About Landcent
Improving Health to Address Poverty
Malaria is a disease caused by poverty and results in poverty. Its impact is especially ferocious on the poorest, making it a human rights issue.
The expanding category of poverty-related diseases
Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 60% of all people in extreme poverty, more than any other region in the world. Poverty is not merely the absence of money, but the lack of sanitation, unsafe drinking water, poor nutrition, weak health systems and other social determinants of health.
PRDs encompass a wide range of diseases, including the 'Big 3': Malaria, Tuberculosis, and HIV. Additionally, this category includes Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) such as schistosomiasis, and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) like cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and the likes.
Malaria
Globally in 2023, there were an estimated 263 million malaria cases and 597 000 malaria deaths in 83 countries. The WHO African Region was home to 94% of malaria cases (246 million) and 95% (569 000) of malaria deaths.
Tuberculosis
In 2023, tuberculosis (TB) claimed approximately 1.25 million lives globally, making it the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, surpassing both COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS. According to the World Health Organization, there were 10.8 million new TB cases reported worldwide in 2023.
HIV
As of 2023, approximately 39.9 million people globally were living with HIV. In the WHO African Region, about 3.4% of adults are HIV-positive, representing more than two-thirds of the global HIV-positive population.
The Origin Story
In 2011, while on a business trip, Arun found himself at the funeral of a 4-year-old girl. She succumbed to malaria – a simple mosquito bite led to this enormous tragedy. It was a life-changing moment. The magnitude of malaria's impact inspired Arun to quit his job and together with business partner Huali (Danny) Lin founded Landcent.
2011
Company Incorporated
Founded by Arun Prabhu and Huali (Danny) Lin
2012
Commenced discussions with WHO
2013
Phase 1 product assessment with Shanghai University of Engineering Science
2014
First qualified products and patents. Partnership with Donghua University
2015
Acquired China National Hi-tech Enterprise certificate
2016
Landcent opens lab in Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry
2017
WHO GCDPP membership
2018
Landcent Europe B.V. incorporated
2019
Successfully completed semi-field trials
2020
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant I
2021
Global winner of Accelerate2030
2022
ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) approval for Bednet sale in Europe
2023
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant II
Our Strategy
A two-track approach
Intervention Categories
Landcent's unique
two-track strategy
Near-term - Track 1
Improvements to current malaria preventive technologies by margins that significantly disrupt status quo.
Long-term - Track 2
Discovering and developing new, sustainable active compounds to combat insecticidal resistance and preserve biodiversity.
Arun Prabhu Stanley
Co-founder, Landcent
Scientists & Entrepreneurs
As the CEO of Landcent Europe, Arun spearheads the company's numerous engagements with the WHO and is the point of contact for health ministries in several countries as Landcent contributes to their fight against diseases of poverty. A seasoned entrepreneur, Arun has led Landcent through its first 10 years of R&D, fundraising and partner development.
Arun has a background in technical textiles and supply chain management and has worked in the US, China, India and Europe.
Danny has traveled extensively in Africa, witnessing first-hand the challenges of various diseases of poverty. This spurred him to start Landcent to contribute to better health management and sustainable medicine to the continent.
Danny has an EMBA degree from the Shanghai Jiaotong University and is a graduate of International Business. Previously, Danny was part of the core team in Shenzhen Huijie Co. Ltd., a publicly listed company.
Dr. Ole is referred to as the father of treated bednets and was instrumental in inventing the long-lasting insecticide-treated bednets that are used worldwide for preventing vector-borne diseases. He has published several theoretical and practical articles related to vector control and is a member of the Society for Vector Ecology, the American Chemical Society and the Entomological Society of America.
Dr. Ole oversees product development and field trials for Landcent.
Mr. Hans Bol has been a Director at Landcent from the very early days of its establishment in Europe. Mr. Bol is a shareholder and executive partner at Social Schools BV, a company specialising in communication platforms for schools to enhance parental involvement and reduce administrative burdens.
Additionally, as the owner of InfoEdge, he oversees the management of various properties and provides marketing and services engineering services, spanning the real estate and construction sectors. Mr. Bol’s multifaceted approach reflects his commitment to impactful ventures across diverse industries.
Dr. Peter Atadja is the Chief Scientific Officer at Landcent and full Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) Ghana. He has about 25 years of experience in the Pharmaceutical Industry, including being part of founding the leadership team of Novartis' 3rd largest global R&D centre located in Shanghai, China, where he led the discovery and clinical translation of several first and best-in-class drug candidates. In addition, he was a member of the WHO/TDR/ANDI Scientific and Technology committee to develop capacity for diagnostics and drugs in Africa.
More recently, Dr. Atadja was co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of K-36 Therapeutics, a clinical phase biopharmaceutical company in Cambridge, MA, USA.
Suzanne brings over two decades of finance expertise, particularly in Dutch startups, scale-ups, and corporates. Her experience includes a broad range of financial roles showcasing her versatile skill set in finance and control. Suzanne is a multifaceted manager with a deep focus on finance and business operations, adept at managing customer-centric products and services with an effective blend of offline and online strategies. She is also passionate about evolving finance teams from traditional back-office functions to dynamic business partners, employing a people-focused and collaborative approach.
At Landcent, her leadership will inspire innovation and move our financial strategies forward, driving positive and sustainable change.
Sasikanth has more than 30 years of experience in multiple facets of finance. Prior to joining Landcent, he served as Vice President of Finance and Accounts at SP Mani and Mohan Dairy India Pvt. Ltd., eventually being promoted to COO at the same company.
Sasikanth is responsible for managing cash flow, the accounting team and internal controls. He also oversees Landcent's India operations.
Shawn has over 25 years of experience as a global corporate and M&A lawyer who was admitted to practice law in the Netherlands, the UK and South Africa. Prior to joining Landcent, he was a partner at the international law firm, Freshfields, where he also held various leadership roles such as Co-head of Global Markets and Co-Head of the Africa Desk. His expertise covers a broad range of legal aspects and strategic transactions, including corporate governance, M&A, joint ventures, fundraisings, and various forms of strategic and licensing collaborations.
At Landcent, Shawn is responsible for all legal aspects, including matters related to corporate governance, corporate policy and compliance, joint ventures, and other strategic transactions.
Erik has over 20 years of experience in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. He served in various leadership roles within JNJ and served as Head of Global Feasibility and Head of Vendor management for Vaccine Immunological assays. His expertise includes clinical research, contract management, diagnostics, and partnership management.
At Landcent, Erik is responsible to develop and implement the partnership strategy, including identifying and engaging with Contract Research Organizations, the World Health Organization (WHO), NGOs and Research Institutes.
With a background in public health and a PhD in malaria interventions using innovative technologies, Marlize has helped country programs adopt and expand these tools. She has collaborated with local communities, researchers, industry, and regional governments in Africa to deliver disease prevention solutions. She served as Assistant Director at South Africa's Ministry of Health and as a consultant for WHO and malaria-endemic programs.
Marlize has led research and managed initiatives on malaria, HIV, and leishmaniasis in Africa, the Philippines, and India. She has worked with institutions like Colorado State University, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, and IVCC. As Director of Global R&D Operations and Strategy at Landcent, Marlize oversees R&D activities and partnerships to guide public health products from conception to commercialization.
Justin has over 10 years of experience in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Prior to joining Landcent, he served as a commercial leader in Horizon Therapeutics’ rare disease and international businesses. His expertise includes commercial leadership, strategy & implementation, diagnostics, and product launch.
At Landcent, Justin is responsible for devising comprehensive strategies for business growth, commercialization, brand establishment, product launch, and local manufacturing and distribution.
Growing up, Kuda witnessed first-hand the impact of a less than optimal healthcare system in sub-Saharan Africa and was determined to be part of the solution. Now at Landcent, he is the Head of R&D, Vector Control, managing the vector control portfolio and ensuring product regulatory compliance.
With a background in product design, Samuel has worked in multiple capacities including technical designer, project manager, and sales. Samuel is responsible for bringing Landcent's products to market by overseeing multiple aspects including supplier relationships, logistics, marketing, sales, and seamless internal and external operations.
Hengzhe is a seasoned corporate counsel with an LL.M. from Belgium and has extensive experience advising publicly traded global companies. Her expertise spans regulatory compliance, risk management, and corporate governance issues. At Landcent, Hengzhe is responsible for all legal and compliance matters.
Desmond has close to 25 years of experience in managing sourcing & supply chain across complex projects from shipping to remote locations in Africa to managing complex supply chain projects for big-box retailers in USA. Desmond joined Landcent in 2012 and oversees the "sourcing for impact" initiative, vendor on-boarding process and is responsible for design /implement vendor approval/production & logistical cost saving processes.
Vincent holds dual master's degrees in Regulatory Affairs and Toxicology, as well as in Pharmaceutical Sciences (bioanalytical informatics). His experience includes WHO Prequalification of IVDs and medicines. At Landcent, Vincent oversees WHO prequalification listing of Codispaq, WHO prequalification listing of IVDs, and other relevant regulatory affairs and gives technical support for the BMGF active ingredient discovery project.
Martina is a versatile writer and editor for multi-platform applications with over 8 years of experience. For Landcent, she produces engaging content for various aspects of the business, including social media channels, restructures and proofreads content, and manages the editorial calendar to ensure timely publication.
With a background in commerce, Rawaiz has previously worked in the Public Relations department of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries. In his current position, Rawaiz oversees and manages Landcent's day-to-day administrative efforts and processes.
Panel of International Experts
Dr. Ebere is a partner and advisor at Landcent and has over 25 years of experience in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. She has worked at GSK and then at Neimeth Plc (formerly Pfizer) as Managing Director/CEO. While in China, Ebere pioneered “The China Knowledge Center", an innovative healthcare system with comprehensive information on the Chinese pharmaceutical landscape, including disease epidemiology and drugs.
Dr. Mei Wang is the founder and CEO of SU Biomedicine and Leiden University (LUECCM). Besides having over 160 publications in international double-refereed journals, she has collaborated with leading universities including Cambridge, Oxford, Yale, and Regensburg. She won the second international contribution award for traditional Chinese medicine science and technology progress in 2020.
Jan Willem de Lange is a management executive based in the Netherlands. He spent several years with Exact Software, including as general manager leading its digital transformation journey to the cloud. He was also the VP of the Development of NetEconomy. His specializations include testing, certification, risk management, analytics, data Intelligence, circular economy, supply chain, etc.
Over the past 30 years, Bob Esmeijer has worked in several leadership positions around the globe, most notably for Philips. Bob has been consulting for several companies, including non-profits, in recent years. He is also on the board of multiple organizations, which greatly benefit from his insights and vast experience. With his roots in the Netherlands, Bob has a passion for working with different cultures in complex environments.
A serial entrepreneur and impact investor, is dedicated to achieving a malaria-free world. He established Care Plus®, a renowned travel and health brand featuring a range of highly efficient mosquito repellents, achieving a successful exit in 2022. Since then, Arnoud has invested in numerous social enterprises, start-ups, and scale-ups, contributing to their growth and development. Additionally, he serves as the co-founder and board member of the Dutch Malaria Foundation.He continues to be an entrepreneur at heart, currently managing 3 start-ups of his own.
TJ has over 18 years of experience in corporate and social impact sectors. His expertise includes business strategy, communications and the scaling of impact. He co-founded one of the leading brand consulting firms in Bangalore, working with brands such as Coca-Cola, Nestle, ThoughtWorks and SAP. TJ is an advisor to the UN General Assembly Science Summit.
Arco Bobeldijk is a tax partner at Loyens & Loeff NV in Amsterdam and professor of corporate tax at Nyenrode Business University. He has been advising listed companies and family businesses on tax matters for more than 25 years. He also helps companies resolve tax disputes and acts as expert witness. Arco regularly speaks at seminars and has written a large number of articles.
Open Positions
At Landcent, we’re always looking for talented, driven individuals who want to contribute to making an impact on global health. Our team is made up of people who are motivated by our mission and inspired to create positive change. If you’re ready to be part of an innovative, dynamic environment where your work truly matters, we’d love to hear from you. Your passion and energy will be a valuable asset to our team as you make meaningful and fulfilling contributions to accelerating the fight against diseases of poverty.
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