ProQR Appoints New CFO and CMO to Drive Axiomer Platform

Company - People | Apr 15, 2025 | Sofinnova Partners

ProQR Therapeutics NV, based in Leiden and Cambridge, has announced significant leadership changes with the appointments of Dennis Hom as Chief Financial Officer and Cristina Lopez Lopez as Chief Medical Officer. These appointments are part of ProQR's strategy to advance its Axiomer RNA editing technology into clinical stages. Dennis Hom brings extensive experience in financial leadership and corporate development, having raised $4.5 billion and executed transactions valued at $57 billion. His background includes roles at Sagimet Biosciences, Amgen, and Novartis. Dr. Cristina Lopez Lopez, joining from Johnson & Johnson, brings over 20 years of global leadership in translational R&D, particularly in neurodegeneration therapies. The departures of Jurriaan Dekkers and Ren Beukema mark a strategic transition as ProQR focuses on its breakthrough RNA editing platform, designed to create transformative therapies for genetic diseases. ProQR’s Axiomer technology uses the endogenous ADAR system for precise RNA editing, presenting a novel approach with potential for wide therapeutic applications. Forward-looking statements in the announcement underscore the anticipated impact on ProQR's development pipeline amidst global market challenges.

Sectors

  • Biotechnology
  • Pharmaceuticals

Geography

  • Netherlands – ProQR Therapeutics NV is based in Leiden, Netherlands, making it a significant location for the company's operations and development activities.
  • United States – ProQR maintains operations in Cambridge, Massachusetts, indicating a presence in the U.S., a major market and hub for biotech and pharmaceutical innovation.

Industry

  • Biotechnology – The article highlights ProQR Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focusing on RNA therapies, emphasizing their work on RNA editing technology and clinical development.
  • Pharmaceuticals – ProQR's Axiomer platform aims to develop new classes of therapeutics, fitting within the pharmaceutical industry's scope of drug development and therapeutic innovation.

Financials

    Participants

    NameRoleTypeDescription
    ProQR Therapeutics NVCompanyTarget CompanyA biotechnology firm developing transformative RNA therapies, utilizing its proprietary Axiomer platform for RNA editing.
    Dennis HomChief Financial OfficerPeopleAppointed as CFO of ProQR, bringing over 25 years of financial leadership, including notable achievements at Sagimet Biosciences, Amgen, and Novartis.
    Cristina Lopez LopezChief Medical OfficerPeopleAppointed as CMO at ProQR, with extensive experience in translational science and clinical development, previously serving at Johnson & Johnson.
    Sofinnova PartnersInvestorCompanyA private equity firm backing ProQR, contributing to its financial and strategic initiatives.
    Jurriaan DekkersOutgoing CFOPeopleStepping down from the CFO position at ProQR.
    Ren BeukemaOutgoing Chief Corporate Development OfficerPeopleStepping down from the role, having supported ProQR's strategic transition.
    LifeSci AdvisorsInvestor RelationsCompanyProvides investor relations services to ProQR, assisting with communications and investor engagement.