Schönefeld, Germany, 3 February 2026 – Kupando, a pioneering biopharmaceutical company developing a TLR 4/7 agonist that stimulates innate immunity and induces trained immunity for use in oncology and infectious diseases, today announced the appointment of Jörn Aldag as Chair of its Board of Directors. Jörn succeeds Wolfram Nothaft, MD, who served as Interim Chair during a pivotal period of transition and who will continue to support the company as Deputy Chair.
Jörn joins Kupando at a significant moment as the company prepares to advance into a clinical-stage organisation. Kupando’s disruptive approach harnesses the power of innate immune stimulation and induction of trained innate immunity by dual Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) agonists. Its lead candidate, KUP101, is a differentiated dual TLR 4 and 7 agonist with a robust preclinical profile and a clear path to the clinic. KUP101 is ideally suited for the systemic treatment of solid tumors (tissue agnostic), and the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, including antimicrobial-resistant infections.
“We are delighted to welcome Jörn as our Chair,” said Johanna Holldack, MD, Founder and CEO of Kupando. “Driven by the natural resilience observed in animals relying solely on innate immunity, we founded Kupando to elevate this historically undervalued system into a core therapeutic approach. 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.”
Jörn Aldag, Kupando’s new Chair commented: “Kupando’s approach to stimulating the innate immune system and inducing trained immunity represents a step-change in immunotherapy. The ability to reprogram the body’s natural defence mechanisms offers a highly differentiated therapeutic window for both oncology and infectious diseases. I am honoured to join Johanna and the team to help steer KUP101 toward delivering transformative outcomes for patients.”
Jörn brings over three decades of executive leadership to the table, having served as CEO of Hookipa Pharma (NASDAQ: HOOK) until 2024. His career highlights include leading uniQure N.V. to the first-ever Western gene therapy approval and transforming Evotec AG through strategic M&A and dual-listings on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and NASDAQ.
With this appointment, the Kupando Board now comprises Jörn Aldag as Chair and Wolfram Nothaft, MD, as Deputy Chair. The Board is further composed of three members: Kazuhiko Nonomura, PhD (representing Remiges Ventures), Gerhard Ries, PhD (representing a private foundation) and Moritz Beissenhirtz, PhD (representing Brandenburg Kapital).
Jörn Aldag, Chair of Kupando
Jörn Aldag is a preeminent leader in the global biotechnology sector, renowned for his expertise in scaling platform-based companies and navigating advanced therapies through complex regulatory and capital markets. He currently serves as Chair for several innovative life sciences organizations, including Genespire, Milano, Captain T Cell, Berlin, and HHC Medical, Copenhagen. In addition to his corporate leadership, he contributes actively to the pan-European political movement Volt Europa.
Mr Aldag most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Hookipa Pharma (NASDAQ: HOOK) from 2016 to 2024. Under his leadership, the company advanced a novel class of immunotherapeutics targeting infectious diseases and oncology based on a proprietary arenavirus platform, successfully navigating the transition from a private startup to a publicly listed clinical-stage pioneer.
Throughout his career, Mr Aldag has been a trailblazer in the field of genetic medicine. As CEO of uniQure N.V. (2009–2015), he steered the company to the historic milestone of receiving the first-ever approval for a gene therapy product (Glybera) by the European Medicines Agency. His tenure included a successful NASDAQ IPO and a multi-billion-dollar strategic collaboration in the cardiovascular space.
His foundational leadership experience includes serving as President and CEO of Evotec AG from 1997 to 2008. During this period, he transformed the company through high-value pharmaceutical alliances, dual-listings on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and NASDAQ, and the strategic acquisitions of Oxford Asymmetry and Renovis Inc.
An active figure in the biotech ecosystem, Mr Aldag co-founded G7 Therapeutics (sold to Heptares in 2016) and held long-term governance roles as Chair of Molecular Partners (2007–2018) in Zurich and as Board Member of Idorsia, Basel.
Mr Aldag holds business degrees from the European Business School and is an alumnus of the Advanced Management Program (AMP) at Harvard Business School.
Notes to editors:
About Kupando
KUPANDO is a pioneering biotech company focused on developing innovative therapies to address critical unmet medical needs in cancer and infectious diseases. Its disruptive approach harnesses the power of innate immune stimulation and induction of trained innate immunity by dual Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) agonists. This unique modality underpins the Company’s pipeline of first-in-class, differentiated small molecules with the potential to transform the management of these challenging diseases. Its lead candidate, KUP101, is a differentiated dual TLR 4 and 7 agonist with a robust preclinical profile and a clear path to the clinic.
Kupando is headquartered in Schönefeld, Germany and is backed by specialist institutional investors including Remiges Ventures, LifeCarePartners, Brandenburg Kapital, High-Tech Gründerfonds, Ventura Biomed Investors, Carma Fund Management and undisclosed family offices.
For more information: www.kupando.com
For further information, please contact:
Johanna Holldack, MD
CEO
jholldack@kupando.com
www.kupando.com
