About Niina

A seasoned professional in the field of life sciences and expertise in immuno-oncology. With a career spanning over two decades, Niina has consistently demonstrated her proficiency and leadership across various roles in the biotech industry.
About Niina

Ph.D. scientist and non-clinical development leader with 20 years advancing immuno-oncology biologics from concept to first-in-human trials.

I founded Zermatt Consulting AB to bring senior non-clinical leadership to oncology and immuno-oncology biotech companies that need it — without the overhead of a full-time hire.

Six assets advanced to Phase I. €20M+ in competitive grant funding secured. Programs out-licensed to Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) and Amgen. Inventor on 10+ patent families.

What I do

I work with early-to-mid stage oncology biotech companies that need senior non-clinical leadership to move their pipeline forward. Typically this means:

→ Supporting IND-enabling strategy and execution for biologics programmes
→ Designing translational biomarker programmes that bridge in vivo data to first-in-human
→ Selecting, contracting, and managing CRO networks for in vivo, in vitro, and ex vivo studies
→ Supporting regulatory-quality non-clinical documentation (IND, CTA, eIND, FDA briefing packages)
→ Providing scientific due diligence for in- and out-licensing transactions
→ Writing and supporting competitive grant applications (national funding bodies)
→ Supervising or building a non-clinical function where one does not yet exist

My modality expertise covers monoclonal antibodies, afucosylated antibodies, bispecific and multispecific antibodies, DARPin-based platforms, bifunctional fusion proteins, NK cell engagers, T-cell modulators, and somewhat peptide and aptamer therapeutics.

Selected engagements

Pure Biologics · Fractional Senior Director, Non-Clinical Development, Supervisor Immuno-Oncology Platforms · March 2022 – Present

4+ year retained engagement overseeing the full immuno-oncology biologics portfolio. Advanced two candidates; PBA-0405 (afucosylated anti-ROR1 antibody) and PBA-0111 (anti-GARP/TGFβ1 antibody) from discovery into Phase 0 / first-in-human clinical trials in patients with head and neck carcinoma. Secured €7M ABM grant; contributed to €14M+ in additional funding. Named inventor on WO2024251787

Multi-client advisory portfolio · 2020 – Present

Retained scientific advisor to early-stage international oncology biotech companies across antibody, bispecific, fusion protein, peptide, and ADC programmes. Services include IND-enabling strategy, CRO management, regulatory documentation, grant applications, and scientific due diligence for licensing transactions.

Prior in-house experience

Molecular Partners AG · Director, Immuno-Oncology | Head of In Vivo Core| Head Focus Area Tumor Localized Immunomodulators· 2018–2020
Led 24-person cross-functional in vivo and focus area function. Supported MP0317 (FAP×CD40), MP0310 (FAP×4-1BB), ensovibed (covid) and other discovery programs into Phase I clinical trials. Inventor WO2021229067.

Alligator Bioscience AB · Head of In Vivo Oncology | Scientific Lead · 2011–2018 (6 years 8 months, 3 promotions)
Built Alligator's in vivo function from zero. Contributed advancement of 4 candidates to first-in-human trials including ADC-1013 (Mitazalimab, CD40), which was out-licensed to Janssen (Johnson & Johnson). Scientific lead to ATOR-1015 (OX40xCTLA4), inventor on 7 patent families.

BioInvent International AB · Senior Research Scientist · 2005–2011
Scientific lead for BI-505 (anti-ICAM-1) from discovery to FIH in multiple myeloma. First author, Cancer Cell 2013. Inventor WO2010112110.

Aelin Therapeutics · Head of Biology · 2020–2021
Led biology department (9–12 people) at Pept-In® oncology/microbial peptide startup. Established in vivo capabilities in-house and via CRO.

Education
Ph.D., Tumor Biology — Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm (1999–2003)
Doctoral opponent: Prof. Judah Folkman, Harvard University

M.Sc., Molecular Biology — Stockholm University (1995–1999)

Selected Publications
Spee et al.. Veitonmäki N (last author) — Under review Aug 2026- Dual functioning Antibody PBA-0111

Veitonmäki N et al. Front Immunol. 2025 — Anti-ROR1 antibody PBA-0405
Veitonmäki N et al. Cancer Cell. 2013 — Anti-ICAM-1 antibody BI-505
Rigamonti, Veitonmäki N et al. Cancer Immunol Res. 2022 — CD40 DARPin multispecific
Full publication list: PubMed

Patents
Inventor or co-inventor on 10+ patent families including WO2024251787, WO2021229067, WO2010112110, and seven Alligator Bioscience applications.
Full patent list available on request.

Currently available for new engagements

If you are building an oncology or immuno-oncology biologics programme and need senior non-clinical development leadership — fractional, retained, or project-based — I would welcome a conversation.

📩 niina@veitonmaki.com
🔗 linkedin.com/in/niinaveitonmaki