Our Team
Experience Leadership & Scientific Excellence
Pepdura is led by a distinguished team with decades of experience in pharmaceutical innovation and business leadership, reflecting a blend of strategic vision and scientific expertise. The team's collective accomplishments and dedication fuel Pepdura's mission to advance drug development and meet the evolving needs of patients globally. Complementing our internal expertise, Pepdura's extensive network includes renowned scientific and clinical advisors, as well as experienced Contract Research Organizations, all dedicated to excellence in preclinical development.
- Management -
Kjell Stenberg
Chief Executive Officer
Kjell Stenberg, CEO has served at AstraZeneca Plc at different R&D management positions for 20 years followed by 10 years as AZ’s Global License Director Neurology. After AZ, he has funded, co-founded and managed biotech companies in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Canada and Switzerland.; Combio A/S, CePeP AB, Orexo AB, ACQ Med AB, BioMS Medical Ltd, Medwell Capital, Accequa AB, Aptahem AB, Cyxone AB, Galecto Biotech A/S, Acctena AB, Novation Pharma, Notify Therapeutics A/S, Nodes Advisors.
He has been awarded the Scrips “Licensing Deal of the Year” in 2009 for the MS-peptide drug dirucotide with Eli Lilly.
Christian Gruber
Chief Scientific Officer
Christian Gruber, CSO is Associate Professor at the Medical University of Vienna (Austria). His research focus is the biological function, structure-activity relationship and pharmacological mechanism of nature-derived peptides targeting GPCRs. He won the EFMC Prize for a Young Medicinal Chemist in Academia by the European Federation for Medicinal Chemistry (2017) and the Heribert-Konzett Award by the Austrian Pharmacological Society (2013). He is member elect of the “Max-Bergmann-Kreis”, Associate Editor of the British Journal of Pharmacology and Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. He has published over 90 manuscripts and patent applications.
- Non-Executive Directors -
Member of the Board
Ajay Agrawal
Dr. Ajay K Agrawal, Chairman is currently the Managing Director of Europe & amp. Board Member of Ignite Capital Partners, Inc. USA, and Board Member of GlycaNova AS, Norway. He is an experienced entrepreneur in the biotech and pharma industry, serving as a chairman, board director of companies in the UK, Europe, and USA and playing a vital role in shaping their aims, values, and strategic goals, particularly on business development and fundraising. Previously, he was a founder of polyMASC pharmaceuticals plc London and special advisor on healthcare for the Commonwealth Business Council, London. Other former roles include board director of Immunpharma plc, London, Accron Acunova GmbH, Germany, an award-winning CRO Clinova Pharmaceuticals, London, Advisor Board Member of Valirx plc, Chairman of Acctena AB in Sweden; and member of the Development Board of Buckingham Medical School.
Member of the Board
Claes Post
Dr. Claes Post is General Partner at STOAF III Scitech, a Swedish VC fund with 20 portfolio companies in Life Science, Industrial Biotech, and Sustainability. He currently serves on the boards of Developeration, Resitu Medical, Abarceo Pharma, and Vakona. He was CEO of Melacure Therapeutics, Aprea AB, and Karolinska Institutet Innovations AB, and held investment roles at ALMI Invest, Karolinska Innovations, Linköping University Innovations Office, Nordic Biotech Advisors, Danske Life Science, and HealthCap. He also served on the boards of the Swedish Pharmaceutical Society and Uppsala Berzelii Centre, and is a member of the Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala. Dr. Post holds a pharmacy degree from Uppsala University, a Pharm Dr from Linköping University, and is Associate Professor of Neuropharmacology. He was VP of Preclinical R&D at Astra (1981–1994) and SVP CNS R&D at Pharmacia/Pharmacia & Upjohn in Milan (1994–1999).