Board of Directors
Jean François Biry, Chairman and CEO
Mr Jean François Biry was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DBV Technologies in 2005. Before joining DBV Technologies, Jean-François was President at Laboratoires Codepharma, where under his management the Company launched the first contraceptive patch to the French market in 2004. Prior to this position he was CEO of Groupe Cider Sante, a service provider for the healthcare industry, for almost a decade. With his extensive management experience, Mr Biry leads the Company in the commercialisation of the Diallertest® product range and the development of novel applications of VIASKIN® technology.
Dr. Pierre-Henri Benhamou, CMO
Dr. Pierre-Henri Benhamou is a joint Founder and Chief Medical Officer of DBV Technologies. After studying medicine in Paris, Dr. Benhamou graduated in Paediatrics from Amiens University and went on to specialise in paediatric gastroenterology. Dr. Benhamou has held a number of senior clinical positions including Senior Consultant at St Vincent de Paul Hospital in Paris. From 1989, Dr. Benhamou took up a position at the Centre for Digestive Exploration of Infants at the Surgical Clinic of Boulogne-Billancourt where he specialised in paediatric gastro-enterology and nutrition. Dr. Benhamou was the winner of the Altran Foundation Prize for Innovation in 2003, for his work on the development of patch tests for diagnosis of cow’s milk allergy.
Rafaèle Tordjman MD PhD
Dr Tordjman has been a partner at Sofinnova Partners since 2001. Prior to this position, Dr. Tordjman worked as a research scientist at the Institut National de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), in Cochin Hospital, Paris, France. Dr. Tordjman graduated with a medical degree and specialisation in Haematology and Internal Medicine following a 5 year fellowship in Paris University Hospitals (Ancien Interne des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP). Dr. Tordjman attained a PhD., with high honours, in haematopoiesis and angiogenesis from the University Paris VII followed by a post-doctoral fellowship in immunology. In 2002, she was a member of the “Young Manager Program” at INSEAD. Dr. Tordjman is a board member of Endoart, Endotis SA and DBV Technologies and observer of Corevalve SA supervisory board.
Laurent Ganem MD
Dr Ganem began his professional career in 1986 at Baxter International in the US. Upon his return to France in 1988, Dr Ganem founded a company that specialised in life science technology transfers and product development where he was General Manager until 1992. During that time, Dr Ganem was also a consultant for mergers, acquisitions and licensing, in association with the French merchant Bank, Eurofinance, where he completed transactions in various sectors including industrial operations, services and distribution. Dr Ganem joined Apax Partners France in 1994, as a Partner in charge of Healthcare/Biotechnology where he realised investments in biotechnology, bio-pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and healthcare services at all stages of development, ranging from early stage venture, to growth and leveraged buy-outs. Dr Ganem was the original financial founder of the French biopharmaceutical company Nicox (listed on Euronext) and served on its Board until 2002. Dr Ganem left Apax Partners in June 2007 however is currently a Board Member of several Apax Partners France Healthcare portfolio companies, including Galapagos (listed on Euronext in Belgium and Holland), Biolipox and Capio AB (in Sweden), Neurotech and Corevalve (in the US), Newron (in Italy, listed on the Swiss Stock exchange), Vedici, Hybrigenics and DBV. Dr Ganem graduated from the Paris University of Medicine in 1983 and holds an MBA from Columbia University, New York (1986).
Stéphane Thiroloix
Mr. Thiroloix started his career at Roussel Uclaf where he gained marketing, product launch and sales experience, leading to his appointment as Managing Director of the Australian and New Zealand affiliates of Roussel Uclaf (Rousell was bought by Hoechst in 1997). After a brief spell working at Len Medical in France, Mr. Thiroloix was approached by SmithKline Beecham France (now GlaxoSmithKline) where he took a role as VP and Director of Sales. Having moved into big pharma, Mr. Thiroloix next moved to Bristol-Myers Squibb where he was in charge of sales related activities and then general management. Currently, Mr. Thiroloix is Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at Ipsen where he leads preclinical, clinical and pharmaceutical development as well as corporate business development, global regulatory affairs and legal affairs.
Torbjorn Bjerke MD
Dr Bjerke provides further insight and expertise into the field of allergy treatment from his extensive allergy experience as CEO Biolipox, a Swedish pharmaceutical company that develops new treatments for inflammatory diseases. Prior to this role, Dr. Bjerke was Executive Vice President of R&D at ALK-Abello and has previously held Director of Research positions at AstraZeneca.