Nitza Thomasson, Executive Director – Global Head of R/D Neurology at Servier, shared on LinkedIn:
“When I joined Servier in March 2025, we had an emerging pipeline and a team that was just beginning to take shape. Today, I am proud of the organization we have built together and the therapies we are advancing for patients.
With our collective expertise, resilience, and unwavering commitment to patients, I am excited for what lies ahead.
I wrote about what it takes to build from the ground up.
End 2024, when Servier leadership approached me about building the company’s rare neurology therapeutic area, it felt like the stars had aligned. Neurology has been a longstanding passion throughout my career, and I had previously spent several years leading biological and clinical studies in the field. My enthusiasm for innovation later led me into entrepreneurship, where I co-founded BrainEver and GenSight Biologics and spent several years advising companies on pharmaceutical development strategies.
Although entrepreneurship and consulting are both rewarding in their own ways, in biotech they are largely driven by the short-term value creation. I found myself missing the completeness of drug development, and I wanted the marathon instead of constant sprints. When the opportunity arose, it felt like a natural next step.
I joined Servier in March 2025 as Executive Director, Global Head of R/D Neurology, with the mission of shaping the rare neurology R/D strategy and accelerating the development of new treatment options for patients and families who urgently need them.
Building a business unit from the ground up has felt akin to the proverbial flying a plane while assembling it. My focus has been to establish a team and build a rare neurology pipeline simultaneously, because each depends on the other, and because patients are counting on us. To date, Servier has three neurology drugs in its pipeline. We are focused developing treatments for rare refractory epilepsies, rare movement disorders, neuromuscular disorders, genetically-driven autism spectrum disorders, leukodystrophies and peripheral neuropathies.
Our recently closed acquisition of Edgewise Therapeutics’ neuromuscular dystrophies pipeline continues to bolsters our neurology pipeline.
Rare neurology is a field where uncertainty is not a barrier, it is where the journey begins. Every day, patients and their families face the reality of living with devastating conditions for which treatment options are often limited or nonexistent. Their resilience, hope, and determination are a constant source of inspiration. At the same time, the responsibility to meet those hopes can feel daunting. Choosing to work in this field means embracing that responsibility with humility, courage, and a deep commitment to a shared mission.
It also takes curiosity, creativity, and adaptability. There is no one-size-fits-all approach in rare neurology. While we build on our past experiences, each disease teaches us something new, challenging us to constantly rethink and adapt our approach. This uniqueness pushes us to think differently, move quickly, and find innovative yet rigorous paths forward. Our goal is always the same: to bring meaningful solutions to patients faster, smarter, and more effectively.
Beyond scientific expertise, rare neurology requires a distinctive mindset, one that embraces uncertainty, challenges convention, and remains relentlessly focused on patients. This mindset is not built overnight; it grows through experience, collaboration, and a shared sense of purpose.
As new teams join us, we can learn from their experiences, perspectives, and ways of working. By bringing together different backgrounds and cultures, we can build something stronger than the sum of its parts.
Finally, during challenging times, what keeps us grounded is the support we provide to one another and the sense that we are growing together. I will be the first to admit that I have high expectations, and I strive to balance them with genuine care for the team. To me, leadership is about creating an environment where people feel trusted, supported, and empowered to grow. It means setting a high bar while providing clear communication, honest feedback, mentorship, and the confidence that every contribution matters.”