Marianne Bjordal appointed CEO; Judit Molnar promoted to Chief Development Officer **
London, UK, 13 November 2026 – NeoPhore Limited, a company developing oral small molecules designed to turn resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors into response, today announces the appointment of Marianne Bjordal as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the promotion of Judit Molnar to Chief Development Officer (CDO). The appointments come as NeoPhore prepares to start its first clinical trial, in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).
Addressing a major unmet need
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have transformed the treatment of many cancers, but most patients with mCRC do not benefit. Tumours that are deficient in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) respond well to checkpoint inhibitors. However, the large majority of metastatic colorectal cancers are MMR-proficient, and for these patients checkpoint inhibitors are not a therapeutic option.
NeoPhore’s lead candidate is a first-in-class oral small molecule that inhibits the MMR pathway. By temporarily switching off mismatch repair in the tumour, it is designed to alter the tumour genotype and make MMR-proficient tumours visible to the immune system, with the aim of making many more patients eligible to benefit from checkpoint inhibitors.
Marianne Bjordal, Chief Executive Officer
Marianne is a scientist and biotech investor. As General Partner at 3B Future Health Fund, she has led investments in oncology and rare disease companies and has served on boards across Europe and the US, including Gain Therapeutics, Kither Biotech, Epsilogen, Navion Neurosciences and Sibylla Biotech. A NeoPhore Board member since 2021, she knows the company, its science and its investors from the inside. She will remain a General Partner of 3B Future Health Fund. Marianne holds a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Nice, an MSc from the University of Bergen and an MBA from IAE Nice Graduate School of Management.
Judit Molnar, Chief Development Officer
Judit Molnar has been promoted to Chief Development Officer, having joined NeoPhore in June 2025 as Executive Vice President of Translational Development. Judit is an experienced pharmaceutical physician with 20 years of industry experience spanning global pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology businesses. She has held senior clinical and medical leadership positions at GSK, Galapagos and BenevolentAI, contributing to the development of clinical strategies across immunology, oncology and rare diseases. Her experience encompasses translational medicine and early-stage clinical development, with expertise in biomarker-driven approaches, precision medicine and progressing innovative therapies from target validation through to clinical proof of concept. Judit holds a medical degree from Semmelweis University and a PhD from Cornell University.
Marianne Bjordal, Chief Executive Officer, NeoPhore, said: “As a Board member, I have been part of NeoPhore’s journey as its science matured from a compelling hypothesis into a programme that is ready for patients. I am excited to lead the company as we take that programme into the clinic. People with MMR-proficient mCRC have few treatment options, and checkpoint inhibition rarely works for them. Our priority is to generate clinical data showing that our drug can change the tumour’s genetic profile, with the potential to make many more patients eligible for checkpoint inhibitors. With Judit leading our clinical development and the expertise and commitment of our team, we are very well placed to deliver this.”
Judit Molnar, Chief Development Officer, NeoPhore, said: “I am delighted to lead NeoPhore’s clinical development as we prepare to bring our first-in-class approach to patients. Our trial in metastatic colorectal cancer has been designed with a strong biomarker strategy, so that we can see whether our drug changes the tumour’s genetic profile and learn which patients benefit most. I look forward to working with Marianne and our team to deliver it.”
For more information, please contact:
Tel: +44 (0) 330 128 9990
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About Neophore Ltd
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have transformed cancer treatment, yet many patients never respond. NeoPhore is developing first-in-class oral small molecules that inhibit the DNA mismatch repair pathway, which shapes how tumours are recognised by the immune system. By temporarily switching off mismatch repair in tumours, NeoPhore aims to make them recognisable to the immune system and turn resistance to checkpoint inhibitors into response. The Company’s lead candidate is planned to enter the clinic in 2027. The Company was spun out of the University of Turin by the CRT Pioneer Fund, raising capital from investors including Claris Ventures, 2Invest, 3B Future Health Fund, Neva, LIFTT, and private individuals from Italian Angels for Growth and Club degli Investitori.