About Us

Chris Martin is a recognized leader in the biopharma industry who has taken therapeutic technology from the lab bench through to regulatory approval and global market sales. Over his career, he has raised more than $1.4 billion on the capital markets to support the development of his companies. He was instrumental in co-founding ADC Therapeutics in 2012 and served as its CEO from its inception until 2022. Under his tenure, the Swiss-based ADC Therapeutics grew from a private biotech start-up to a New York Stock Exchange listed leader in the field of antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) with products marketed worldwide. He co-founded and was the CEO of Spirogen Ltd, an innovator of ADC payload technology, which was subsequently sold to AstraZeneca for a total of up to $440 million. Currently chairing the boards of MyricxBio, Tagworks, Tokamak Energy Ltd. and serving on the boards of Osivax SAS, Solcom Ltd. and Senya therapeutics (all private companies), Chris Martin holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Aston University, a DPhil in Engineering Science from the University of Oxford, and an MBA from IMD Business School. He is a British citizen and lives in Switzerland.

Patrick Langlois, a director since 2008, was the CFO and Vice-Chairman of the Management Board of Aventis from 2002 to 2005 and served for 30 years in various senior financial functions at Rhône-Poulenc and the Aventis Group in France and the USA. Prior to that, he was with Banque Louis-Dreyfus. He currently is General Partner of PJL Conseils, a consulting firm in healthcare. He holds a doctorate in economics from the University of Rennes (France). Patrick Langlois is Director on the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Innate Pharma S.A. (France) and Chairman of Sensorion S.A. (France). He is French. Patrick is the Chairman of Newron’s audit and risk committee and member of the compensation and nomination committee.

Luca Benatti is Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of TES Pharma. He has over 30 years’ experience in Pharma and Biotech. He was the CEO of EryDel since 2012, recently acquired by Quince Therapeutics. and the Co-founder and CEO of Newron Pharmaceuticals. Under his guidance, Newron developed a pipeline of innovative therapies including Xadago, approved worldwide for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. He is an independent Board member at Newron Pharmaceuticals (NWRN), Quince (QNCX), Cas Revolution, Chairman of the Italian Angels for Biotech, Member of the Advisory Board of the Sofinnova-Telethon fund. He has authored several scientific publications and holds numerous patents. Luca is Italian citizen. Luca is a member of the R&D and the audit and risk committees. Luca is Italian citizen

Gillian is the Chief Scientific Officer at Juvenescence UK LTD since October 2023 and has 30+ years of experience in research, development, approval, and commercialization of new medicines in both “Big Pharma” and as an entrepreneur in the biotech environment. She holds a Master of Science in Toxicology from the University of Surrey and a Bachelor of Science from University of Leeds in Biochemistry and Genetics. Before her current role in Juvenescence, she was Senior Vice President and Head of Research and Early Development at Jazz Pharmaceuticals, SVP R&D Operations at GW Pharmaceuticals and also VP Head of New Medicines Strategic Planning at UCB. One of her key roles in 2008 was Company Director and Chief Development Officer at RespiVert, a UK based biotech that delivered clinical phase assets from start-up to acquisition by global pharma player in only 18 months, within £20M budget. Her previous experience covers various leadership roles at GlaxoSmithKline. In her career she led 20+ novel medicines and devices through successful IND and clinical submissions in areas of respiratory, immunology, rare disease, anti-infective and neurology therapy areas. Gillian is member of the BD committee. She is English

Margarita Chavez brings to Newron over 20 years of dealmaking expertise and leadership in the pharmaceutical industry. Most recently, she was Managing Director of AbbVie Ventures, where she led investments and built biotech companies across the US and Europe.  Margarita also served as a board member for several biotech companies across the US and Europe. As a Director in Abbott’s Global Pharmaceutical Licensing & Acquisitions Division, she was involved in the successful in-licensing of Elagolix and the acquisitions of Solvay, ImmuVen and the Lupron franchise. Before joining Abbott, Margarita practiced as a corporate and securities lawyer in the Silicon Valley, advising tech and biotech companies on strategic transactions including IPOs and mergers and acquisitions. She received her bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University and her juris doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law (both California). She is currently a Venture Partner at Wellington Partners and has been acting as advisor to Newron’s board since October 1, 2023. Margarita is the Chairwoman of Newron’s BD committee, member of the R&D and audit and risk committees. She is American.

Stefan Weber was appointed Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Newron in 2012. He had been Chief Financial Officer of the Company since April 2005. Stefan holds a master’s degree in business management from FernUniversität Hagen (Diplom-Kaufmann). He has more than 30 years of industry experience in finance and general management. From 2001 to 2005, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Biofrontera, a company active in drug discovery and development. He joined Girindus, a fine chemistry process development and scale-up provider, in 1999, and was appointed Chief Financial Officer in 2000. From 1987 to 1999, he was with Lohmann Group, a worldwide producer of pharmaceutical, medical, technical and consumer products. His final position was Head of Finance of the Group. Stefan has executed numerous major financing transactions, debt, equity and mezzanine as well as national and European grants. He has also executed successful IPOs to the Frankfurt and Zurich stock exchanges and has been involved in a number of M&A transactions, divestments and strategic restructurings. He is German.