# Stig Hansen

> Stig K. Hansen is a Danish-American biochemist and serial biotech founder who co-founded Kimia Therapeutics in 2023, a Berkeley-based precision chemistry company applying machine learning and automated synthesis to drug discovery. He previously co-founded and led Carmot Therapeutics for 15 years, inventing Chemotype Evolution technology that contributed to LUMAKRAS - the world's first FDA-approved KRAS G12C inhibitor for non-small cell lung cancer. Carmot was acquired by Roche for up to $3.1 billion in January 2024. At Kimia, Hansen is pioneering the ATLAS platform (AcTive Learning with Automated Synthesis and Screening), which integrates high-throughput chemistry, genome editing, and AI to map druggable chemical space at unprecedented scale. The company raised a $55 million Series A in December 2023 led by The Column Group and Dimension.

- **Role:** Co-founder, President, and CEO at Kimia Therapeutics
- **Organizations:** Kimia Therapeutics, Carmot Therapeutics, Sunesis Pharmaceuticals
- **From:** Denmark
- **Nationality:** Danish-American
- **Education:** MS in Biochemistry, University of Copenhagen, PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Copenhagen, Postdoctoral Fellow - transcriptional regulation, UC Berkeley (laboratory of Dr. Robert Tjian), Postdoctoral Fellow - mammalian brain development, UC Berkeley (laboratory of Dr. Tito Serafini) - Novartis Fellow, Life Sciences Research Foundation
- **Known for:** Invented Chemotype Evolution technology, a novel approach to drug discovery, Co-discovered the chemistry behind LUMAKRAS (sotorasib), the world's first FDA-approved KRAS G12C inhibitor for non-small cell lung cancer, Co-founded Carmot Therapeutics and built it over 15 years from a startup to a $3.1 billion Roche acquisition

## Career timeline

- **pre-2000** — Completed PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology at University of Copenhagen; completed two postdoctoral fellowships at UC Berkeley
- **2000** — Joined Sunesis Pharmaceuticals as Director of Biology
- **2000-2008** — At Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, led drug discovery programs in metabolic disease, autoimmunity, and oncology; invented Chemotype Evolution technology; two programs entered clinical development
- **2008** — Co-founded Carmot Therapeutics as CEO; developed Chemotype Evolution into a drug discovery platform
- **2008-2023** — Led Carmot Therapeutics as CEO for 15 years; developed three clinical-stage GLP-1 receptor modulator compounds; collaborated with Amgen on KRAS G12C program
- **2021** — LUMAKRAS (sotorasib) receives FDA approval - the world's first approved KRAS G12C inhibitor, co-discovered with Carmot's Chemotype Evolution technology
- **2023** — Co-founded Kimia Therapeutics with Jack Sadowsky and Ray Fucini as a spin-off from Carmot, focused on oncology, immunology, and inflammation
- **2023-12** — Kimia Therapeutics closes $55 million Series A led by The Column Group and Dimension
- **2024-01** — Carmot Therapeutics acquired by Roche for up to $3.1 billion; Hansen remains as advisor and Board member
- **2025-03** — Kimia Therapeutics appoints Imran S. Haque, Ph.D. as Chief Technology Officer

## Achievements

- Invented Chemotype Evolution technology, a novel approach to drug discovery
- Co-discovered the chemistry behind LUMAKRAS (sotorasib), the world's first FDA-approved KRAS G12C inhibitor for non-small cell lung cancer
- Co-founded Carmot Therapeutics and built it over 15 years from a startup to a $3.1 billion Roche acquisition
- Author of more than 20 patent applications and scientific publications
- Secured $55 million Series A for Kimia Therapeutics in December 2023
- Developed three clinical-stage GLP-1 receptor modulator compounds at Carmot
- Pioneered the ATLAS platform integrating machine learning, automated synthesis, and genome editing for drug discovery
- Novartis Fellow of the Life Sciences Research Foundation at UC Berkeley

## Latest updates

- **2025-03** — Kimia Therapeutics appoints Imran S. Haque, Ph.D. as Chief Technology Officer, bringing 20 years of AI/ML expertise in chemistry and biology from Recursion Pharmaceuticals
- **2024-01** — Carmot Therapeutics, the company Hansen co-founded, is acquired by Roche for up to $3.1 billion
- **2023-12** — Kimia Therapeutics closes $55 million Series A funding round led by The Column Group and Dimension, with participation from Horizons Ventures
- **2023-01** — Kimia Therapeutics launches as a spin-off from Carmot Therapeutics, co-founded by Hansen, Jack Sadowsky, and Ray Fucini

## Links

- Website: https://kimiatx.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/stig-hansen-6988568

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/stig-hansen
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-13