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Meet the team

Below you will find interviews with some of our colleagues. Read their stories about their experiences, work and insights at Orexo.

Meet Analytical Chemist Annelie Wennman on problem-solving from end-to-end

December 13, 2024

Anneli’s role spans everything from early stage concepting to interrogating solutions, blending chemistry with creative thinking and leadership with coaching. In this interview, Anneli reveals more about the variety in her role, digging into data and what she’s looking forward to in the year ahead.

Anneli Wennman

Education: PhD Pharmaceutical Sciences, MSc Chemical Biology

Career: Several years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry as analytical chemist working with both small molecules and proteins. In addition, experience working as a consultant at Novavax, Sobi and Fresenius-Kabi.

Outside work: Spending time with family and friends, crossfit, playing with my golden retriever, and I’m the Uppsala club president in an international women organization called Ladies Circle.

What does your role as a senior analytical chemist involve?

It’s incredibly varied – I’m involved in every project phase, from concept to delivery. It gives me knowledge of the end-to-end processes, so I’m often the go-to person when questions come up.

I enjoy ideating around the opportunities a new drug offers and refining my thinking when it comes to late-phase projects. Currently, our analytics and pharmaceutical teams are working together to identify the best, most stable pharmaceutical formulations after spray drying using our next-generation drug delivery technology AmorphOX®.

I coach the analytical team on the development and validation of analytical methods, as well as their transfer to our contract manufacturing organizations. I’m also responsible for planning and managing analytical activities and quality assurance. In my role as CMC-team lead, I am responsible for planning development studies, developing specifications, manufacturing processes and data trending.

How would you describe what it’s like working at Orexo?

We work in small project teams with really dedicated people who are all experts in their field. There’s a synergy effect between us that keeps us moving forwards quickly and effectively.

It’s great to work for a company that truly values innovation. We collaborate with Uppsala University, where Orexo is a member of the SweDeliver consortium. One of my personal highlights is welcoming Masters’ students to our labs for their exam work.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

It’s the people I get to work with. Collaborating in small, cross-functional teams gives me the opportunity to learn from the diverse perspectives and expertise in the room. I thrive on problem-solving and enjoy digging deep into data to understand analytical methods and the products. This combination of teamwork, continuous learning, and problem-solving from end-to-end makes my role fulfilling and exciting.

 

I thrive on problem-solving and enjoy digging deep into data to understand analytical methods and the products.

 

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on at Orexo?

Both the OX124 and OX640 projects are highlights for me.[1] Our analytical lab has progressed from testing tablets to nasal products, and we’ve invested in advanced analytical platforms that mean we’re well-equipped to perform everything from early development testing and investigations to full GMP[2] quality control testing.

We stress-test AmorphOX® formulations and combination products, and it’s exciting to see the results. The AmorphOX powder can withstand extreme temperature variations, from -20°C, where it remains stable and doesn’t freeze like a liquid, to extreme warm temperatures of 70-80°C.

How do the next twelve months look for you?

I’ll be advancing the OX640 project and further discovering what the AmorphOX platform can offer when it comes to formulating large molecules such as peptides and proteins, since I have a background in protein chemistry. The challenge with proteins and peptides is their intrinsic instability. The advantage with AmorphOX is that these molecules can be formulated in a way to allow superior stability. This opens up new administration pathways such as intranasal, simplifies transportation chains and increases accessibility to medicines in developing countries. We have promising proof of concepts in peptides, proteins and vaccines based on the AmorphOX platform and accelerating one of these projects together with a partner in 2025 would be an exciting prospect.

 

I’ll be advancing the OX640 project and further discovering what the AmorphOX® platform can offer when it comes to formulating large molecules such as peptides and proteins, since I have a background in protein chemistry.

Meet Salem Tewolde, Head of Supply Chain at Orexo, on solving real problems

October 8, 2024

Salem shares her experiences of heading up the supply chain at Orexo, ensuring timely delivery of Zubsolv® and preparing to launch OX124. Furthermore, her passion for enabling sustainability.

 

Hi Salem, how would you describe your role as Head of Supply Chain?

I work with my team to make sure we have everything in place to maintain an uninterrupted supply of our commercial products to distribute. Right now, one of our primary focuses is on ensuring a sustainable supply chain for OX124, our high-dose rescue medication. A large part of my role is ensuring that the supply chain operates efficiently and effectively enabling the organization to meet its business goals. 

Can you explain what setting up a sustainable supply chain involves?

We always start with a high-level plan. Map out all the stages of the supply chain, from raw material sourcing to manufacturing, distribution, and end-user delivery. It is complex and requires collaboration with multiple suppliers which all must pass through our Supplier Code of Conduct. As many sub-contractors may be found in many parts of the world, we need to make sure all direct suppliers have good governance and processes.

As many sub-contractors may be found in many parts of the world, we need to make sure all direct suppliers have good governance and processes.

 

What’s working at Orexo like?

I found Orexo through LinkedIn. I was drawn to the company because I could see that it solves real problems in the world and contributes to saving people’s lives. I’m really impressed with the innovative technologies and projects that we have here, especially for a small company. We have one goal and everyone’s hands on, there’s no sense of prestige or hierarchy, we’re just one team working together.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Contributing to giving people hope and improving the quality of life for patients, aligns with my personal values. As a small company, we can make decisions quickly and adapt to changes with agility. I enjoy my cross-functional role since it involve coordinating with various departments to achieve common goals. Also, the culture is important to me. I enjoy the social side because it builds you as a team.

I enjoy my cross-functional role since it involve coordinating with various departments to achieve common goals.

How do the next twelve months look for you?

Over the next year, my primary focus will remain on securing a resilient and sustainable supply chain for our commercial products — covering the entire process from planning through manufacturing and distribution. Additionally, I am excited to continue supporting our R&D team in developing reliable supply chains for our pipeline projects.

Meet Scientist Jonas Sävmarker on being curious and innovating for patients

July 4, 2024

As a research scientist at Orexo, Jonas spends his days solving complex problems, either in the labs or, increasingly, outside them. In this interview, Jonas explains more about his role and why, as he describes it, it takes him “everywhere and nowhere”.

Jonas Sävmarker

Education: RPh, PhD in Organic Chemistry

Career: Supervising PhD and post-grad students; own business and consultancy

Outside work: I enjoy walks in the forest with the family’s most recent member, our puppy Milo.

 

Hi Jonas, what does being the Senior Principal Scientist involve?

My role is to work with the wider research and development (R&D) team to create innovative treatments for patients at the Uppsala-based labs at our headquarters in Sweden. I also attend conferences worldwide, alongside our business development colleagues, to answer technical questions.

How would you describe what it’s like working at Orexo?

We’re a small company with a highly skilled, dedicated R&D team. We can do great things because everyone works really hard and supports one another. You’re never on your own.  At Orexo, I’m surrounded by energy. It’s inspiring to be around people who are so committed and talented.

 

We’re a small company with a highly skilled, dedicated R&D team. We can do great things because everyone works really hard and supports one another.

 

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I’m a naturally curious person. I appreciate the variety of my role and enjoy the opportunities to grow and develop myself.  I just take things on and do them. I like having a short time to learn something new. It gives me an intense focus and personal challenge.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on at Orexo?

When I joined Orexo, my goal was to develop a nasal naloxone product for patients experiencing an opioid overdose. It was much harder than I expected, but I’m proud to say that I took the initial steps in the creation of AmorphOX®, our world-class drug delivery technology. It’s the backbone of OX124, our nasal, high-dose rescue medication. The whole team have made AmorphOX into what it is today: An incredibly versatile technology platform.

We’re now able to run experiments using AmorphOX, including with large molecules. There’s so much potential for different uses across diverse therapeutic areas.

How do the next twelve months look for you?

My main focus is to continue researching all the possibilities that AmorphOX offers for patients, even outside our core area of opioid use disorder. The technology platform can be used for lots of different things, not just addictions. We’re exploring vaccines, and we’ve developed OX640, a powder-based epinephrine (adrenaline) product that has the potential to reach global markets.

 

My main focus is to continue researching all the possibilities that AmorphOX offers for patients, even outside our core area of opioid use disorder.