About Cortalix
Cortalix is a VHH antibody company specializing in the discovery and engineering of single-domain antibodies (VHH or nanobodies), built on a single clinical-ready foundation: our proprietary FC8TM scaffold framework. Our primary discovery engine combines ribosomal display and phage display within FC8TM, complemented by immune libraries for the most complex or conformational targets. Our mission is to accelerate VHH antibody innovation by offering smart, modular discovery routes supported by a full suite of engineering services. Whether you’re developing a diagnostic tool or a therapeutic candidate, Cortalix delivers the insight and tools to move fast and go deep.
Our Technology Philosophy
- FC8TM synthetic discovery, ribosomal display transitioning into phage display, for fast, animal-free, ultra-diverse discovery (up to 1014 functional variants)
- Immune libraries, for high-affinity binders with natural maturation on the most difficult targets
By combining the best of both, on a single humanized, clinical-ready scaffold, we maximize success across diverse targets, from simple proteins to complex, conformational antigens.
What Sets Us Apart
- FC8TM scaffold framework: >90% humanized, thermally and pH-stable, aggregation-free, and built for clinical translation from the outset
- Ribosomal display discovery: up to 1014 functional diversity, transitioning seamlessly into phage display
- Immune library route for the most complex or conformational targets
- Fully modular VHH engineering: CDR grafting, humanization, affinity maturation
- Animal-free options for ethically driven or rapid programs
- Expertise in conjugation, Fc-fusion, diagnostic labeling
- Experience with therapeutic and diagnostic development pipelines
Our Team
Cortalix, the VHH antibody company, brings together scientists with decades of experience in antibody discovery, VHH antibody development, molecular engineering and translational biotech. We work with academic collaborators, analytical CROs, biotech startups, and pharma partners, always aiming to deliver fit-for-purpose VHH antibody solutions.
CEO, founder
Herman Steen holds a PhD in pharmacology from the University of Groningen in 1992. He worked at Byk Gulden (Altana Pharma/Nycomed/Takeda) and in 1998 he founded PharmaScope, a clinical contract research and pharma recruitment organization. Following the sale of PharmaScope to Quintiles Transnational Corp. in 2005, the internationally operating orphan drug CRO PSR Group was established and eventually sold to Ergomed plc in 2017. Dr. Steen has extensive experience in the organization of clinical research and as a serial entrepreneur in the field of pharma biotech, he is closely involved in commercialization and bridging preclinical research to the clinic. He co-founded BiOrion and led that company for many years as CEO. Early 2023, BiOrion’s assets were purchased by Cortalix, where he is acting as CEO again.
Head of BD
Wilfried Voorhorst holds a PhD in Life Sciences from Wageningen University and has a strong background in cell biology, molecular biology, protein expression, and biochemistry. After more than 20 years at Thermo Fisher Scientific in senior commercial and business development roles, he brings extensive experience across the Life Sciences, Biopharma, Biotechnology, and Healthcare sectors.
By combining scientific expertise with commercial insight, Wilfried helps translate innovative technologies into successful partnerships. At Cortalix, he leads Business Development and is your primary contact for discussing new projects and collaborations.
VP Discovery & Innovation
Amanda van Tilburg obtained a PhD degree in molecular biology at the University of Groningen in 2021. During her PhD research, she became an expert in genetic engineering of bacteria and heterologous protein expression, which led to various publications in peer-reviewed journals. The focus of Amanda her research at Cortalix is to discover, engineer and produce novel single domain antibodies against several attractive targets.
VP Product Development
Joost Caumanns obtained his PhD in molecular and medical biology from the University of Groningen in 2019. As a translational scientist, he investigated kinase and synthetic lethality targeting strategies for the treatment of ovarian cancer. His postdoctoral research at the University of Toronto focused on the use of CRISPR-Cas9-mediated whole-genome knockout screening to unravel genetic dependencies on immunotherapy resistance in cancer. He then gained experience as a project manager for bioanalytical services at Ardena, in Assen, the Netherlands. At Cortalix, Joost is responsible for the development of products and services based on synthetic single-domain antibody libraries.
Senior Scientist, Head of Computational Protein Engineering
Senior Scientist, Head of In Vitro Display Technologies
Foteini Karapanagioti obtained her PhD in 2026 in the field of membrane enzymology from the University of Groningen, where she studied the evolution and substrate specificity of membrane transporters. During her research, she purified and biotinylated membrane transporters and applied ribosome and phage display to raise single-domain antibodies against them, gaining extensive expertise in recombinant protein purification, biochemical and biophysical characterization. At Cortalix, Foteini is responsible for setting up and developing the ribosome display pipeline for in vitro selection of single-domain antibodies.
Want to Know More?
Contact Cortalix, the VHH antibody company, to learn how we can support your antibody discovery, from target to lead, and beyond.