Resalis Therapeutics is led by an experienced team with significant pharmaceutical industry, scientific and RNA medicine expertise. The company is also supported by a visionary Board as well as trusted advisors.
Team
Alessandro Toniolo
Chief Executive Officer
Alessandro Toniolo
Chief Executive Officer
Alessandro joined Resalis as CEO in October 2022 after 20 years in positions with increasing responsibility in the pharma industry. He worked in commercial roles at Italian, European and global companies including Merck, Pfizer, Shire and Novartis. Prior to joining Resalis, Alessandro was Novartis’ Head of Immunology as well as Head of Respiratory and Allergy franchises in Italy. He is also a Business Angel supporting multiple oncology startup companies on behalf of Italian Angels for Growth. Alessandro holds an MSc in Chemistry from the University of Pisa and a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Milan.
Almut Nitsche
Chief Medical and Development Officer
Almut Nitsche
Chief Medical and Development Officer
Almut is the Chief Medical and Development Officer of Resalis. Prior to joining Resalis, she served as an advisor to Proxidrugs and worked for over 17 years at Sanofi, holding key positions such as Project Director for Early Development and Project Director R&D in the Diabetes Division. Before this, she held positions at Aventis (acquired by Sanofi) and Hoechst Marion Roussel Genomic Center. As part of her commitment to therapeutic innovation in the metabolic space, Almut also served as a Management Board Member at INNODIA, an international non-profit organization accelerating the development of new cures for type 1 diabetes. Almut holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Stuttgart.
Riccardo Panella
Chief Scientific Officer & Co-Founder
Riccardo Panella
Chief Scientific Officer & Co-Founder
Riccardo is co-founder and CSO of Resalis. He serves as Associate Professor at the Center for RNA Medicine, in the Department of Clinical Medicine of Aalborg University. His research activities are focused on exploring the contribution of non-coding RNA ,specifically microRNA, to human metabolism and cancer progression. His aim is to develop new RNA based therapies for unmet medical needs. Before joining Aalborg University, Riccardo carried on his research activities at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, part of the Harvard Medical School, where he developed and characterized several genetic engineered mouse models and executed a vast plethora of pre-clinical in-vivo experiments designed to optimize new therapeutic paradigm for metabolic disfunctions. Riccardo is part of an international research group led by Prof Kauppinen to develop new therapeutic approaches in the MASH/MAFLD space.
Sakari Kauppinen
Chief Technology Officer & Co-Founder
Sakari Kauppinen
Chief Technology Officer & Co-Founder
Sakari is co-founder and CTO of Resalis. He serves as Professor at the Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University and Director of the Center for RNA Medicine. His research program focuses on exploring the roles of noncoding RNAs in human health and disease and discovering RNA-targeted therapeutics for unmet medical needs. Before joining Aalborg University, Sakari was Senior Director of microRNA Research and Drug Discovery at Santaris Pharma (acquired by Roche in 2014), where he supervised the discovery of miravirsen – the world’s first microRNA-targeted drug. He was also a member of the clinical development team that successfully advanced miravirsen to clinical phase 2 trials with on-target efficacy against HCV infection and a good safety profile. Sakari is co-founder of NEUmiRNA Therapeutics and received $9.2M in 2019 from the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Challenge Program for a Research Consortium to advance development of new therapies for the treatment of MASH.
Thomas Eichinger
Chief Technical Development Officer
Thomas Eichinger
Chief Technical Development Officer
Thomas is the Chief Technical Development Officer of Resalis, leading the company’s efforts in advancing pharmaceutical development from research to commercialization. With over 33 years of experience at Sanofi and its predecessor companies, Thomas has held various R&D leadership roles, culminating in his position as Global Head of CMC Dossiers. Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in bringing multiple drugs to market, acting as a CMC expert for major regulatory submissions in the EU. His expertise spans the entire pharmaceutical value chain, with a focus on transferring drugs from research into development and successfully navigating the path to commercialization. A registered pharmacist with a PhD in Organic Chemistry from Heidelberg University, Thomas combines deep scientific knowledge with a pragmatic approach to pharmaceutical development. At Resalis, he is dedicated to leveraging his extensive experience to drive innovation and ensure the successful translation of research into impactful therapies.
Maria Vittoria Verga Falzacappa
Publication Lead
Maria Vittoria Verga Falzacappa
Publication Lead
Maria Vittoria is the Publication Lead of Resalis, overseeing the development and execution of the company’s scientific communication strategies. With a PhD in Molecular Medicine from Heidelberg University and over 15 years of experience in hematology, oncology, and immunology, she brings extensive expertise in translating complex scientific data into impactful narratives. Before joining Resalis, Maria Vittoria managed medical writing activities at Edra, a leading Italian agency specializing in medical communication, and worked for 10 years as a researcher at the European Institute of Oncology. She is author of several peer-reviewed publications and faculty member for accredited professional courses on medical writing and the use of artificial intelligence in scientific communication. Maria Vittoria is passionate about advancing science through clear and effective communication.
Luca Borgio
Head of Operations
Luca Borgio
Head of Operations
Luca is the Head of Operations of Resalis. With a strong dual background in Business Administration and technical expertise, Luca brings a unique perspective that bridges organizational strategy and practical execution. He has extensive international experience as a portfolio and program manager across NGO, CRO, Pharma, and Biotech sectors, successfully leading complex projects and programs. His ability to combine analytical skills with interpersonal and communication strengths has been key to his career achievements. Before joining Resalis, Luca gained significant expertise managing multidisciplinary teams and driving value creation for stakeholders through disciplined leadership and innovative solutions. Luca is passionate about contributing to Resalis’ mission by delivering operational excellence that benefits the company and its stakeholders.
Anna Altieri
Translational Research Associate
Anna Altieri
Translational Research Associate
Anna is the Translational Research Associate of Resalis Therapeutics. She supports the coordination of clinical studies, ensuring seamless integration between research phases. Anna holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from the University of Perugia and a Master’s degree in Medical Biotechnology from the University of Trieste. Her academic research focused on developing and characterizing iPSC-derived human liver organoids. She later honed her knowledge in non-coding RNA manipulation during her tenure at the Center for RNA Medicine in Copenhagen. With a strong expertise in RNA modification and preclinical models, Anna brings valuable knowledge and hands-on experience to her role, contributing to Resalis’ mission of advancing innovative therapies.
Barbara Domizzi
Project Coordinator and Budget Planner
Barbara Domizzi
Project Coordinator and Budget Planner
Barbara joined Resalis in May 23 as Project Coordinator and Budget Planner. She worked in marketing and admin/finance roles at several global and European pharma companies such as Basf, Abbott, Novartis. Before joining Resalis she was Novartis’ Budget Planner in Respiratory and Immunology Franchise.
Board of Directors
Pietro Puglisi
Chairman
Pietro Puglisi
Chairman
Pietro is a founding partner at Claris Ventures, an investment firm based in Turin, Italy, with a focus on early-stage biotech ventures. He has over a decade of experience in life sciences investments and innovation. Prior to launching Claris Ventures, he was involved in the financing rounds of several biopharma startup companies based in Italy where he played active roles, including as an independent director at Kither Biotech and Restorative Neurotechnologies. He started his career at LifeSciences Consultants in 2010 and later joined the healthcare practice of Innogest Capital. Pietro holds an MSc in Biomedical Engineering from Politecnico di Torino and an MBA from Collége des Ingenièurs, France/Italy.
Alessandro Toniolo
Chief Executive Officer
Alessandro Toniolo
Chief Executive Officer
Alessandro joined Resalis as CEO in October 2022 after 20 years in positions with increasing responsibility in the pharma industry. He worked in commercial roles at Italian, European and global companies including Merck, Pfizer, Shire and Novartis. Prior to joining Resalis, Alessandro was Novartis’ Head of Immunology as well as Head of Respiratory and Allergy franchises in Italy. He is also a Business Angel supporting multiple oncology startup companies on behalf of Italian Angels for Growth. Alessandro holds an MSc in Chemistry from the University of Pisa and a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Milan.
Riccardo Panella
Chief Scientific Officer & Co-Founder
Riccardo Panella
Chief Scientific Officer & Co-Founder
Riccardo is co-founder and CSO of Resalis. He serves as Associate Professor at the Center for RNA Medicine, in the Department of Clinical Medicine of Aalborg University. His research activities are focused on exploring the contribution of non-coding RNA ,specifically microRNA, to human metabolism and cancer progression. His aim is to develop new RNA based therapies for unmet medical needs. Before joining Aalborg University, Riccardo carried on his research activities at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, part of the Harvard Medical School, where he developed and characterized several genetic engineered mouse models and executed a vast plethora of pre-clinical in-vivo experiments designed to optimize new therapeutic paradigm for metabolic disfunctions. Riccardo is part of an international research group led by Prof Kauppinen to develop new therapeutic approaches in the MASH/MAFLD space.
Claus Andersson
Non-Executive Director
Claus Andersson
Non-Executive Director
Claus Andersson is a member of Resalis’ Board of Directors. Claus has been a General Partner at Sunstone Life Science Ventures since 2005. He is an active board member for biotech companies advancing treatments for heart failure, cancer, obesity, and diabetes (e.g., DiogenX, Rewind Therapeutics, and Cardior Pharmaceuticals). Claus has extensive experience in strategy execution and technology development from various parts of the life science ecosystem as an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, scientist, and corporate manager. Claus holds a PhD in Mathematical Statistics from the University of Copenhagen and the Humboldt University in Berlin as well as a master’s degree in Civil Chemical Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU).
Antonio Leone
Non-Executive Director
Antonio Leone
Non-Executive Director
Antonio is the President in IAG – Italian Angels for Growth since 2014. Antonio was BELLCO Chairman of the Charme fund managed by Montezemolo & Partners SGR and currently holds, among others, the position of board member of Cellply Srl. He was previously the President and CEO of Kontron Instruments, a member of the Roche Group. Prior to this, he was CEO of Olympus Medical System Europe in Hamburg that had a turnover of 700 million euros and 2300 employees. Antonio is an electronics engineer with over 40 years of experience in the electromedical equipment industry.