CellProthera, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing regenerative cell therapies for ischemic diseases, today announced the appointment of Jérôme Hirtzlin and Anne de la Fortelle to its Board of Directors. Hirtzlin and de la Fortelle bring significant experience across healthcare, life sciences, and strategic leadership, further strengthening CellProthera’s governance. Their combined expertise will help the company advance its lead therapy, ProtheraCytes®, through late-stage clinical development and to market.
Hirtzlin is an existing investor in CellProthera and several other innovative companies since his sale of the Nodarius Group in 2023, a healthcare consulting firm he co-founded and helped grow to 450 employees and €40 million in revenue. He has a master’s degree in entrepreneurship and SME management and began his career in public research before joining the pharmaceutical industry at Roche.
De la Fortelle is an accomplished international lawyer with over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. She has worked across startups and major global companies and currently serves as Executive Director and Legal Lead for Clinical R&D at Amgen, covering Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India. She advises on global clinical programs, complex regulatory issues, and large-scale business integrations. Known for her pragmatic, business-focused mindset, she leads international teams and supports cross-functional initiatives in highly regulated environments.
“Jérôme and Anne are welcome additions to our Board as we prepare to enter our pivotal Phase 3 study of ProtheraCytes in heart failure post myocardial infarction,” said Jérôme Koch, President of CellProthera. “Their complementary expertise in market access, investment, and strategic growth will be instrumental in accelerating CellProthera’s progress toward bringing its therapy to patients as quickly as possible.”
The existing board members - Jérôme Koch, Philippe Hénon, Henri Assaf, Jean-Pascal Tranié and Steven Hildemann - expressed their sincere thanks to outgoing members Elsy Boglioli and François Anger for their contributions and dedicated service during their tenure on the Board.