Kupando strengthens board with seasoned biotech chair to drive innate immunity platform forward
Kupando, a German biopharmaceutical company focused on innate immune stimulation, has appointed Jörn Aldag as Chair of its Board of Directors, signalling a strategic push towards clinical-stage development of its lead TLR 4/7 agonist candidate, KUP101.
Aldag, who served as CEO of Hookipa Pharma until 2024, brings more than three decades of executive leadership in the biopharmaceutical sector. His career includes guiding uniQure N.V. to the first-ever Western gene therapy regulatory approval and overseeing the transformation of Evotec AG through strategic mergers and acquisitions and dual-listings on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. He succeeds Wolfram Nothaft, MD, who served as Interim Chair and will remain on the board as Deputy Chair.
KUP101: a dual receptor approach to oncology and infectious disease
KUP101 is a differentiated dual Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) 4 and 7 agonist designed to stimulate innate immunity and induce trained innate immunity — a form of immunological memory within the innate system. The candidate is being developed for the systemic treatment of solid tumours on a tissue-agnostic basis, as well as for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, including antimicrobial-resistant infections. Kupando reports a robust preclinical profile and a defined path to first-in-human studies.
Scientific rationale rooted in comparative immunology
The company’s founding concept draws on observations of natural resilience in animal species that rely solely on innate immunity. Johanna Holldack, MD, Founder and CEO of Kupando, said: “Jörn’s unparalleled track record in pioneering advanced medicinal products aligns perfectly with our vision. His strategic insight will be invaluable as we move KUP101 toward the clinic.”
Aldag commented: “The ability to reprogram the body’s natural defence mechanisms offers a highly differentiated therapeutic window for both oncology and infectious diseases.”
The reconstituted board now includes Aldag as Chair, Nothaft as Deputy Chair, and three additional members representing Remiges Ventures, a private foundation, and Brandenburg Kapital.
Jörn Aldag
