Nordic Drug Discovery Unplugged: Real Stories of Science, Strategy, and Success

With over 30 years of commercial experience in leading-edge life science companies, Nick is a seasoned global executive who drives growth and performance for contract research organizations (CROs). With experience from drug discovery to clinical development. Nick has managed global teams and held accountability for over $200m in annual sales targets.
Nick has a proven track record of building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, leading commercial integration of acquired companies, building high performing teams, managing high value complex deals, and leading the development and execution of the strategic planning process aimed at outpacing market growth.

Adam Bruce comes with a background in product innovation and entrepreneurship. He’s been instrumental in establishing TikoMed, a company with now two projects in Phase 2 clinical development for neurology and cell therapy. During his time at TikoMed he has served in positions as CEO, Chairman, Business Development, and project VP. Over the years Adam has provided advice on financing and strategic development in various constellations for life science and med-tech companies. Adam holds a business degree from Lund University.

Preben spent the first 20 years of his career in international finance, culminating in his role as CFO of an industrial company with $2 billion in annual sales and 1,200 employees. In 2016, he transitioned into biotech as an investor and board member of the Swedish company Apoglyx, which develops aquaporin inhibitors for inflammatory diseases. Fully embracing the sector, he later co-founded several ventures: 2A Pharma (AAVLP-based vaccines), Geysir Therapeutics (small molecules and macrocycles for inflammatory conditions), and Neurometa Therapeutics (pioneering neurometabolic modulation to treat ALS and other neurodegenerative conditions).

Max is an experienced neuroscientist with a career spanning more than 25 years in biotech and both large and mid-sized pharmaceutical companies. He has led numerous drug discovery programs from medicinal chemistry through Phase 2a, collaborating with internal teams, CROs, academics, and investors using a stage-gated, decision-driven approach.
At NeuroSearch, Max contributed to multi-year collaborations with major pharma companies, focusing on CNS and pain projects from early research through clinical development. He later co-founded and served as Chief Scientific Officer at Saniona, a CNS-focused biotech listed on the Stockholm Nasdaq.
Max also held key roles at Pfizer, where he strengthened the internal pain and neuroscience pipeline and capabilities, emphasizing novel therapeutic modalities and close collaboration with commercial and business development teams. Before joining Sygnature Discovery, Max worked at Mundipharma, driving innovation in pain, neuroscience, metabolic disorders, and infectious disease while partnering with commercial and reimbursement teams.
In addition to his role at Sygnature, Max consults on neuroscience for venture capital firms and investment groups worldwide.
Max has a PhD and MSc in Neuroscience from the Institute of Psychiatry and Bristol University, respectively.