• Richard C.A. Sainson, PhD, experienced R&D executive and scientific leader with demonstrated track record, appointed Chief Scientific Officer
   
• Janine Schuurman, PhD, Hans Clevers, MD, PhD, and David Sansom, PhD, join the Scientific Advisory Board
   
• Appointments strengthen Laigo’s leadership team following its €17m seed financing as the Company advances its SureTACs™ programs towards clinical development

UTRECHT, the Netherlands – 14 April 2026 – Laigo Bio (“Laigo”), a biotech company pioneering novel and highly differentiated therapies using its proprietary SureTACs™ precision membrane protein degradation platform, today announces the appointment of Dr. Richard C.A. Sainson as its new Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and the establishment of its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) comprising Dr. Janine Schuurman, Professor Dr. Hans Clevers and Professor David Sansom. These appointments come at a critical inflection point for Laigo as it accelerates the development of its Surface Removal Targeting Chimeras (SureTACs™) platform and programs.

Dr. Richard C.A. Sainson will lead the scientific strategy and oversee the advancement of Laigo’s proprietary SureTACs platform and programs as it advances towards the clinic. Dr. Sainson has over 25 years of experience in oncology and immunology translational science and drug discovery across academia, global pharma and emerging biotech companies. During his career, Dr. Sainson has led the scientific strategy for over 15 preclinical programs and supported the advancement of nine clinical programs.

Dr. Richard C.A. Sainson, newly appointed Chief Scientific Officer at Laigo Bio, said: “Laigo has built a highly differentiated platform with the potential to unlock an entirely new class of targeted protein degrader drug candidates. The Company’s SureTACs technology enables the selective and durable degradation of difficult-to-target, disease-driving plasma membrane proteins, creating compelling new therapeutic opportunities in oncology and autoimmune disease. I look forward to working alongside the team to advance its nascent pipeline towards the clinic.” 

Laigo’s proprietary SureTACs platform identifies the most effective plasma membrane target–E3 ligase pairings, enabling generation of bispecific antibodies to precisely drive ubiquitination and lysosomal degradation of disease-causing proteins. The establishment of its world renowned Scientific Advisory Board will be critical in advancing this development. 

Dr. Matthew Baker, Chief Executive Officer of Laigo Bio, commented: “Richard brings exceptional scientific leadership, deep experience and a strong track record in oncology and immunology. His appointment as Chief Scientific Officer, together with the addition of our three newly appointed Scientific Advisory Board members, strengthens Laigo’s scientific direction and underscores our commitment to advancing our SureTACs programs towards the clinic.”

Dr. Neill Moray Mackenzie, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Laigo Bio, added: “Laigo’s ability to attract such highly renowned figures as Richard, Janine, Hans and David to its team and Scientific Advisory Board, demonstrates the huge potential of its SureTACs technology platform. Their invaluable experience will guide the Company’s next phase of growth.”

Dr. Janine Schuurman is a pioneering scientific leader with over two decades of experience in antibody research and development. As one of the first scientists in Genmab’s R&D organization, Dr. Schuurman played a pivotal role in shaping its antibody innovation engine, her latest role being Senior Vice President Antibody Research and Technologies. Dr. Schuurman has contributed to the development of six FDA/EMA-approved therapeutic antibodies and is a co-inventor of numerous antibody therapeutics. She co-invented Genmab’s antibody platform technologies DuoBody®, HexaBody®, and HexElect®. Dr. Schuurman serves on the Board of Directors of The Antibody Society. She acts as independent biotech consultant supporting various organizations.

Prof. Dr. Hans Clevers is an internationally renowned molecular geneticist, cell biologist and stem cell researcher. Prof. Dr. Clevers’ pioneering work characterized the molecular effectors of the Wnt pathway: the TCF transcription factors. His work led to the discovery of LGR5 as a novel stem cell marker, eventually leading him to pioneer tissue stem cell-based organoids. In 2019, Prof. Dr. Clevers joined Roche's Supervisory Board and in 2022 he joined the Extended Executive Board as Head of Pharma Research & Early Development. He retired from Roche on 1 January 2026. He is the recipient of multiple international scientific awards, including the Breakthrough Prize in Life Science. 

Prof. David Sansom is an immunologist internationally recognized for his contributions to human T cell biology, immune regulation and checkpoint pathways. As Professor of Transplant Immunology based at University College London (UCL), his lab has a particular focus on understanding the molecular and cellular biology that regulates the CD28-CTLA-4 immune checkpoint and its interactions with the PD-1 pathway. Prof. Sansom has held academic positions at the University of Bath, University of Birmingham and UCL, authored more than 150 research papers, and received major funding and fellowships from Wellcome, MRC, BBSRC and Arthritis Research UK.