Montreal, QC — Innospera Pharma, a private biotechnology company advancing small-molecule therapies for inflammatory and metabolic diseases, has appointed François Ravenelle, PhD, as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. The leadership transition comes as Innospera positions itself for clinical development of its lead drug candidates targeting GPR84 and GPR40.
Ravenelle, a veteran biotech executive, previously led Inversago Pharma, where he helped guide the company through multiple fundraising rounds and its eventual acquisition by Novo Nordisk in a deal valued at up to $1 billion. His appointment marks a strategic milestone for Innospera as it transitions from preclinical development toward first-in-human studies.
“I’m thrilled to join Innospera at this pivotal stage,” said Ravenelle. “The company’s lead asset shows strong preclinical evidence with the potential to safely and effectively target chronic inflammatory and metabolic diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. I look forward to helping Innospera realize its goal of making a significant impact in this field.”
As part of the leadership shift, company founder Pierre Laurin has been named Executive Chairman of the Board. Laurin, who also served as Innospera’s founding CEO, expressed confidence in the new direction: “François’ appointment comes at the perfect time following the completion of our seed financing. His leadership and strategic insight will be instrumental as we enter the clinic and advance our pipeline.”
The company is backed by investors including Investissement Québec, Seido Capital, and Anges Québec, who have supported its vision of delivering new treatments for high unmet medical needs. Based in Montreal, Innospera is part of one of North America’s leading life sciences ecosystems.
The leadership change underscores Innospera’s commitment to accelerating innovation in the treatment of inflammatory-related conditions as it prepares for its next phase of growth.
