Our Team
Who We Are
We're a passionate team of scientists, researchers, and innovators dedicated to revolutionizing drug discovery with AI-powered solutions.
Curiosity and Passion United by a Common Mission
Our team combines diverse expertise from scientific research, AI, and drug development to address complex pharmaceutical challenges.
Scientific Excellence
Our team brings decades of expertise across chemistry, biology, and computational sciences.
AI-Driven Innovation & Collaboration
We leverage cutting-edge machine learning alongside our interdisciplinary approach to transform drug discovery.
Patient-Centered Purpose
Our shared mission is to accelerate breakthroughs for patients facing serious unmet medical needs.
Leadership
Team
Our experienced leadership team brings decades of expertise in drug discovery, computational chemistry, and successful pharmaceutical development to drive our mission forward.
Mark Pykett, PhD, VMD, MBA
Chief Executive Officer
Bringing nearly 30 years of experience in pharmaceutical leadership with a track record of multiple FDA approvals and successful exits.
Artem Evdokimov, PhD
Head of Research
Leveraging over 25 years of experience in pharma and biotech to advance cutting-edge science towards life-saving medicines.
Hajnalka E. Hartl
Head of Chemistry
Seasoned synthetic and medicinal chemist with over 20 years of experience in small molecule design and DNA Encoded Library technology.
Sasha Litovchick, MD, PhD
Head of DEL
Startup veteran with over 25 years of experience in selection technologies including DEL and mRNA display from the inception of the field.
Chris Mulhern
Head of Machine Learning and Data Science Computation
Bringing nearly a decade of small molecule discovery experience with deep expertise in ML for drug discovery across 200+ DEL campaigns.
Dominique Potin, PhD
Senior Principal Scientist
Experienced medicinal chemist with a track record of innovative drug design across multiple therapeutic areas and various target types.
Jeff Allen, PhD
Head of Nonclinical Sciences
Toxicologist and pharmacologist with over 20 years of experience performing and managing toxicology and efficacy studies across industry, CROs, and academia.
Research
Team
Our research team combines expertise in medicinal chemistry, structural biology, machine learning, and DNA-encoded library technology to advance our novel small molecule candidates for immuno-inflammatory diseases.
Alex Rizzo, PhD
Principal Scientist
Protein Science & Structural Biology
Valentina Shchedrina, PhD
Senior Research Scientist
Molecular Biology & Protein Biochemistry
Harry Stern, PhD
Senior Research Scientist
Theoretical Chemistry & Molecular Simulation
Kevin Wielenberg, PhD
Senior Research Scientist
Medicinal Chemistry
Christina Lam
Lab Manager and Senior Research Associate
Molecular Biology & Lab Management
Jane Dubrovsky
Research Associate
Cell Culture & Protein Purification
Caleb Phillips
Research Associate
Molecular Biology & Structural Biology
Ruth Hailemichael
Research Associate
DEL Screening & Biophysical Assays
Board of
Directors
Our Board of Directors brings together accomplished industry veterans with deep experience in biotech, pharmaceuticals, drug development, and strategic leadership to guide Orogen's future.
Mikael Dolsten
Chairman
Former Chief Scientific Officer and President of R&D at Pfizer with a 30+ year career overseeing 36+ medicine and vaccine approvals.
Phil Austin
Board of Directors
Founder and Managing Partner at Anterra Capital, leading their US office and Life Sciences investment team.
Marijn Dekkers
Board of Directors
Chairman of Novalis Capital Partners with past leadership as CEO of Bayer AG and Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Dieter Weinand
Board of Directors
Former CEO and chairman of Bayer Pharmaceuticals AG with 30+ years of pharmaceutical industry leadership experience.
Mark Pykett, PhD, VMD, MBA
Chief Executive Officer
Bringing nearly 30 years of experience in pharmaceutical leadership with a track record of multiple FDA approvals and successful exits.
Our Culture
Collaborative Innovation
We foster a culture where diverse perspectives drive scientific breakthroughs and technology innovation.
Continuous Learning
Our team members are encouraged to develop their expertise through mentorship, research, and professional development.
Meaningful Impact
Every team member contributes to our mission of developing life-changing therapies for patients with unmet needs.
"Orogen is elevating new heights in drug discovery, integrating massive chemical libraries, target-specific screening, and AI-based computation to propel the generation of novel medicines."
Mark Pykett
CEO, Orogen Therapeutics