Jesper Kjerulff

Project lead and COO

Role in PharmNovo: Global project lead.

Born: 1965

Education: MSc chemical engineering and PhD biotechology from Technical University of Denmark, BCom from Copenhagen Business School.

Other current appointments: None.

Work experience: Jesper is a very experienced pharma project leader with global experience across EU, US, China, Japan, and rest of world from early- as well as late-stage drug development projects and with significant experience from interactions with regulatory authorities such as EMA, FDA, PMDA, and CFDA.

For almost two decades, Jesper headed numerous global projects and large, global, cross-functional project teams at Lundbeck across the entire value chain and across small molecules and biologics. He was amongst others global project lead on successful development of Brintellix®/Trintellix® from pre-clinical development over phase I, II, and III clinical development and to registration and launch. Trintellix®/Brintellix® is today a globally launched blockbuster.

Holdings: None.

Member of:

Operational team

Latest news

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April 17, 2026

Watch PharmNovo at LSX in Lisbon

Take the opportunity to listen to Per von Mentzer, CEO, presenting PN6047 at the LSX World Europe congress in Lisbon, March 2026. Learn how PharmNovo is shaping a new approach to pain relief with the goal to prove that powerful pain treatment doesn’t have to come with the cost of addiction. Discover how the company’s lead candidate PN6047, delivers effective pain relief without activating the mu-opioid receptor and avoiding the addiction risks associated with conventional opioids. The Phase II-ready Delta Opioid Receptor Agonist (DORA) with first-in-class potential, PN6047 represents a safer, non-addictive approach targeting a neuropathic pain market that is expected to double until 2033 and reach 13 bEUR.

April 9, 2026

Capsules ready for Phase IIa Study

PharmNovo is pleased to announce that that the company has completed drug product manufacturing for its lead candidate PN6047. This is an important milestone as the company prepares for its upcoming Phase IIa proof-of-concept study in neuropathic pain.

January 30, 2026

Welcome on Board

As the company prepares for the next phase of clinical development, the new Board composition strengthens our strategic capabilities ahead of Phase II development of our lead candidate, PN6047.

November 26, 2025

Endowed Chair awarded

We are delighted to share that Professor Amynah Pradhan has been awarded a prestigious Endowed Chair at Washington University, where she now serves as the Russell D. and Mary B. Shelden Professor of Anesthesiology.