company’s technology, strategy and development plans.
“Juuso brings a combination of operational and strategic experience in laboratory diagnostics business that is highly relevant for Thestra’s next phase,” said Tom Palenius, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Thestra Oy. “We are pleased to welcome him to lead the company as we continue to advance our product concepts and build the partnerships needed to bring them into clinical use.”
“I’m excited to join Thestra at this stage of the company’s journey,” said Juuso Juhila. “The company has developed a strong scientific foundation and a compelling opportunity to address an unmet need in cancer patient stratification. I look forward to working with the team and our partners to advance EPLINEX® and realize its potential in improving treatment decisions for patients.”
For further information:
Tom Palenius
Chairman of the Board, Thestra Oy
Tel. +358 40 550 1126
tom.palenius@thestra.fi
Thestra Oy (www.thestra.fi) is a growth-stage startup based in Turku, Finland, specializing in diagnostics for head and neck cancers. The company is founded on research collaboration between Sami Ventelä and Jukka Westermarck at the University of Turku and Turku University Hospital. Thestra’s proprietary EPLINEX® method aims to help patients avoid unnecessarily aggressive treatments and optimize healthcare costs. In addition, the company is developing an AI-based digital pathology solution to further refine patient prognoses and increase the reliability of treatment selection.