About us

Reini Hurme, PhD, eMBA

CEO, Co-founder

Reini worked in pharmaceutical industry for 8 years, managing various clinical departments and functions for Leiras Oy and Schering Oy global organizations. He has worked in academia in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology with notable awards, grants, and publications, conducting research at Institut Pasteur, Karolinska Institute, and University of Helsinki. Reini has spent about twenty years abroad both in the US and several European countries. At Zora Reini has attracted funding and steered the business for growing the company from a start-up to a more mature company with marketed products and a strong diagnostic pipeline.

Reijo Laaksonen, Prof, MD, FESC

CMO, Co-founder

Reijo is a clinical pharmacologist specialized in cardiovascular pharmacology. Reijo spent more than six years at the Clinical Research Institute of Montreal and at the Laboratory of Experimental Neurology, ULB, Brussels as a post-doctoral fellow and visiting scientist. Prior to joining Zora Reijo has worked as Chief Research Scientist at Viikki Drug Discovery Technology Center, Helsinki and served as a consultant for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Reijo is co-inventor of several patents and has published over 100 original scientific articles. Reijo is also research professor at Tampere University and medical director of the Finnish Clinical Biobank Tampere. Reijo’s interest in cardiovascular disease prevention and his experience in statin intolerance work are key assets for the development of the Zora porfolio.

Riikka Katainen, MSc (Econ, Biotech)

COO

Riikka holds an M.Sc. in Business and Economics as well as M.Sc. in Biotechnology. She worked at the University of Helsinki as a researcher. Prior to joining Zora, Riikka worked at Thermo Fisher Scientific. During her career she has gained invaluable experience in IPR, especially in patenting. Additionally, she has experience in project management, management accounting, financial management, and management of publicly funded projects. At Zora Riikka has been instrumental in creating project management practices, developing the patenting strategy, and managing our publicly funded projects and in building the company brand and marketing strategy.

Virve Väisänen, MSc

Head of Intellectual Property Rights

Virve Väisänen manages Zora’s diagnostic patent portfolio and other IPR. Virve holds an MSc in analytical chemistry from the University of Helsinki. She has experience in IPR and quality management in the chemical industry and also in analytical laboratories. At Zora Virve has handled scores of patent application in various geographies, with several of these coming to fruition thereby strengthening the Zora portfolio.

Jaakko Nevanlinna

Chaiman of the Board

Dr Günther Gorka

Board Member

Prof. Dr med Winfried März

Board Member

Dr März has a strong background in clinical and laboratory research. He received his training in laboratory medicine at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, and his habilitation at the Albert Ludwigs University in Freiburg, Germany.

Aleksander Golob

Board Member

Aleksander Golob is the founder, and major shareholder of GOMAR d.d., a Slovenian private consulting enterprise. Aleksander is an engineer by training and also holds an MBA from the University of Maribor. His financial expertise was acquired during a banking career in a prominent investment bank in Slovenia. Aleksander is specialized in financial and tax consultation.