Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Anavo Therapeutics appoints Vincent G. Brichard as Chairman

Anavo Therapeutics has appointed Vincent G. Brichard, M.D., Ph.D., as Chairman of its Board of Directors. The Leiden-based company is focused on phosphatase drug discovery and is preparing for the next stage of development across its pipeline.

Brichard has a background spanning biomedical research, drug development, venture capital, company building and strategic transactions. According to Anavo, the appointment comes as the company advances three potentially first-in-class programs.

Pipeline based on phosphatase modulation

Anavo is developing allosteric phosphatase modulators through its proprietary IGNITE platform. The approach integrates human genetics, dedicated screening methods, structure-guided work and phosphatase-wide selectivity profiling.

The company is applying this technology to targets in autoimmune disease, metabolic disease and oncology. Its stated goal is to translate validated phosphatase biology into therapeutic candidates in areas where drug discovery has historically been challenging.

Brichard’s background

Brichard is a physician-scientist, biotechnology executive and life sciences investor. Since 2015, he has served as a Venture Partner at EQT Life Sciences. He is also the founder of ViaNova, a consulting firm advising organizations in immuno-oncology, autoimmunity and vaccines.

Earlier, Brichard spent more than a decade at GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, where he became Senior Vice President and led the Immunotherapeutics Business Unit. His responsibilities covered discovery, late-stage development, regulatory strategy and commercial execution in oncology and autoimmune disorders.

His previous academic and research roles included work at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in Brussels and Institut Curie in Paris. Brichard holds degrees from Louvain University in Belgium and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He has authored more than 100 primary research papers and reviews.

Investor base

Anavo is backed by Bioqube Ventures, INKEF Capital, M Ventures, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, MRL Ventures Fund and Taiho Ventures.