DIAH

DIAH 2026

19 – 21 May 2026 | Bruges, Belgium

Erwin Blomsma

CEO and co-founder

Benno Therapeutics

Leuven, Belgium

20 profile visitsSpeakerAdvisory Committee

My organisation

At Benno Therapeutics, we are dedicated to developing innovative biopharmaceutical solutions that address unmet medical needs. Our team combines cutting-edge science with a patient-centric approach, focusing on advanced therapies that improve health outcomes. By fostering strong partnerships and collaborations within the healthcare community, we aim to accelerate the delivery of transformative treatments worldwide. Together, we are committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and their families.
Read more

About me

Erwin Blomsma holds a Master’s degree in Bioscience Engineering and a Ph.D. in Applied Biological Sciences (1995) from KU Leuven in Belgium.  After post-doctoral studies at UCB he started his career at Janssen Pharmaceutica in 1996.  In 2000 he co-founded Crystallics, a spin-off from the University of Leiden (NL) specializing in preformulation research.  Crystallics was absorbed by Avantium Technologies in 2001, and he was appointed Chief Operating Officer there in 2004. 

In 2007, Dr Blomsma joined Dr Stefaan Wera and Professor Johan Neyts as co-founder and CEO of Okapi Sciences. He became Vice President of Aratana Therapeutics after the acquisition of Okapi Sciences by Aratana in 2014.  In July 2015 he co-founded spinoff ViroVet.  Erwin Blomsma is the active CEO of Benno Therapeutics, an animal health company focused on pet oncology, and COO and co-founder of NanoTherix, a one health company developing nanobody drug conjugates. Furthermore, Erwin Blomsma is board member of BioVia and CEO and co-founder and CEO of ViroVet.

Social media

Additional questions

Interests

VaccinesPharmaceutical / TherapeuticsOther biologicalsIPFinancing / Investment / FundingEnabling technology (assay, delivery, formulation, manufacturing, ...)Companion animals

What is your primary goal for attending this event?

Networking with industry professionalsExploring potential collaborations

Speaker sessions (1)

Thursday, 21 May 2026

11:00 - 12:00

Keynote: Trends and technologies transfer across species

Location:BMCC - 1st Floor - AuditoriumTrack:Keynote

This keynote delves into the translation of innovations from the human health (HH) sector into the animal health (AH) domain—whether through the adaptation of mature technologies or through concurrent development strategies.