About Kairos Discovery

Alexandre holds a PhD in medicinal chemistry from the University of Lyon and is the lead inventor of the foundational patent behind Kairos Discovery’s bivalent CK2 inhibitor program - a concept initially developed during his doctoral work. A laureate of the national i-PhD innovation competition, he has been driving the scientific and strategic development of the project since 2017. First involved as a researcher, Alexandre transitioned into an entrepreneurial role with the support of public innovation stakeholders and early-stage biotech investors. He founded Kairos Discovery in late 2022 and now serves as CEO, leading the company with a clear vision: to translate next-generation science into targeted therapies that matter.

With over 20 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, David has led multiple oncology programs through clinical development and brings deep expertise in early-stage drug development and project leadership.
Certified in animal experimentation and small animal surgery, he joined the Kairos project at its inception. As Head of Preclinical R&D, he oversees the design and execution of all preclinical studies, driving the advancement of the company’s lead asset toward the clinic.

Holding a Master’s degree in organic chemistry, Alexandre began his career in drug discovery with companies including Edelris Pharma, where he contributed to the development of small molecules across multiple therapeutic areas.
He later gained expertise in quality management systems before joining Kairos Discovery at its inception. As Head of Chemistry, he leads all chemical synthesis and analytical operations supporting the advancement of the company’s pipeline.

Gabriela holds a PhD in oncology, earned through her research at the Cancer Research Center of Lyon, where she explored cell signaling, transcriptional regulation, and tumor-promoting mechanisms in senescent microenvironments.
She joined Kairos Discovery in early 2025 as Project Manager, working under the supervision of the Head of Preclinical Studies. She contributes to the execution and coordination of in vitro and in vivo experiments, supporting the pharmacological characterization of lead compounds and the generation of translational data to inform program decisions.

A graduate engineer from the École Nationale Supérieure de Technologie des Biomolécules de Bordeaux, Léna has a background in biology and gained hands-on experience in pharmaceutical companies. Driven by a strong interest in oncology, she is currently pursuing a CIFRE doctoral thesis at Kairos Discovery, in collaboration with the Cancer Research Center of Lyon. Her research focuses on elucidating the biological mechanisms induced by the company’s lead compound.

Nataliya brings deep experience from global companies including Philip Morris International and SEB Group. She now focuses on scaling early-stage ventures through her work at Norfoalk, a private equity firm, where she supports portfolio companies on organizational design and growth strategy. At Kairos Discovery, she advises on the implementation of performance-driven support functions - helping to build a strong and scalable operational foundation.

Biotech entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience, Jean-Guillaume co-founded and led Mablink Bioscience through its €31M financing and acquisition by Eli Lilly. Now Operating Partner at Mérieux Equity Partners and founder of Norfoalk, he brings deep expertise in oncology, early-stage growth, and strategic execution.

Former CEO of Transgene and current Deputy CEO for Innovation at Institut Mérieux, Philippe is a seasoned biotech leader with a PhD in biochemistry and a Harvard PMD. He chairs BIOASTER, a leading French translational research institute, and plays a key role in advancing public-private partnerships in life sciences.

Formerly with Crédit Agricole Création and now Investment Director at UI Investissement, Émilie brings strong financial and strategic expertise in early-stage biotech innovation. She serves on the boards of several biotech ventures and supports startup growth through governance, funding strategy, and operational guidance.

With over 40 years in pharma and medtech, Jean-Marie is co-founder and president of Health Angels Rhône-Alpes, a leading angel network in life sciences. A physician by training with INSEAD business credentials, he has led multiple M&A and licensing deals and advises innovative biotech startups on strategy and development.

With a PhD in biology and an Executive MBA, Églantine brings over 15 years of experience in health innovation and technology transfer. She led investment strategies and startup acceleration at SATT Nord and PULSALYS, with a strong focus on biotech and medtech ventures. She currently serves as Board Director at Kairos Discovery, contributing her insight as an investment and innovation advisor.

Serial biotech entrepreneur and investor, Stéphane founded Indicia Biotechnology and co-founded the 33 Californie and Calyseed funds, backing over 20 early-stage healthtech ventures. He serves on multiple boards, bringing deep expertise in oncology, venture creation, and strategic company building.