Thursday, June 25, 2026

HMNC Brain Health names Bjørn Grønning Chief Medical Officer

HMNC Brain Health has appointed Dr. Bjørn Grønning as Chief Medical Officer with immediate effect. The Munich-based neuroscience company is developing treatments for mental health disorders and is adding senior medical leadership as it advances its clinical pipeline.

Grønning takes over following the planned transition of Dr. Hans Eriksson. In the role, he will oversee the company’s global clinical development strategy, including the programs Ketabon (KET01) and Nelivabon (BH-200).

Experience across clinical development

The new CMO has more than two decades of experience in clinical research and drug development. His background covers development from Phase 1 through Phase 3 and spans several therapeutic areas, including neurology and psychiatry programs.

Most recently, Grønning worked at Lundbeck as Vice President and Head of Therapeutic Areas, Clinical Development. In that position, he led global clinical development activities across multiple neuroscience programs and managed a large cross-functional organization.

Earlier in his career, he held clinical development leadership positions at Novo Nordisk and Ferring. He also worked in academic and clinical roles in cardiology research at the University of Glasgow and Copenhagen University Hospitals.

Late-stage focus for Ketabon and Nelivabon

HMNC said the appointment supports its late-stage neuroscience development capabilities as the company prepares its lead programs for the next development steps.

Ketabon (KET01) is an oral prolonged-release ketamine formulation in development for treatment-resistant depression. HMNC describes the program as a differentiated option intended for outpatient and at-home use.

Nelivabon (BH-200) is an oral vasopressin V1b receptor antagonist. The company is developing it as a biomarker-guided precision therapy for biologically defined depressive disorders, together with a genetic test intended to identify patients most likely to benefit.

Financing and European commercialization

The management change follows HMNC’s recently announced first closing of a Series B financing round totaling 50 million US dollars. The funding is intended to support further development of the Ketabon and Nelivabon clinical programs.

The round was led by MEDICE, a European pharmaceutical company focused on neuropsychiatry and a market leader in ADHD in several European countries. In parallel, MEDICE entered into a strategic licensing agreement for European commercialization of KET01. Under the agreement, HMNC and its affiliates may receive tiered double-digit royalties on net sales as well as success-based commercial milestone payments.

HMNC Brain Health is headquartered in Munich and operates as a clinical-stage neuroscience company. Its work focuses on targeted and accessible treatment approaches for patients with mental health disorders who are not sufficiently helped by existing therapies.