About us
A biopharmaceutical company
We are committed to advancing the next generation of Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADC), driving the transition to the new era of multifunctional therapies and precision oncology. Founded by leaders with a global mindset across oncology, chemistry and drug development, Adcytherix combines deep industrial experience with an agile, execution-driven operating model.
We focus on areas of high unmet medical need, turning the latest advances in payload science, conjugation design and translational research into meaningful clinical changes. Driven by a bold ambition, our team is building a highly differentiated ADC franchise to tackle cancers that still resist today’s science and technology.
Driving the development of transformational ADC technology
At Adcytherix, we believe that innovation in payload chemistry and sophisticated conjugation engineering shape the future of ADCs. Overcoming resistance, enhancing efficacy, and fine-tuning the balance between stability and payload release are the three levers that will enable ADCs to expand the curative potential of targeted therapies.
By harnessing clinically validated payloads and integrating them into optimized, next-generation ADC designs, we aim to broaden the therapeutic window and addressable indications of ADCs in oncology.
Transforming Innovation into Patient Impact
At Adcytherix, transforming innovation into patient impact means looking beyond the science to understand the real-world needs of people living with cancer and those who support them. A diagnosis affects not only patients, but also their families, care partners, and the broader community.
By designing ADCs that address resistance and deliver greater precision, tolerability, and meaningful clinical benefits, we aim to improve outcomes and quality of life. We value the insights of patients, advocacy groups, and care networks, whose experiences help shape therapies that truly meet patient needs. Our commitment extends beyond developing next-generation ADCs: we strive to be a responsible, engaged, and compassionate partner to the cancer community.
Team
Adcytherix was founded by Jack Elands and Pontifax Venture Capital.
Adcytherix is led by a seasoned management team and is supported by a network of world-leading experts in the field of ADC development.
Management team
Jack Elands
Founder, Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Jack Elands brings extensive ADC and biotech leadership experience as founder and former CEO of Emergence Therapeutics, Talix Therapeutics, and has also served as CEO of BliNK Biomedical, co-founder and CEO of Amakem, CEO of Vitec, and co-founder of MImAbs
Jan H.M. Schellens
Chief Medical Officer
Dr Jan Schellens is a medical oncologist and clinical pharmacologist with leadership roles as CMO at multiple biotechs, and former staff member Dept. Medical Oncology, Head Dept. Clinical Pharmacology at the Netherlands Cancer Institute and Professor at Utrecht University. With 20+ years in clinical development and 15 years in drug regulation, including Chair of the EMA Scientific Advisory Group on Oncology, he brings deep clinical and regulatory expertise
Xavier Preville
Co-founder, VP and head of research & preclinical development
Dr. Xavier Preville is co-founder and former CSO of Emergence Therapeutics, and previously served as CSO at Talix Therapeutics and director of preclinical development at Transgene and BT Pharma (Genticel). He brings deep ADC biology and translational expertise to drive Adcytherix’s preclinical pipeline
Thierry Menguy
VP and head of CMC operations
Dr. Thierry Menguy, former head of CMC at LinKinVax and Chief Technical Officer and co-founder of ElsaLys Biotech. He has also held senior CMC and of large molecules R&D roles at Transgene. He brings extensive CMC leadership to secure robust, scalable development of Adcytherix’s programs
Jaime Arango
Chief Financial Officer
Jaime Arango, MBA, brings over 20 years in biopharma experience, having served as CFO of TreeFrog Therapeutics and Medincell where he led its IPO, and previously held finance leadership roles at Biogen and Merck & Co. He brings strong strategic and financial leadership to support Adcytherix’s growth and execution
Inka Pawlitzky
VP and head of clinical development
Former senior medical director and oncology program lead at Faron Pharmaceuticals, with prior roles in oncology development at Allucent and as consultant at SMS Oncology, Dr. Inka Pawlitzky brings strong clinical strategy and trial execution expertise to advance Adcytherix’s ADC candidates
Julia Gavrilyuk
VP and head of ADC technology development
Dr. Julia Gavrilyuk, co-founder and former CEO of Yarrow Therapeutics and senior scientist at Abbvie and Stemcentrx, brings payload and chemistry engineering expertise to shape Adcytherix’s next-generation ADC designs
Holger Karsunky
VP and Head of ADC Discovery
Dr. Holger Karsunky, co-founder and former CSO of Yarrow Therapeutics, and former oncology discovery leader at Abbvie Stemcentrx and Cellerant Therapeutics, brings broad discovery and preclinical experience to advance Adcytherix’s early ADC portfolio
Supervisory Committee
Jack Elands
President of Adcytherix
Iyona Rajkomar
Managing Partner at DawnBiopharma (a platform controlled by KKR)
Ohad Hammer
Partner at Pontifax Venture Capital
Olivier Martinez
Senior Investment Director at Bpifrance’s InnoBio funds
Peter Neubeck
Partner at Kurma Partners
Regina Hodits
Managing Director at Angelini Ventures
Sofia Ioannidou
Partner at Andera Partners
Ximing Ding
Principal at Pureos Bioventures
Laurent Higueret of Bpifrance, Reut Shema of aMoon, Matthew Hammond of RA Capital Management and Ran Nussbaum of Pontifax are observers on the company’s supervisory committee.
Investors
Pipeline
The Adcytherix portfolio spans multiple proprietary payload classes and targets. Our strategy is to establish a first-in-class ADC franchise capable of treating tumors that remain out of reach for current therapies. Our leading drug candidate, ADCX-020, is advancing toward clinical evaluation, supported by a €105 million Series A financing.
Building a highly differentiated ADC portfolio
ADCX-020
Leading drug candidate
€105 million Series A financing
