Werner Lanthaler Brings Expertise to Key Biotech and AI Boards

Werner Lanthaler, founder and CEO of Wlanholding GmbH, has recently expanded his professional portfolio by accepting key board positions at two innovative companies in the life sciences sector. The biotech and pharmaceutical veteran has been appointed as Chair of the newly formed Supervisory Board at FairJourney Biologics and as an Independent Board Member at Elucidata, further cementing his position as a strategic advisor in the evolving landscape of biotechnology and artificial intelligence.

Strategic Leadership at FairJourney Biologics

In March 2025, FairJourney Biologics, a global leader in antibody discovery and development based in Porto, Portugal, announced the formation of its Supervisory Board with Dr. Lanthaler as Chair. This strategic initiative aims to support the company’s ongoing growth strategy and accelerate innovation in the field of antibody research.

FairJourney Biologics has established itself as a premier partner in the antibody sector, with an impressive track record that includes advancing over 14 antibodies to clinical stages. The company’s comprehensive approach encompasses the entire antibody lifecycle, from discovery to development, serving clients ranging from virtual startups to established pharmaceutical giants.

As Chair of the Supervisory Board, Werner Lanthaler will be instrumental in defining key avenues for growth and optimizing scientific strategies. “I am honored to join the Supervisory Board at such a pivotal time,” Lanthaler stated upon his appointment. “My goal is to foster an environment of rigorous scientific and agile decision-making that will help to further development of Fairjourney Biologics’ breakthrough antibody solutions.”

The newly formed Supervisory Board includes other distinguished industry leaders alongside Lanthaler. Dr. Mikael Dolsten brings over 25 years of experience leading cross-functional research and development programs and has been instrumental in advancing innovative therapeutic solutions. Dr. Tariq Ghayur contributes over 30 years of expertise in biologics early discovery, development of bi- and multi-specific biologics platforms, and translational medicine.

FairJourney Biologics’ extensive facilities support its ambitious research agenda. The company operates from a 170,000 square-foot purpose-built research center constructed in 2021, housing over 140 fully equipped laboratories. The company also maintains a presence in Cambridge, with a 15,000 square-foot expansion at the Unity Campus dedicated to Mammalian Display licensing and technology innovation. This infrastructure provides the foundation for the company’s work across five species, over 1,130 projects, and more than 4,500 generated libraries.

António Parada, CEO of FairJourney Biologics, expressed optimism about the new board’s potential impact: “With leaders of such exceptional caliber and diverse backgrounds joining us, we are well-positioned to drive innovation and excellence in the antibody space. Their collective expertise and strategic vision will be instrumental in elevating our service offerings in the global market.”

Advancing AI in Healthcare at Elucidata

Simultaneously, Werner Lanthaler has joined Elucidata as an Independent Board Member. The company, recognized as the Most Innovative Biotech Company by Fast Company and winner of the National Cancer Institute’s AI-Readiness Challenge, specializes in data-centric AI solutions and technology for healthcare and life sciences.

Elucidata focuses on enabling biopharma R&D organizations to fully realize the potential of artificial intelligence through innovative technology and a human-in-the-loop approach that ensures data quality at scale. This appointment aligns with Lanthaler’s expertise in integrating cutting-edge technologies into pharmaceutical research and development processes.

“Elucidata is on a strong growth trajectory, enabling biopharma R&D organizations to fully realize the potential of AI,” Lanthaler remarked. “Their innovative technology and human-in-the-loop approach ensure data quality at scale. I am confident that Elucidata will significantly impact the life sciences sector.”

The company’s focus on creating AI-ready data assets addresses one of the most critical barriers in the industry today: turning fragmented and unstructured data into usable, high-quality resources that can accelerate innovation in drug discovery and development.

Elucidata’s approach to data-centric AI in healthcare is particularly relevant as the industry grapples with the challenge of leveraging vast amounts of complex data. By ensuring data quality as a service, similar to how cloud providers have done for infrastructure, the company is positioning itself as a crucial enabler for AI-driven research and development in the life sciences sector.

Joining Lanthaler at Elucidata is Dr. Navjot Singh, who brings over 22 years of experience in strategy, technology, and innovation as a Senior Partner Emeritus at McKinsey & Co. This combination of expertise further strengthens Elucidata’s leadership team as it continues to expand its influence in the healthcare and life sciences sectors.

A Distinguished Career in Biotechnology

Lanthaler’s appointments to these boards come after a distinguished career in the biotechnology sector. From 2009 to 2024, he served as CEO of Evotec SE, a drug discovery and development company. Under his leadership, the company grew from approximately 200 employees to over 5,000, with annual turnover increasing from around €40 million to €800 million.

During his tenure at Evotec, Lanthaler drove several world-leading innovation initiatives, including drug discovery with iPS cells, omics-driven drug discovery, and fully continuous manufacturing for biologics. His strategic vision transformed Evotec into a global leader in drug discovery alliances and development partnerships.

Earlier in his career, he was CFO of Intercell AG from 2000 to 2009, where he played a pivotal role in the company’s IPO and the global launch of a Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine. This experience provided Lanthaler with valuable insights into the commercialization of pharmaceutical products and the financial aspects of running a biotechnology company.

Before joining Intercell, Lanthaler served as Senior Vice President of Organization, Finance, Marketing & Communications at the Industriellenvereinigung (Federation of Austrian Industry) in Vienna. His professional journey also includes several years with McKinsey & Company, where he worked in their Boston, Düsseldorf, and Vienna offices.

Werner Lanthaler holds a PhD in Business from the Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (Vienna, Austria) and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, along with additional degrees in Business, Project Management, and Psychology. This educational background has equipped him with a multidisciplinary perspective that informs his approach to strategic leadership in the biotechnology sector.

Strategic Vision for Biotechnology’s Future

Today, as founder and CEO of Wlanholding GmbH, Lanthaler focuses on investments and advisory services in life science and high-tech driven sustainability companies. His family office targets investments that have the potential to transform healthcare and address environmental challenges through innovative technologies.

Werner Lanthaler’s investment portfolio includes promising ventures such as Proxygen GmbH, a company developing a molecular glue degrader research platform with potential applications in cancer treatment. Another notable investment is Cerabyte GmbH, which is creating sustainable data storage solutions based on ceramic nanostructures. Additional holdings include Solgate GmbH, which focuses on developing medications targeting the solute carrier protein family, and Planet Pure GmbH, a company committed to producing truly organic cleaning products with minimal environmental impact.

Beyond his role at Wlanholding, Lanthaler serves on several boards, bringing his strategic insights to a diverse range of companies. He is Chairman of Proxygen GmbH and a board member of AC Immune AG (NASDAQ: ACI), Cerabyte GmbH, and Soravia AG. He was previously Vice-Chairman of the Board of Argenx (NASDAQ: ARGX) until 2022, and continues to serve as an advisor to several venture and private equity funds, including Forbion and Hevolution.

His recent board appointments at FairJourney Biologics and Elucidata underscore his commitment to driving innovation in biotechnology through strategic guidance and expertise. These roles leverage his extensive experience in scaling biotech companies and his vision for integrating cutting-edge technologies like AI into pharmaceutical research and development.

As the biotechnology sector continues to evolve, Werner Lanthaler’s insights and strategic guidance will be valuable assets for companies seeking to navigate the complexities of drug discovery, development, and commercialization in an increasingly data-driven and AI-enhanced landscape.