About us
MPC Therapeutics is a spin-off from the University of Geneva, Switzerland. We combine world-class expertise in mitochondrial function (Prof. Jean-Claude Martinou, CSO) and T-cell metabolism (Dr. Mathias Wenes, CTO) to develop innovative products that enhance cell fitness, persistence and performance.
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Our goal is to enable our partners to unlock the full potential of their cell therapies, by reliably producing efficient and durable cell therapy products.
We re-program mitochondria
Mitochondria are more than just the powerhouse of the cell — they play a pivotal role in cellular metabolism, survival, and function, particularly in immune and stem cells.
By targeting the Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier (MPC) and other key metabolic pathways, we have developed innovative small molecules that modulate mitochondrial function. We started by improving the fitness, persistence, and therapeutic potential of T cells and are now focusing on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).
Our team
Raphael Martinou
CEO
Raphael holds an MSc from Imperial College London and has extensive experience in corporate innovation through his previous roles in the healthcare division of Air Liquide. As CEO, Raphaël leads the company’s strategic direction, fundraising efforts, and day-to-day management, ensuring the company remains on track toward its ambitious goals.
Augustin de Bettignies
CBO
With a PhD and MBA, Augustin brings an experience from both major med tech companies and biotech startups. Augustin is responsible for building partnerships with pharmaceutical companies and overseeing legal and financial aspects, drawing from his extensive background in business development and consulting.
Jean-Claude Martinou
CSO
Jean-Claude is a globally recognized leader in cell metabolism and mitochondria research, having authored numerous key publications on the MPC. Notably, his lab at the University of Geneva discovered the MPC in 2012. Prof. Martinou recently retired from academia and now serves as the CSO of MPC Therapeutics.
Mathias Wenes
CTO
Mathias is an expert in immune cell metabolism. He has conducted his PhD with Prof. Mazzone at the VIB/University of Leuven, Belgium, and postdocs with Prof. Romero in Lausanne and Prof. Migliorini in Geneva. Mathias discovered the potential of MPC inhibition in immune cells and plays a key role in driving the project forward.
Kaushik Bhattacharya
R&D Coordinator
With a background in chemistry and biochemistry, Kaushik earned his Ph.D. at the University of Calcutta, focusing on anticancer drug development and regulatory T-cell immunology. Following a postdoctoral research at the University of Geneva, Kaushik joined MPC in 2024 and coordinates R&D activites at the Tulip.
Arielle Flinois
Scientist
With a background in cell and molecular biology, Arielle earned her Ph.D. from the University of Geneva, focusing on the relationship between the microtubule cytoskeleton and epithelial tight junctions. In 2024, she joined MPC Therapeutics, leading the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting MPC inhibition.
Our Scientific Advisory Board
Prof. Denis Migliorini
Prof. Denis Migliorini is a practicing physician and Head of Neuro-oncology at the Department of Oncology of the University Hospital of Geneva (HUG), Switzerland. He also leads the Brain Tumour and Immune Cell Engineering Group at the AGORA Cancer Research Center in Lausanne. His research is focused on addressing the most important limitations of CAR T-cell therapy, including specificity, potency and manufacturing hurdles. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, focusing on CAR-T cell engineering.
Prof. Pedro Romero
Prof. Pedro Romero, MD, is a leading expert in tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy. He is a professor at the University of Lausanne and formerly led the Division of Clinical Onco-Immunology at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. His research focuses on CD8 T cell responses and peptide-based immunotherapy, with over 320 publications and multiple patents. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer. Dr. Romero earned his MD from the National University of Colombia.
Prof. Olivier Hermine
Prof. Olivier Hermine, MD, PhD, is a leading hematologist and professor at Paris Descartes University, heading the Hematology Department at Hôpital Necker. His research at the Imagine Institute focuses on hematological diseases, mastocytosis, and targeted therapies. He co-founded AB Science and Inatherys, advancing treatments for blood disorders. A member of the French Académie des Sciences, he has received multiple awards for his contributions to hematology.
Dr. Benjamin Perry
Dr. Ben Perry is a Venture Partner at Medicxi, with over two decades of experience in small molecule drug discovery. His career includes leadership roles at organizations such as the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) in Geneva, Addex Therapeutics, and UCB in Cambridge, UK. He also co-founded biotechs including MPC Therapeutics. Dr. Perry holds an MChem from the University of Wales Swansea, a PhD in organic chemistry from Imperial College London, and an EMBA from IE Business School in Madrid.
Dr. Yves Sagot
Dr. Yves Sagot is a neurobiologist with expertise in neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases. He held leadership roles at Serono International, co-founded Relief Therapeutics, and now serves as an Independent Director at BioSenic SA. With 25 publications and several patents, he has received multiple awards for his contributions to the field. He earned his Ph.D. in Neurobiology from Université Paul Sabatier and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Geneva.
Dr. Philippe Parone
Dr. Philippe Parone, PhD, is a biotech leader specializing in cell and gene therapy. He earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Cambridge and conducted research on neurodegeneration and immune disorders at the University of Geneva and UC San Diego. He has held key roles at Fate Therapeutics and Celyad Oncology, advancing iPSC-derived and CAR-T cell therapies. Currently, he is Chief Scientific Officer at EsoBiotec, leading R&D efforts in cancer and immune disorder therapies.