September 8, 2026 – Life sciences recruiting specialist Coulter Partners has recruited Claus Sundgreen as chief medical officer of NRG Therapeutics Ltd. Managing partner Kay Wardle led the assignment. “NRG was seeking a rare combination of clinical development expertise, neuroscience leadership, and deep knowledge of ALS. Our search focused on identifying leaders with a proven track record of advancing innovative therapies through critical clinical milestones while bringing the strategic perspective needed for a growing clinical-stage company. Claus stood out throughout the process for the breadth of his experience, his scientific credibility, and his passion for improving outcomes for patients living with ALS. We are pleased to have supported NRG in securing such an accomplished leader for this pivotal appointment.”
“I am delighted to welcome Claus to NRG as our chief medical officer,” said Neil Miller, co-founder and chief executive officer of NRG Therapeutics. “His deep experience in neurodegenerative disease drug development, particularly in ALS, together with his strong clinical and regulatory expertise and connections within the ALS patient community, will be invaluable as we continue advancing NRG5051 through clinical development.”
“This was a key appointment for NRG as we prepare for the next phase of clinical development,” Dr. Miller added. “Coulter Partners quickly understood both the specific scientific and clinical expertise and leadership qualities we were seeking, as well as the stage of growth of the company. Their deep knowledge of the global neuroscience sector, extensive network, and thoughtful guidance throughout the process enabled us to evaluate an outstanding group of candidates and ultimately identify the right leader for this critical role.”
Dr. Sundgreen is a recognized leader in neuroscience drug development with more than 25 years of clinical leadership experience spanning translational medicine and all phases of clinical development, from first-in-human studies through registrational trials. He has held senior leadership positions across biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies including HD Immune, Abcuro, VectorY, Tikomed, Orphazyme, uniQure, and NeuroSearch, and brings particular expertise in ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.
As chief medical officer, Dr. Sundgreen will lead NRG’s clinical development strategy, overseeing completion of the ongoing Phase 1 trial of NRG5051 and the planning and execution of a Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial in ALS scheduled to commence in 2027.
NRG Therapeutics is a clinical stage neuroscience drug discovery company building a pipeline of disease-modifying mitochondrial therapeutics to slow or halt the progression of neurodegenerative disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND) and Parkinson’s. The company’s pipeline of first-in-class small molecule assets is based on inhibiting the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) through a novel mechanism of action.
Serving the Life Sciences Sector
Coulter Partners is a board- and senior-level global executive search specialist focused exclusively on life sciences. The firm works closely with those at the cutting edge of innovation in the industry to understand their challenges. With an extensive global network and expertise gained over 25 years in the sector, Coulter Partners is a trusted leadership adviser in the pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical technology, diagnostics, health-tech, CRO, and services sectors.
Coulter Partners also works closely with the global investor community, hiring for their own teams as well as building the boards and executive leadership teams of their portfolio companies. Coulter Partners’ team of 95 completes over 260 assignments a year working from 14 offices across the U.K., EMEA, the U.S., and APAC.
Bianca Coulter founded Coulter Partners in 2003 and has 25 years’ experience of board and C-level global search, building the leadership teams of early-stage, mid-cap, and global multinationals in over 20 countries. Through appointing leadership, Ms. Coulter channels her judgment and expertise to impact patient benefit and assist those at the cutting edge of life science to achieve their goals.
Dr. Wardle has over 20 years of life science search experience and extensive R&D expertise. She has taken a lead on business development and delivery since joining Coulter Partners in 2013. Dr. Wardle has a strong focus on scientific and medical roles within R&D, spanning discovery, preclinical and clinical development, regulatory, product development, CMC and related disciplines. She has also placed C-suite, board and senior-level executives globally, working with both emerging and established organizations in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and contract research sectors.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
