Thestra Ltd. announces that following the company’s Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting it has elected Tom Palenius as the new Chairman of the Board and Alexandra Gylfe from Nordic Science Investments (NSI) as a new Board member. The founders of Thestra Ltd Sami Ventelä and Jukka Westermarck will continue as members of the Board. The new Board is excited to proceed with the R&D enabled by the funding from NSI, to introduce Thestra’s unique solution EPLINEx™ for the diagnosis of aggressive HNSCC cancer.
The newly elected Chairman of the Board Tom Palenius says: “There is a real need for this kind of cancer diagnostics. I am thrilled to continue the journey with Thestra and support the company to its success. It is also a great privilege to chair such a well networked and skilled Board.”
As Mr Jaakko Rissanen, member of the Board of Thestra since its establishment in May 2023, decided to step aside, the entire Board warmly thanks him for his important and pivotal role. “Jaakko’s solid experience was crucial during the first year of the company and his input has been instrumental in developing the company strategy as well as in the negotiations for VC funding”, Palenius continues
The product developed by Thestra, EPLINEX™, offers a unique diagnostic solution for head and neck cancer patients. This type of product is currently completely missing from the cancer diagnostics market, thus there is a significant need for it. Thestra’s portfolio and pipeline are based on the long-term cooperation of Professor Jukka Westermarck and Docent Sami Ventelä.
“There is a real need for this kind of test to diagnose aggressive metastasizing HNSCC since there is no working solution available. EPLINEx™ test will enable both personalized HNSCC treatment and medication, thus lengthening patients’ life and reducing treatment costs”, summarize the founders Westermarck and Ventelä.
About
Tom Palenius has a long career in international diagnostics and biotechnology industry. His wide experience includes positions within R&D, production and international marketing, as well as company management and working as a board professional. He presently works as the CEO of Business Turku Ltd and holds several board memberships.
Alexandra Gylfe (PhD) is a founding partner at Nordic Science Investments (NSI), a venture capital fund focused on funding early-stage deep tech and life science companies. She brings in NSI’s expertise and contact networks to guide companies’ strategy and operational growth. Previously Alexandra has worked in different types of academic and business management positions in life sciences and biotechnology in Finland and the United States.
Thestra is a cancer diagnostics spin-out company from the University of Turku based on the long-term cooperation between the researchers of the University of Turku and the Turku University Central Hospital together with the AURIA biobank. Thestra develops a product that could be used to identify head and neck cancer patients whose disease could be cured with treatments that cause fewer side effects. Head and neck cancer (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer and is annually diagnosed in approximately 1 million new patients globally. The product developed by Thestra, EPLINEX™, offers a unique diagnostic solution for head and neck cancer patients, which could be used to identify the aggressiveness of head and neck cancer in the early stage of the disease.
The basic research on which EPLINEx™ is based has been supported by funding from the Academy of Finland and the Erkko Foundation, and the technology has been further refined before the company was founded with Business Finland’s” Research-to-Business” (R2B) funding.
Media Contacts
For further information please contact:
Matti Juvonen, Chief Business Officer at Thestra, email: matti.juvonen@thestra.fi , Tel:+358 40 5289784
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