At the forefront of PharmNovo's journey towards pioneering solutions in pain relief stands Jarkko Kalliomäki, our esteemed Chief Medical Officer since September 2022. With his profound knowledge and unwavering commitment, Jarkko brings a unique perspective to our mission.

Jarkko Kalliomäki started at PharmNovo in September 2022, taking on the role of leading clinical management. In close collaboration with Olof Breuer, Clinical Pharmacology Specialist at PharmNovo, he plays a crucial role in shaping the design and development of PharmNovo's clinical study program.

Jarkko brought his tailor-made qualities to the company at the precise moment when PharmNovo reached a critical milestone—transitioning from preclinical to clinical development.

"Upon learning about PharmNovo's project targeting delta agonists and witnessing the progress PharmNovo had achieved, I became convinced that it was the right time for me to re-enter the field of research and development. I was thrilled at the opportunity to engage in early drug development with such a highly skilled team at a dynamic, agile company."

Jarkko Kalliomäki holds an M.D. with specialities in rehabilitation medicine and pain medicine and a Ph.D. in neurophysiology. He has served as a senior consultant physician in rehabilitation medicine and pain management at several pain clinics, including Lund University Hospital, Sophiahemmet, and Capio St. Göran's Hospital, Stockholm.

Jarkko Kalliomäki also holds extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry and has contributed to many projects related to pain management. He boasts over a decade of experience as a Senior Clinical Research Physician at AstraZeneca R&D, where he participated in several pain-related projects.

Through his years of clinical experience, Jarkko has learned that patients with neuropathic pain have significant needs and that there is a notable scarcity of effective treatments available for this condition.

"I believe I can make a significant contribution from this perspective. I also have a deep understanding of the complexity of the task and the necessity to collaborate broadly across the many competencies required to develop a novel drug for neuropathic pain successfully. Our work at PharmNovo is truly a team effort, involving both our internal and external expertise, and its success depends on the quality and commitment of our collective team effort."

What is your view on PharmNovo's potential to effectively create a safe and innovative treatment for neuropathic pain?

"Long-term pain research awaits significant breakthroughs, necessitating a deeper understanding of its underlying mechanisms, vital for innovative medications. At PharmNovo, we prioritise mechanistic understanding in our clinical programme. Our focus is on mechanical hypersensitivity, a key neuropathic pain symptom potentially applicable to other conditions. If this strategy proves successful, my experience from many years of clinical work is that it can potentially transform the lives of many people suffering from pain."

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• Read more about Jarkko here