Evaxion announces changes to Executive Management to optimize the value of proprietary AI-Immunology™ platform and portfolio
Evaxion (NASDAQ: EVAX), a clinical-stage TechBio company focused on AI-powered vaccine development, has announced significant changes to its executive management team. CEO Christian Kanstrup has stepped down, with Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Birgitte Rønø appointed as interim CEO while the company searches for a permanent replacement.
The company has also appointed Thomas Schmidt as permanent Chief Financial Officer, following his interim role since November 2024. These management changes are part of Evaxion's strategy to optimize value from its proprietary AI-Immunology™ platform and pipeline developed over 17 years.
The Board of Directors is conducting a search for a new permanent CEO with strong business development focus, proven transformational leadership, and strategic partnership capabilities. Dr. Rønø, who has been with Evaxion since 2017 and joined Executive Management in 2021, will ensure leadership continuity during the transition period.
Evaxion (NASDAQ: EVAX), un'azienda TechBio in fase clinica specializzata nello sviluppo di vaccini potenziati dall'IA, ha annunciato importanti cambiamenti nel suo team di gestione esecutiva. Il CEO Christian Kanstrup si è dimesso, con la Chief Scientific Officer Dr.ssa Birgitte Rønø nominata CEO ad interim mentre l'azienda cerca un sostituto permanente.
L'azienda ha inoltre nominato Thomas Schmidt come Chief Financial Officer permanente, dopo il suo ruolo ad interim iniziato a novembre 2024. Questi cambiamenti nella gestione fanno parte della strategia di Evaxion per ottimizzare il valore della sua piattaforma proprietaria AI-Immunology™ e del suo pipeline sviluppati in 17 anni.
Il Consiglio di Amministrazione sta conducendo una ricerca per un nuovo CEO permanente con forte orientamento allo sviluppo commerciale, comprovate capacità di leadership trasformativa e competenze nelle partnership strategiche. La Dott.ssa Rønø, in Evaxion dal 2017 e nel team esecutivo dal 2021, garantirà la continuità della leadership durante il periodo di transizione.
Evaxion (NASDAQ: EVAX), una empresa TechBio en etapa clínica enfocada en el desarrollo de vacunas impulsadas por IA, ha anunciado cambios significativos en su equipo ejecutivo. El CEO Christian Kanstrup ha renunciado, y la Directora Científica, Dra. Birgitte Rønø, ha sido nombrada CEO interina mientras la empresa busca un reemplazo permanente.
La compañía también ha designado a Thomas Schmidt como Director Financiero permanente, tras desempeñar el cargo de forma interina desde noviembre de 2024. Estos cambios en la gestión forman parte de la estrategia de Evaxion para optimizar el valor de su plataforma propietaria AI-Immunology™ y su cartera desarrollada durante 17 años.
El Consejo de Administración está realizando una búsqueda para un nuevo CEO permanente con fuerte enfoque en desarrollo comercial, liderazgo transformacional comprobado y habilidades en asociaciones estratégicas. La Dra. Rønø, que forma parte de Evaxion desde 2017 y del equipo ejecutivo desde 2021, asegurará la continuidad del liderazgo durante el periodo de transición.
Evaxion (NASDAQ: EVAX)은 AI 기반 백신 개발에 중점을 둔 임상 단계의 테크바이오 기업으로, 경영진에 중대한 변화를 발표했습니다. CEO 크리스티안 칸스트럽이 사임했으며, 최고 과학 책임자인 닥터 버짓테 뢴뇌가 임시 CEO로 임명되어 회사가 영구적인 후임자를 찾는 동안 리더십을 맡게 되었습니다.
또한, 토마스 슈미트가 2024년 11월부터 임시 CFO 역할을 수행한 후 정식 최고재무책임자(CFO)로 임명되었습니다. 이러한 경영진 변화는 Evaxion이 17년간 개발해 온 독자적인 AI-Immunology™ 플랫폼과 파이프라인의 가치를 극대화하기 위한 전략의 일환입니다.
이사회는 강력한 사업 개발 역량, 검증된 변혁적 리더십, 전략적 파트너십 능력을 갖춘 새로운 정규 CEO를 찾고 있습니다. 2017년부터 Evaxion에 합류해 2021년부터 경영진에 속한 닥터 뢴뇌가 전환기 동안 리더십 연속성을 보장할 것입니다.
Evaxion (NASDAQ : EVAX), une entreprise TechBio en phase clinique spécialisée dans le développement de vaccins assistés par IA, a annoncé des changements importants au sein de son équipe de direction. Le PDG Christian Kanstrup a démissionné, et la directrice scientifique, Dr Birgitte Rønø, a été nommée PDG par intérim pendant que la société recherche un remplaçant permanent.
L'entreprise a également nommé Thomas Schmidt directeur financier permanent, après avoir assuré ce rôle par intérim depuis novembre 2024. Ces changements dans la direction s'inscrivent dans la stratégie d'Evaxion visant à optimiser la valeur de sa plateforme propriétaire AI-Immunology™ et de son pipeline développés sur 17 ans.
Le conseil d'administration mène une recherche pour un nouveau PDG permanent doté d'une forte orientation développement commercial, d'un leadership transformationnel avéré et de compétences en partenariats stratégiques. Dr Rønø, présente chez Evaxion depuis 2017 et au sein de la direction depuis 2021, assurera la continuité du leadership durant la période de transition.
Evaxion (NASDAQ: EVAX), ein klinisch tätiges TechBio-Unternehmen, das sich auf KI-gestützte Impfstoffentwicklung spezialisiert hat, hat bedeutende Veränderungen im Führungsteam bekanntgegeben. CEO Christian Kanstrup ist zurückgetreten, und die Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Birgitte Rønø wurde als Interim-CEO ernannt, während das Unternehmen nach einem dauerhaften Nachfolger sucht.
Das Unternehmen hat zudem Thomas Schmidt zum festen Chief Financial Officer ernannt, nachdem er seit November 2024 interimistisch tätig war. Diese Managementänderungen sind Teil der Strategie von Evaxion, den Wert seiner proprietären AI-Immunology™-Plattform und der über 17 Jahre entwickelten Pipeline zu optimieren.
Der Vorstand sucht einen neuen festen CEO mit starkem Fokus auf Geschäftsentwicklung, nachgewiesener transformativer Führungskompetenz und strategischen Partnerschaftsfähigkeiten. Dr. Rønø, die seit 2017 bei Evaxion ist und seit 2021 dem Executive Management angehört, wird während der Übergangszeit für Kontinuität in der Führung sorgen.
- None.
- Unexpected departure of CEO Christian Kanstrup indicates potential strategic challenges
- Leadership transition period could create temporary organizational uncertainty
Insights
CEO Kanstrup's departure signals a strategic pivot as Evaxion seeks leadership to accelerate partnerships and commercialization of its AI platform.
Evaxion's announcement of CEO Christian Kanstrup stepping down marks a pivotal moment in the company's strategic evolution. The board's decision to appoint CSO Dr. Birgitte Rønø as interim CEO while searching for a permanent replacement indicates a deliberate leadership transition rather than an abrupt disruption. This approach provides operational continuity through an internal executive who has been with the company since 2017 and in executive management since 2021.
The board's stated criteria for the new CEO—specifically seeking someone with "strong business development focus, proven transformational leadership, and executional capabilities required to drive strategic partnerships"—reveals their strategic priorities. After 17 years of platform development, the company appears to be shifting from a predominantly R&D focus toward commercialization and partnership strategies.
The concurrent appointment of Thomas Schmidt as permanent CFO, previously serving in an interim capacity since November 2024, strengthens the financial leadership during this transition. The chairman's emphasis on Schmidt's "financial expertise" and "understanding of operations" suggests preparation for potential transaction activity or strategic realignments.
While management changes often create uncertainty, the board's methodical approach—maintaining scientific leadership through Rønø while bringing in business development expertise—demonstrates a calculated effort to "optimize value" from their proprietary AI-Immunology™ platform. This suggests the company may be positioning for significant partnership deals or a potential strategic transaction to monetize their technology assets after nearly two decades of development.
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Christian Kanstrup steps down
- Chief Scientific Officer Birgitte Rønø appointed interim CEO and search for new CEO has commenced
- Thomas Schmidt appointed permanent Chief Financial Officer
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, July 1, 2025 - Evaxion A/S (NASDAQ: EVAX) (“Evaxion”), a clinical-stage TechBio company specializing in developing AI-Immunology™ powered vaccines, announces several key executive management changes to optimize value from its proprietary AI-Immunology™ platform and pipeline.
Christian Kanstrup has stepped down as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Evaxion has initiated the search for a new permanent CEO to lead its next phase of growth and to accelerate value creation from its AI-based technologies and assets developed over the past 17 years.
Dr. Birgitte Rønø, Evaxion’s Chief Scientific Officer, has been appointed interim CEO. Dr. Rønø has been with Evaxion since 2017 and joined its Executive Management in 2021. She brings deep scientific and strategic expertise to the role.
Thomas Schmidt has been appointed permanent Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He joined Evaxion in November 2024 as interim CFO and brings strong financial acumen and capital markets experience.
“Evaxion is in a strong position as we continue our focus to unlock the full business potential of our AI-Immunology™ platform. I would like to thank Christian for his valuable contributions during a pivotal phase in Evaxion’s ongoing transformation.
I also thank Birgitte for accepting her appointment to interim CEO, ensuring leadership continuity based on her four years as a member of Executive Management and a key contributor to our corporate strategy. Birgitte will be supported in daily management by Thomas Schmidt with his financial expertise and a solid understanding of our operations and leadership capabilities.
The Board of Directors will carry through a diligent search for a new CEO with a strong business development focus, proven transformational leadership, and the executional capabilities required to drive strategic partnerships,” says Marianne Søgaard, Chairman of the Board at Evaxion.
“It has been a pleasure to serve as CEO of Evaxion and working with the tremendous team of employees to ensure progress in numerous areas during my time here. I hope the progress will continue and look forward to following Evaxion from the outside”, says Christian Kanstrup.
Contact information
Evaxion A/S
Mads Kronborg
Vice President, Investor Relations & Communication
+45 53 54 82 96
mak@evaxion.ai
About Evaxion
Evaxion is a pioneering TechBio company based upon its AI platform, AI-Immunology™. Evaxion’s proprietary and scalable AI prediction models harness the power of artificial intelligence to decode the human immune system and develop novel immunotherapies for cancer, bacterial diseases, and viral infections. Based upon AI-Immunology™, Evaxion has developed a clinical-stage oncology pipeline of novel personalized vaccines and a preclinical infectious disease pipeline in bacterial and viral diseases with high unmet medical needs. Evaxion is committed to transforming patients’ lives by providing innovative and targeted treatment options. For more information about Evaxion and its groundbreaking AI-Immunology™ platform and vaccine pipeline, please visit our website.
Forward-looking statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words “target,” “believe,” “expect,” “hope,” “aim,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “anticipate,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “estimate,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “will,” “can have,” “likely,” “should,” “would,” “could,” and other words and terms of similar meaning identify forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, risks related to: our financial condition and need for additional capital; our development work; cost and success of our product development activities and preclinical and clinical trials; commercializing any approved pharmaceutical product developed using our AI platform technology, including the rate and degree of market acceptance of our product candidates; our dependence on third parties including for conduct of clinical testing and product manufacture; our inability to enter into partnerships; government regulation; protection of our intellectual property rights; employee matters and managing growth; our ADSs and ordinary shares, the impact of international economic, political, legal, compliance, social and business factors, including inflation, and the effects on our business from other significant geopolitical and macro-economic events; and other uncertainties affecting our business operations and financial condition. For a further discussion of these risks, please refer to the risk factors included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and other filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which are available at www.sec.gov. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law.
FAQ
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