LEH (Libertatis Ergo Holding) advances the impact of Leiden University's activities by supporting entrepreneurs, investing in startup and spinout companies, and in entrepreneurship education programs which bring research and innovation to the market.

Libertatis Ergo Holding B.V.

Investing in Science Based Startups on behalf of Leiden University

Industry veteran Helmuth van Es joins Cantoni Therapeutics' Board of Directors

Leiden, The Netherlands, April 8, 2024. Cantoni announced its Board of Directors has been strengthened with biotech industry veteran Helmuth van Es Ph.D.

Helmuth van Es has more than 30 years of experience in life sciences as an entrepreneurial scientist and C-suite biotech executive. He was a co-founder of Galapagos and four other therapeutic biotech companies, three of which are at clinical stage and was the former CEO of Citryll developing the NETosis inhibitor to clinical proof of concept stage. A total of €125M was raised into these four startups. Helmuth continues to serve on the Citryll Board of Directors, and previously served on the boards of Antabio, Spinnovation, Audion Therapeutics and Hifibio. His therapeutic area of expertise includes rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, hidradenitis supperativa, sensorineural hearing loss, viral infections such as dengue, drug resistant bacterial infections, oncology and more.
 
“We are honoured to welcome Helmuth to the Board of Cantoni. His impressive track record in drug discovery and development adds significant value to the progression of Cantoni’s programmes”, says Managing Director of LEH, and Director of Cantoni, Rob Mayfield.
 
“Cantoni is a pioneer in the Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) space with best in class inhibitors in preclinical development for lipid disorders and cancer, originating from Leiden University. This is an exciting example of high quality science with the clear potential to become future medicines for patients in need. I am excited to join the Cantoni Board and support the team to help advance its lead asset into the clinic and beyond" says Helmuth van Es.

About Cantoni:
Cantoni Therapeutics B.V. is a private pharmaceutical company based in Leiden, the Netherlands that is dedicated to the development and commercialization of NNMT inhibitors. NNMT is expressed in a number of tissues including the liver and is found in other tissues such as adipocytes. NNMT is an attractive drug target for metabolic syndrome and certain cancers where it is found to be overexpressed. Elevated NNMT activity is correlated with obesity, insulin resistance and blood glucose levels as well as tumor aggressiveness and is believed to promote cancer migration, invasion, and proliferation through epigenetic changes.
 
Cantoni was founded in 2020 by Libertatis Ergo Holding B.V. (LEH) and scientific founders Dr Matthijs van Haren and Professor Nathaniel Martin, both scientists with an impressive track-record in discovery and optimization of small molecule drug candidates.
 
About LEH:
LEH is an independent seed investor in life science and health companies, which creates, supports and invests in startup and spinout companies connected to the activities of Leiden University, many of which are located on the Leiden Bio Science Park. www.libertatisergo.com

Contact: 
Rob Mayfield: r.h.mayfield@bb.leidenuniv.nl

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