Chemical engineering from the Technical University of Denmark in 1989, Doctor of Philosophy work in molecular biology and biochemistry was conducted at the Pasteur Institute, France and the University of Salamanca, Spain. He also completed an Master of Business Administration from the Edinburgh Business School, Scotland.
Originally from Copenhagen, Denmark, he spent his childhood in Antwerpen, Belgium and Caracas, Venezuela before completing high school at Sorø Academy in 1984. Following graduation as Master of Science He co-founded one of the early Danish biotechnology companies, Profound Pharma, in 1999, with January Møller Mikkelsen, and remained co-Chief Executive Officer thereof until its acquisition by Maxygen in 2000.
In 2001, he co-founded the investment firm Nordic Biotech Advisors, subsequently renamed New Brunswick Capital.
Also in 2001, he founded C Hansen Invest. Hansen has filed numerous patent applications in the fields of genetics of bacteria, cellulases and other enzymes, osteoporosis, and protein engineering and uses of biopharmaceuticals.
He is named as inventor of issued European patents 510091, 1250154, 1425304, 1534305, 1622629, 1622630, 1732575, 1745791 2266584 and 2266585, and United States patents 5,843,720, 5,916,796, 6,066,473, 6,555,660, 6,646,110, 6,831,158, 7,230,081, 7,232,562, 7,504,237, 7,550,565, 7,550,566, 7,595,342, 7,696,153 and 8,541,471. Various compounds from these companies and patents are in mid and late stages of clinical development, including proprietary formulations of dimethyl fumarate for multiple sclerosis and psoriasis.
Hansen held positions as senior scientist and director of intellectual property management at Novo Nordisk 1992–1999, and was a member of Enzyme Research Management. Since 2001, Hansen has co-founded and/or been a board member of numerous privately held and listed biotechnology companies including Osteologix, Nuevolution, Curalogic, Forward Pharma, Rose Pharma, Poalis, Aditech Pharma, Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, H Pharmaceuticals, and Isar Pharma.
