Dorus Wilderbeek is the Senior Project Manager overseeing Citryll‘s upcoming Phase 2a clinical trial in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Dorus joined our team with a clear mission to ensure that our clinical studies keep patients as the main focus.
Today, we’re excited to feature him in our first Employee Spotlight. In this Q&A, Dorus will share some of his journey in the pharmaceutical industry and what inspired him to join Citryll.
1. What inspired you to join Citryll?
Throughout my 15 years in various pharma companies, which has been a fantastic experience, I’d always wondered what it might look like to work at a smaller biotech. In larger pharma, there is the daily challenge of juggling different molecules and projects, sometimes with competing interests in terms of time and resource.
What really drew me to Citryll was how everyone here is focused on a lead antibody, with a clear mission to develop this for the benefit of patients. Being part of a tight-knit team where we’re all pushing in the same direction was exactly what I was looking for.
2. What does your day-to-day role look like? What do enjoy the most?
As the project manager for our rheumatoid arthritis study, put simply my role is to set up the project and deliver clinical trial results. A big part of what makes this role special is the direct connection with investigators at different hospitals. Being a smaller, more nimble company means we can build these personal relationships more easily, and that’s something I really value.
Being in a small team developing a new medicine gives you such a broad perspective of what it takes to bring a drug to the next level. What I really love is that you’re exposed to everything, from understanding how the drug is produced to learning about all the laboratory assays needed to show it works. And because our team is so experienced, everyone brings their unique expertise to the table. It’s this perfect mix of strategic thinking and hands-on work that I find really exciting.
3. What differentiates Citryll’s approach?
What makes Citryll truly unique is the strength of our science and the depth of scientific knowledge within the team. We are focused on NETosis, which has only recently been really understood by the scientific community. Our highly selective approach with CIT-013 targets NETs through a unique dual mechanism, representing a novel therapeutic strategy in inflammatory disease.
This, combined with our collective knowledge about the lead antibody and NET biology, provides an incredibly strong foundation for our work. In fact, the individual who first discovered our lead antibody in mice is still with us today. This means when investigators want to understand the science very deeply, they can speak directly with the person who pioneered it. This provides a remarkable connection between discovery and clinical development.
At Citryll we’re focused on exploring the potential of this newly discovered biology, with a clear mission and targeted approach to drug development that sets us apart.
4. During your time in the pharma space, what changes have you noticed in clinical operations?
The clinical trial landscape has evolved dramatically over the past 15 years, particularly in terms of technological advancement. When I started as a Clinical Research Associate, I couldn’t even receive emails while working at hospitals, and now we’re at the stage of discussing AI’s application to clinical operations. While these technological advances have transformed how we work, they’ve also created new challenges, especially for hospital sites. Sometimes these digital solutions aren’t necessarily easier than the paper-based systems of the past.
What’s particularly notable is how the regulatory environment has intensified. With more clinical trials being conducted than ever before, standing out has become increasingly important. At Citryll, we focus on simplifying these complexities for our partners. We put careful thought into every aspect of our trials, from creating resonant project names to developing engaging visuals that connect with our stakeholders. We’re also embracing innovative study designs, always asking ourselves how we can create sensible solutions for increasingly complex projects.
5. How do you ensure that patient needs remain at the forefront when managing clinical trials?
We integrate patient perspectives throughout every stage of our clinical trials, particularly during the crucial initial phases. Patient input shapes all our materials, from information leaflets to study documentation, ensuring their voice is clearly represented. Our collaboration with patient organizations has been especially valuable, particularly in training site staff for study assessments.
What I find truly motivating is hearing directly from these patient communities about their hopes for new treatments. These interactions not only enhance our trial design but also remind us of the real impact our work could have on people’s lives.