Evaxion Biotech Appoints Dr. Helen Tayton-Martin As New Chief Executive Officer To Lead Next Phase Of Company Growth

Evaxion A/S, a clinical-stage TechBio company specializing in developing AI-Immunology™-powered vaccines, announced the appointment of Dr. Helen Tayton-Martin as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). She will officially assume her role on November 24, 2025, and will simultaneously step down from her position on Evaxion’s Board of Directors.

Dr. Tayton-Martin brings extensive experience in biotechnology, immunology, and strategic leadership, with a strong track record of guiding companies through growth and innovation. She holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Immunology and an MBA from the London Business School. Before joining Evaxion, she co-founded the cancer-focused biotech company Adaptimmune, where she spent 17 years in key leadership roles, including Chief Operating Officer and later Chief Business & Strategy Officer. 

During her tenure, she helped drive Adaptimmune’s transatlantic expansion, oversaw multiple academic, clinical, and commercial collaborations, and led financing initiatives that culminated in the company’s Nasdaq IPO. She was also responsible for forming major strategic partnerships with leading global pharmaceutical companies, including Astellas, Genentech (a member of the Roche Group), GlaxoSmithKline, and Galapagos NV.

Prior to Adaptimmune, Dr. Tayton-Martin spent over 15 years working across the pharmaceutical, biotech, and consulting sectors, gaining broad experience in business development and commercialization strategies. She also served as a non-executive director at Trillium Therapeutics Inc. from 2017 until its acquisition by Pfizer Inc. in 2021.

Marianne Søgaard, Chair of Evaxion’s Board of Directors, expressed her confidence in the appointment, stating, “We are delighted to welcome Helen Tayton-Martin as our new CEO. She is an accomplished leader with the right experience in driving organizational growth, building partnerships, and creating value in the biotech sector. Helen’s familiarity with Evaxion from her time on the Board and her proven leadership skills make her ideally suited to guide the company through its next phase of development.”

Søgaard also extended her gratitude to Dr. Birgitte Rønø, who has served as interim CEO while continuing her responsibilities as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). “Birgitte has done an outstanding job leading the company during this pivotal period,” she said. “We are pleased that she will now return to focus fully on her role as CSO, continuing to drive our research and development efforts.”

Commenting on her appointment, Dr. Helen Tayton-Martin said, “I am thrilled to be joining Evaxion as CEO at such a dynamic time for the company. From my experience on the Board, I have seen the strength of the AI-Immunology™ platform in creating real, innovative products. The recent out-licensing of EVX-B3 to MSD and the promising data presented for EVX-01 at ESMO highlight Evaxion’s strong potential for future value generation. I look forward to working with the talented and dedicated team to build on this exceptional scientific and commercial foundation.”

As part of the leadership transition, Jens Bitsch-Norhave, a seasoned life sciences executive, will join Evaxion’s Board of Directors as an adviser and observer, with plans to seek formal election as a board member at the 2026 Annual General Meeting. Welcoming him to the company, Marianne Søgaard noted, “We are excited to have Jens Bitsch-Norhave join the Board. With more than 25 years of leadership experience in biotech and pharma, particularly in corporate strategy, global expansion, and dealmaking, he will bring valuable insight and expertise to Evaxion.”

Jens Bitsch-Norhave currently serves as Corporate Vice President and Global Head of Corporate Development at Hengrui Pharmaceuticals, where he oversees strategy, business development, licensing, mergers and acquisitions, and alliance management. He holds an MSc and Ph.D. in Neuropharmacology from the University of Copenhagen, as well as an Executive MBA in Technology & Innovation from Copenhagen Business School.