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Leadership

Experienced leaders driving innovation in rare disease treatment

Our leadership team brings together decades of expertise in pharmaceutical development, commercialisation and rare disease therapeutics to deliver on our mission of transforming lives.

WE UNITE

Leading with Purpose

Orphalan's leadership team combines deep scientific knowledge, commercial acumen and a passionate commitment to serving patients with rare diseases. Our executives bring experience from leading global pharmaceutical companies and have successfully brought numerous therapies to market.

Under their guidance, Orphalan has grown from a focused rare disease company to a global organisation serving patients in over 30 countries. Our leaders foster a culture of innovation, collaboration and patient-centricity that drives everything we do.

With oversight from an experienced Board of Directors, our leadership ensures strategic alignment with our mission while maintaining the highest standards of corporate governance and regulatory compliance.

Leadership team

Our Leadership Approach

Our leadership team brings together scientific, clinical and commercial expertise to advance the development and delivery of treatments for rare diseases. We are committed to operating with integrity and placing patients at the centre of our work.

Strategic Vision

Guiding Orphalan's mission with a clear strategic direction and long-term focus on patients with rare diseases

Global Expertise

Combined international experience across rare disease therapeutics and commercialisation

Proven Track Record

A track record of bringing approved therapies from development to patients across multiple markets

LEADERSHIP

Our Executive Leadership Team

Experienced leaders with decades of combined expertise in rare disease therapeutics

Naseem Amin

Naseem Amin

Chief Executive Officer

Massimo Boriero

Massimo Boriero

Head of Europe

Dmitry Paramonov

Dmitry Paramonov

Head of North America

John Fatuhi

John Fatuhi

Head of International Markets

Sandra Bensoussan

Sandra Bensoussan

Chief Legal Officer

Angelita Briffa

Angelita Briffa

Chief Financial Officer

Omar Camille Kamlin

Omar Camille Kamlin

Chief Medical Officer

Hugues Bienayme

Hugues Bienayme

Chief Scientific Officer

Nabeel Zubair

Nabeel Zubair

Chief Technology Officer

Margot Pisani

Margot Pisani

Head Of Commercial Hub Malta

Sujatha Karoor

Sujatha Karoor

Head of Scientific Affairs

Ivo Sulovsky

Ivo Sulovsky

Head of Portfolio Strategy and Planning

Axel Wieandt

Axel Wieandt

Senior Advisor

GOVERNANCE

Our Board of Directors

Strategic oversight and guidance from experienced healthcare and business leaders

Naseem Amin

Naseem Amin

Chief Executive Officer

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Naseem Amin joined Orphalan in 2017. He brings thirty years of International industry experience in Research and Development, Corporate and Business Development, Venture Capital and Marketing. Naseem has previously served as Executive Chairman at Arix Bioscience Plc, listed on the LSE, Venture Partner at Advent Life Sciences, Chief Scientific Officer at Smith and Nephew, where he oversaw corporate R&D, divisional manufacturing, QA/QC and product development functions. Prior to Smith and Nephew, Naseem led the business development functions at both Biogen and Genzyme Therapeutics. For both companies, he initiated and executed a number of transformative acquisitions and transactions.

Naseem has also led the clinical development of five currently marketed therapeutic products. Naseem started his career at Baxter Healthcare where he had executive roles in marketing, product development and clinical research. In addition to his role at Orphalan, Naseem currently serves as a board member and advisor to several not for profit organisations and a publicly listed biotechnology company listed on the NASDAQ. Naseem is a qualified medical doctor, from the University College Medical School, London and has an MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

Massimo Boriero

Massimo Boriero

Head of Europe

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Massimo Boriero joined Orphalan in 2021, but he played an instrumental role building Orphalan commercial organisation, back in 2018. He brings more than 25 years of international pharmaceutical industry experience in commercialisation, market access, strategic and business development.

Most recently he served as Vice-President & General Manager Southern Europe, France & BeNeLux at Akcea Therapeutics, where he led the founding and build-up of the complete business and organisation.

Prior to Akcea, he managed the establishment and commercial set-up of the European Business at Spark Therapeutics, later acquired by Roche and, prior to that, he served as President, EMEA, at Aegerion Pharmaceuticals.

In a period of 17 years before this he had been working in several management positions at national and international level for Genzyme Therapeutics. Massimo is a physician by education, trained in Turin and at Harvard Business School.

Dmitry Paramonov

Dmitry Paramonov

Head of North America

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Dmitry has had leadership roles for over twenty six years in the pharmaceutical and medical device industry in general management with both P&L and sales responsibility, new product commercialisation in rare oncology diseases, development of new product marketing strategy and team leadership in large organisations.

For the last 20 years he has been in Fortune 100 health care companies. Most recently at Abbot where he had responsibilities for a 12 country region, with 122 people reporting into him. He has also held executive roles at Medtronic and Bristol Myers Squibb.

He brings a unique international worldview, with multiple expatriate assignments in Europe, Russia and Asia. He studied Marketing & Finance at Kellogg School of Management.

John Fatuhi

John Fatuhi

Head of International Markets

John Fatuhi, senior commercial executive with over 35 years experience in international sales, joined Orphalan in 2020.

He gained considerable experience in commercialisation and supply chain during a 32 year career at the world's largest speciality distribution company Univar Plc.

Over the past 10 years he has worked on expanding rare disease medication access in various International Markets including the US, Australasia, LATAM and China.

Sandra Bensoussan

Sandra Bensoussan

Chief Legal Officer

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Sandra Bensoussan joined Orphalan in 2020, with over 15 years of industry experience in international legal departments.

Sandra has developed a strong legal expertise in the health care and life science industries through experiences in prominent multinational companies such as Johnson and Johnson. She has structured the International legal department of the American company, Wright Medical, and has led cross-functional and cross-regional projects.

Sandra is a French qualified lawyer, with a master's degree in health law and the Paris Bar.

Angelita Briffa

Angelita Briffa

Chief Financial Officer

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Angelita Briffa joined Orphalan in May 2020 as Chief Accounting Officer, with over 15 years of experience in auditing and accounting of international groups of companies, public listed and private, in various industries, but in particular in online Gaming and ancillary services.

She has held senior positions with PricewaterhouseCoopers Malta, within the Assurance department and Catena Media plc, a company listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, throughout her career.

She graduated from the University of Malta in 2002 with an Accountancy (Hons) degree and is also a member of The Malta Institute of Accountants.

Omar Camille Kamlin

Omar Camille Kamlin

Chief Medical Officer

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Omar Kamlin joined Orphalan in November 2020 relocating from Australia to the UK. Omar is a physician, graduating from Imperial College London. After training as a paediatrician in the UK, Omar based himself as a clinician researcher in Melbourne, Australia at the Newborn Research Centre at the Royal Women's Hospital. A practising neonatologist, Omar brings to Orphalan experience from 17 years in perinatal science academia and clinical leadership with over 100 peer reviewed publications.

Omar has extensive experience in clinical trials. He has initiated and executed a number of transformative studies with dissemination of evidence that has changed clinical practice including updates to international neonatal resuscitation guidelines.

Hugues Bienayme

Hugues Bienayme

Chief Scientific Officer

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Hugues brings over 30 years of R&D leadership experience in the pharmaceutical (Aventis, Pierre Fabre) and biotechnology sectors (Chrysalon, Urogene). In 2007, he founded Orphelia Pharma, a company committed to delivering essential treatments for rare paediatric diseases. Under his leadership, the company developed two products: Kigabeq (EMA-approved for epilepsy) and Kizfizo (a pipeline product in the field of oncology).

He joined Orphalan in 2025, following the integration of Orphelia into the Orphalan group.

Hugues holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Paris and an engineering degree from the École Normale Supérieure in Saint‑Cloud.

Nabeel Zubair

Nabeel Zubair

Chief Technology Officer

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Nabeel Zubair joined Orphalan in January 2026 as Chief Technology Officer, with over 20 years of international experience in technology leadership, digital transformation and artificial intelligence.

Nabeel has developed deep expertise in AI‑driven platforms, digital health solutions, and large‑scale enterprise systems through senior leadership roles across healthcare, telecom, fintech, SaaS and capital markets. He has led cross‑functional and cross‑regional initiatives, structured high‑performing technology organisations, and delivered complex transformation programmes within multinational environments. His work spans the full lifecycle of AI adoption, from strategy and data foundations to the delivery of operational and medical AI solutions that improve outcomes, efficiency and decision‑making.

Alongside his corporate leadership career, Nabeel is a seasoned entrepreneur and technology founder. He has co‑founded and led multiple startups, building and scaling AI‑enabled digital health and SaaS platforms from concept through to market deployment. His entrepreneurial experience includes telemedicine, augmented clinical decision support, data‑driven platforms, and enterprise‑grade cloud architectures, combining strategic vision with hands‑on execution.

Nabeel holds a master's degree in Software Engineering from Télécom Paris and a Bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering, bringing a rare combination of deep technical expertise, AI leadership, and entrepreneurial mindset.

Margot Pisani

Margot Pisani

Head Of Commercial Hub Malta

Margot Pisani, senior level executive with over 25 years' experience working in multinational pharmaceutical companies, joined Orphalan in 2019.

Starting out in sales she has held various positions in sales and marketing, communications and public affairs. Prior to joining Orphalan, she was for 14 years General Manager of Sanofi Malta Ltd., where she was instrumental in setting up the affiliate and building a successful team. She also sat on the regional council that was based in Italy.

Throughout her career she has been active in local and international pharmaceutical associations. Most recently she was a founding member of the board that governed the Maltese Medicines Verification Organisation.

Margot is a Pharmacist and holds an Msc in Management.

Sujatha Karoor

Sujatha Karoor

Head of Scientific Affairs

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Sujatha is responsible for implementing a business development strategy to identify and champion opportunities from the US.

Sujatha, has over 25 years of Pharmaceutical industry experience in R & D, Regulatory Affairs, Operations and Business Development at Baxter, Avanos and Renalysis. She has a proven track record across multiple functions, bringing a hands-on approach to new product development strategic planning and execution.

At Renalysis, Sujatha defined and implemented the R & D, manufacturing, clinical and regulatory strategy, recruiting and developing the team, setting up laboratories in Chicago and building and gaining approval of a manufacturing plant in China. Sujatha has experience in a wide range of therapeutic areas, including ophthalmology, renal, oncology, immunology and neurology therapeutic. She is on the advisory board for Center for Regenerative Medicine at Northwestern University. She has a PhD. in Chemical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology and postdoctoral training from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Ivo Sulovsky

Ivo Sulovsky

Head of Portfolio Strategy and Planning

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Ivo Sulovsky joined Orphalan in January 2024. He brings 25 years of international experience in strategy and business development in various industrial areas as well as in commercial leadership roles in the pharmaceutical industry in Europe and the US.

Most recently he served as Vice-President & General Manager of the German speaking countries region at Ipsen Pharma, where he was responsible for the re-organisation of the region and the ramp-up of the Oncology, Neuroscience and Rare Disease franchises. Before that, he was responsible for building the Rare Disease commercial activities in the US. Prior to Ipsen, he held numerous commercial leadership roles at Amgen in Austria, Germany and Central and Eastern Europe. Before working as a leader in the pharmaceutical industry, he had been working as a consultant, project leader and principal at the Boston Consulting Group, Roland Berger and IQVIA.

Ivo holds a master's degree in international Trade and Business Administration from the University of Economics in Vienna.

Axel Wieandt

Axel Wieandt

Senior Advisor

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Axel Wieandt has been advising Orphalan S.A. since the fall of 2019. He has over 30 years of experience in top management consulting, banking and finance. He is currently also serving as an advisor to the Jefferies EMEA FIG team, as an operating partner DACH with Corsair Capital, and as adjunct professor of entrepreneurial finance at Technical University Munich.

Axel earned a Diploma in Business Management from WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, an MBA from Kellogg Graduate of Management and a Ph.D. in Business Management from WHU, all with high honors. He is a scholar of the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes and the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD).

His career began at McKinsey & Company, and progressed through roles at Morgan Stanley Ltd., Deutsche Bank AG, Hypo Real Estate Holding AG, pbb Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG, Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Ltd. and Valovis Bank AG.

During his 10 years+ tenure at Deutsche Bank, Axel quickly rose to become the youngest divisional board member, with global responsibilities for strategy development and M&A execution and managing the multi-billion Euro Corporate Investments portfolio.

As CEO of Hypo Real Estate Holding AG, pbb Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG and Valovis Bank AG, he navigated these institutions through periods of significant restructuring during the Great Financial Crisis and the Euro Crisis.

CL

Chahra Louafi

Board Observer

Chahra Louafi is Investment Director and head of the fund for biotherapies and rare diseases at Bpifrance (previously CDC Entreprises). Prior to joining CDC Entreprises, she was in charge of project development and company creation in a private incubator specialised in biotechnologies.

At CDC Entreprises, Chahra worked with the New Developments team and was responsible for technology transfer operations and investments in funds of funds focused on the financing of start-ups.

She is Vice-president of the supervisory board of Inserm Transfert Initiative and member of the supervisory board of Cap Décisif Management. She sits on several boards including DBV Technologies, Sensorion, Eyevensys, Pixium Vision and Lysogene.

SM

Shahzad Malik

Chairman of the Board

Shahzad Malik has a strong background in science, clinical medicine and international finance. He gained an MA in Physiological Sciences from Oxford University and an MD from Cambridge University, after which he specialised in interventional cardiology while also pursuing clinical and fundamental scientific research in heart muscle disorders.

Shahzad has been actively involved with 21 portfolio Companies in Europe and the USA in all sectors of Life Sciences, including Algeta, Respivert, Biocartis and PowderMed. Shahzad currently serves on the Board of several portfolio Companies, including Acutus, Agenus and Versartis.

JM

Jean-Francois Morin

Non-Executive Director

A graduate of EDHEC Business School, Mr. Morin began his career in 2005 at MAZARS, as a Financial Auditor for Private Equity Firms. In 2009, he joined CDC Enterprises, a Funds Management company, as Financial Manager where he was involved in structuring several investment funds and for the portfolio monitoring, mostly in Venture Capital.

In September 2013, Mr. Morin joined the Life Sciences investment activities. He is now an Investment Director dedicated mostly to creating and developing biotechnology companies in France.

KM

Kaasim Mahmood

Non-Executive Director

Kaasim Mahmood has a background in clinical medicine, finance and mergers and acquisitions. He gained an MB BS from the Royal Free and University College Medical School in London, after which he joined Cutfield, Freeman and Co, a London based corporate finance boutique.

Kaasim joined Advent Life Sciences in 2005 and has overseen the legal and financial aspects of many investments, as well as being actively involved with multiple companies including F2G, KaNDy Therapeutics, NeRRe Therapeutics and Ventus Medical.

EV

Emmanuelle Voisin

Non-Executive Director

Dr. Emmanuelle Voisin founded Voisin Consulting Life Sciences (VCLS) in 1997, a leading advisor to Biotech, Pharma and Medtech manufacturers for the development, registration and launch of innovative medical technologies across international markets.

Emmanuelle has 30+ years' experience in drug development. Her expertise lies in non-conventional development strategies. Emmanuelle also provides strategic advice for interacting with FDA and EMA.

Emmanuelle holds a pharmacy degree and was a Resident in the Paris Hospital Authorities (Ancien Interne des Hôpitaux de Paris).

Emmanuelle has published a number of articles. She is a member of the Avicenna Alliance and leads the Policy Development Working Group of the Alliance and is a member of organisations of professionals in Regulatory (Eucope, TOPRA, RAPS, DIA,…).

She is a member of the Advisory Board of AC Immune and serves on the Board of Endodiag.

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