Lindsay Hawker was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 34. During her treatment, she completed 15 months of chemotherapy, had a double mastectomy and a total of four surgeries in all. Her doctors indicated walking would increase healing, so she began walking and eventually started running six weeks after her double mastectomy.
Around the time she was completing chemotherapy, she was diagnosed with celiac disease. She is now gluten-free, dairy-free, and has run countless races including 5Ks, 10Ks, and is now training for her second half-marathon. Her blog, Running Past Cancer, details her quest for health and includes her breast cancer journey, tips, recipes, running & fitness, and gluten free/dairy free living. Lindsay currently resides in Florida with her husband and two sons where they enjoy spending time together outside and at the beach.
CHALLENGE TIMELINE
January 29, 2020
Registration at Monte Carlo Bay Hotel
January 30, 2020
Public opening of exhibition
January 30, 2020
Jury Deliberation
January 30, 2020
Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony at Yacht Club de Monaco
The Winner
Boston Immune Technologies and Therapeutics
Russell LaMontagne is the CEO of Boston Immune Technologies and Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company developing immune-based approaches for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Russell has 20 years of experience in the health care industry, primarily focusing on consulting roles at biotechnology companies and non-profits from the University of Pennsylvania and the New England Journal of Medicine to VIRxSYS and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Over the past ten years, Russell has organized partnerships with Massachusetts General Hospital to promote clinical trials and new indications for the BCG vaccine. Prior to co-founding Boston Immune Technologies and Therapeutics, Russell served as president of Corinth Group, a boutique healthcare consultancy. Russell received his BS in Biology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and his MS from Yale University.
Russell LaMontagne
Co-Founder, President & CEO
ABOUT THE SUMMIT AND AWARD
11 finalists will compete at the third annual Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Summit. The Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Award will be presented to an exceptional innovator with outstanding entrepreneurial potential to commercialize a creative idea to better manage cancer using drugs, medical devices or healthcare information technology.
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SQUINTO LAPERA AWARD
Oncoheroes Biosciences
Dr. Cesare Spadoni is the founder and Chief Operating Officer of Oncoheroes Biosciences, a biotechnology company exclusively focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of new treatments for cancers in children and adolescents. Following the passing of his daughter Laura in 2006, Cesare founded the aPODD Foundation, a London-based charity focused on accelerating pediatric oncology drug development. As aPODD’s chairman and trustee, he is actively involved on a voluntary basis in drug repurposing projects, advocacy efforts and research collaborations with other childhood cancer charities. Frustrated by the lack of progress in new drug development for pediatric cancers, he then set out to take matters into his own hands by founding Oncoheroes. Cesare has over 20 years of experience in drug development in both scientific and commercial roles. Previously,he held senior business development positions at AMRI, Aptuit Laurus, ThalesNano and Auxiliis BV. Cesare started his career as research scientist in a pharmaceutical company (Eisai, London) and in academia (Institute of Enzymology, Budapest).
Cesare received his MSc in applied molecular biology and PhD in neuroscience from University College London, as well as his MBA from Central European University, Budapest.
Cesare Spadoni, PhD
Founder & Chief Operating Officer
The Jury Award
Valo Therapeutics
Dr. Michael Stein is the CEO of Valo Therapeutics, a developer of novel cancer immunotherapies with a unique approach to delivering a highly immunogenic and rapidly adaptable tumor vaccination platform. Dr. Stein is a business leader and strategic advisor with C-suite experience in healthcare. Prior to joining Valo TX, Michael was the founding CEO of OxStem, an award-winning biotechnology spin-out from the University of Oxford, which broke the UK record for a seed round fund-raise. In addition, Michael has served as the founding CEO for Doctor Care Anywhere, acquired by Synergix. In 2001, he co-founded the Map of Medicine with University College London. As founding CEO, and later CMO, the Map was nationally licensed across NHS England and acquired by Hearst Business Media, after which Michael transitioned to executive vice-president of healthcare innovation. Michael graduated from the University of Cape Town as a medical doctor with Honours and biochemist with First Class Honours, and from the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar with a doctorate in Physiological Sciences, Immunology. He subsequently was appointed as a Junior Research Fellow in Medicine at Trinity College, Oxford, subsequently lecturing part-time in Immunology and Pathology at Balliol College, Oxford. As a medical scientist, Michael first described the alternative pathway of macrophage activation. In addition, he has co-authored the best-selling UK medical handbook.
Michael Stein, PhD
CEO
Honorable Mention
ConquerX
I’m currently an undergraduate student in Computer Science at MIT. I have a long-term interest in healthcare, and particularly in cancer, due to many health issues my family had to endure. As a result, I have pursued computational research of cancer immunotherapy at MIT, developed a microfluidics device for accelerating cancer drug development at the National University of Singapore and started my company ConquerX. ConquerX is developing a multi-cancer diagnostic platform based on proprietary nanomaterials and machine learning. Our Metachip platform uses electrochemistry to measure the concentration of cancer-related biomarkers in blood or biopsy samples. We are currently testing our prototype on 3 different types of cancer. Moreover, our technology is portable to other diseases as well, which we demonstrate through our collaboration with a research laboratory in Brazil on the development of a novel test for diagnostics of syphilis. We are alumni of MassChallenge Boston and MassChallenge HealthTech, currently raising our seed round and looking to expand our team.
Lyfebulb is a chronic disease-focused, patient empowerment platform that connects patients and industry to support user-driven innovation. Grounded with its strong foundation in diabetes, the company has expanded disease states covered into cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, mental illness and migraine.
Helsinn is a privately-owned pharmaceutical group with an extensive portfolio of marketed cancer care products and a robust drug development pipeline. Since 1976, Helsinn has been improving the everyday lives of patients, guided by core family values of respect, integrity and quality. The Group works across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and nutritional supplements and has expertise in research, development, manufacture and the commercialization of therapeutic and supportive care products for cancer, pain and inflammation and gastroenterology. In 2016, Helsinn created the Helsinn Investment Fund to support early-stage investment opportunities in areas of unmet patient need. The company is headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, with operating subsidiaries in Switzerland, Ireland, the U.S., Monaco and China, as well as a product presence in approximately 190 countries globally.
To learn more about Helsinn Group please visit www.helsinn.com
Lyfebulb and Helsinn Announce 11 Finalists for the Third Annual Lyfebulb-Helsinn Cancer Innovation Summit & Award
The Award recognizes Patient Entrepreneurs demonstrating outstanding innovations which advance solutions in the prevention, management or care of cancer
MONACO, PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO, AND NEW YORK, NY, USA, January 14, 2020: Lyfebulb, a patient empowerment platform that connects patients with industry to support user-driven innovation toward solutions in chronic disease, and Helsinn, a Swiss pharmaceutical group focused on building quality cancer care, announce the 11 Patient Entrepreneurs chosen as finalists for the Lyfebulb-Helsinn Cancer Innovation Summit & Award to be held on January 30, 2020. The following inspirational finalists represent companies that have been founded by cancer patients, cancer survivors or those with loved ones affected by cancer:
Alexander Börve, PhD of First Derm
Jakub Chudik of ConquerX
Russell LaMontagne of Boston Immune Technologies and Therapeutics
Robert Manning of CureMatch
Gilles Pagès, PhD of InfAngioPharma
Øystein Rekdal, PhD of Lytix Biopharma
Maya Said, ScD of Outcomes4Me
Niranjan Sardesai, PhD of Geneos Therapeutics
Cesare Spadoni, PhD of Oncoheroes Biosciences
Michael Stein, PhD of Valo Therapeutics
Valerie Vanhooren, PhD of ONA Therapeutics
The finalists will compete for a chance to win one of two $25,000 awards, which recognize outstanding Patient Entrepreneurs building groundbreaking companies to advance the prevention, diagnosis, management or care of cancer. The primary award is the Lyfebulb-Helsinn Cancer Innovation Award, and the additional award is the Squinto-LePera Award by Lyfebulb, generously donated by Dr. Stephen Squinto, Executive Partner at OrbiMed and Co-Founder of Alexion, and Denise LePera.
The pitch session will be held at the Summit where a jury of experts will select the ultimate winners. The expert jury include new and returning judges:
Carolyn R. “Bo” Aldigé, Founder and CEO at Prevent Cancer Foundation®
Kimberly Irvine, Patient Ambassador
Hans Mies, PhD, Partner, Value Chain Management at KPMG
Professor Patrick Rampal, MD, President at Scientific Center of Monaco
Dennis Urbaniak, Executive Vice President Digital Health at Orexo
“At Lyfebulb, we believe patients can be innovators. Each of these chosen Patient Entrepreneurs inspires our community, as they have recognized the burdens of living with their chronic disease – or caring for a loved one with a chronic disease – and have turned those insights into business solutions to help members of the community live their daily lives more fully. We applaud each and every Patient Entrepreneur who applied to our Challenge, and we look forward to the interactive, collaborative sessions we will spend with our teams, jury and finalists to reduce the burden of living with cancer,” said Dr. Karin Hehenberger, CEO and Founder of Lyfebulb.
Riccardo Braglia, Helsinn Group Vice Chairman and CEO, said, “Patient-driven research and innovation has proven itself invaluable as it offers a unique understanding of what it means to live with a chronic illness. At Helsinn, we are delighted to continue to support this initiative, as improving the quality of life for those affected by cancer is a cause that remains a key focus for Helsinn. We look forward to meeting with each of the finalists during the summit and wish them all the best of luck.”
About Lyfebulb
Lyfebulb is a chronic disease-focused, patient empowerment platform that connects patients and industry to support user-driven innovation. Grounded with its strong foundation in diabetes, the company has expanded disease states covered into cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, mental illness, migraine and transplantation.
About the Helsinn Group
Helsinn is a privately-owned pharmaceutical group with an extensive portfolio of marketed cancer care products and a robust drug development pipeline. Since 1976, Helsinn has been improving the everyday lives of patients, guided by core family values of respect, integrity and quality. The Group works across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and nutritional supplements and has expertise in research, development, manufacture and the commercialization of therapeutic and supportive care products for cancer, pain and inflammation and gastroenterology. In 2016, Helsinn created the Helsinn Investment Fund to support early-stage investment opportunities in areas of unmet patient need. The company is headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, with operating subsidiaries in Switzerland, Ireland, the U.S., Monaco and China, as well as a product presence in approximately 190 countries globally.
To learn more about Helsinn Group please visit www.helsinn.com
About Helsinn Investment Fund S.A., SICAR
The Helsinn Investment Fund is focused on investments in areas of high unmet patient need. Backed by the Helsinn Group, and guided by Helsinn’s core values of quality, integrity and respect, Helsinn Investment Fund aims to help companies with innovative technologies to transform new ideas into commercial solutions with the potential to impact health-related quality of life of patients.
Drawing on Helsinn’s over 40 years of investment into research and development and commercial expertise, the investment fund selects companies with technologies in a range of areas including cancer therapeutics and diagnostics, cancer supportive care, metabolic and gastrointestinal disorders, and dermatology conditions.
For more information, visit www.helsinninvestmentfund.com
About Helsinn International Services sarl
Helsinn International Services sarl is the Helsinn subsidiary which provides a range of advisory services and strategic activities to the Group and its specific companies. In particular, it acts as the advisory company to Helsinn Investment Fund.
For more information: Helsinn Group Media Contact Paola Bonvicini Group Head of Communication Lugano, Switzerland Tel: +41 (0) 91 985 21 21 Info-hhc@helsinn.com For more information, please visit www.helsinn.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Vimeo.
Lyfebulb Media Contact: Karin Hehenberger, MD, PhD CEO & Founder, Lyfebulb Phone: + 1 917-575-0210 Email: karin@lyfebulb.com
Winners of the second annual Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Summit & Awards in Oncology announced
Mihir Shah of UE LifeSciences Inc. has been selected as the winner of the 2019 Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Award in Oncology
Pierluigi Paracchi of Genenta Science has been selected as the winner of the 2019 Squinto-LePera Award
MONACO, PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO and NEW YORK, NY, MARCH 19, 2019: Lyfebulb, a patient-empowerment platform that connects patients with industry to support user-driven innovation, and Helsinn, a Swiss pharmaceutical group focused on building quality cancer care, today announced that Mihir Shah of UE LifeSciences and Pierluigi Paracchi of Genenta Science were chosen as winners of the second Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Summit and Awards in Oncology. Mihir received the Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Award, and Pierluigi received The Squinto-LePera award, which was presented by Dr. Stephen Squinto and Denise LePera. The awards recognize outstanding innovations by Patient Entrepreneurs which advance solutions in the prevention, management or care of cancer, and have the potential to be commercialized.
Mihir Shah founded UE LifeSciences to enable affordable and scalable access to early diagnosis of cancer for women everywhere, after seeing his mother-in-law go through breast cancer. The company’s iBreastExam, a US FDA-cleared, hand-held device, enables health workers to identify non-palpable breast lumps in just a few minutes, without pain or radiation and at a fraction of the cost of a mammogram.
Inspired by his mother’s brush with cancer, Pierluigi Paracchi, an experienced venture capitalist, co-founded Genenta Science, a clinical stage immune-gene therapy company which leverages the ground-breaking science from Professor Naldini at the San Raffaele Milano hospital. Genenta has phase 1 / 2 trials ongoing in multiple myeloma and glioblastoma.
Ten inspiring finalists were invited to compete at the 2019 Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Summit in Oncology, which was hosted on March 18-19 by Lyfebulb and Helsinn in Monaco. All finalists were Patient Entrepreneurs, meaning that they are cancer patients, survivors or people with a close relative or loved one who has been affected by cancer. Over the course of the Summit, the finalists presented their businesses to a jury with diverse expertise in cancer. Each winner received a $25,000 monetary grant.
“The innovations demonstrated at this Summit clearly show how the personal experiences of each of the ten finalists have informed and driven them in developing impactful solutions for people affected by cancer. We look forward to following their progress and believe that the Lyfebulb Patient Entrepreneur Circle and its Innovation Summits can play a significant role in their journey,”said Dr. Karin Hehenberger, CEO and Founder of Lyfebulb.
Riccardo Braglia, Helsinn Group Vice Chairman and CEO, added,“We were very impressed by the quality of applications received for this Innovation Summit and the finalists who competed in Monaco. We congratulate the winners and know the jury chose worthy award recipients, Mihir and Pierluigi. Helsinn is proud to be supporting dynamic entrepreneurs who are bringing innovation and personal experience to developing solutions to the challenges of cancer, and the second year of this event has demonstrated that this is a powerful idea with momentum. Looking ahead, we hope that this Innovation Summit will inspire more Patient Entrepreneurs to come forward in providing further solutions in cancer.”
The Lyfebulb-Helsinn Award recognizes outstanding potential among entrepreneurs who have demonstrated an ability to develop and bring to market solutions that improve quality of life of people with cancer. The Squinto-LePera Award by Lyfebulb was generously donated by Dr. Stephen Squinto and Denise LePera, and was added to the Summit to provide additional recognition among a highly talented pool of finalists.
About Lyfebulb
Lyfebulb is a chronic disease-focused, patient empowerment platform that connects patients and industry (manufacturers and payers) to support user-driven innovation. Lyfebulb promotes a healthy, take-charge lifestyle for those affected by chronic disease. Grounded with its strong foundation in diabetes, the company has expanded disease states covered into cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and multiple sclerosis. See www.lyfebulbdev.wpengine.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Lyfebulb LinkedIn, and Karin Hehenberger LinkedIn.
About Helsinn International Services sarl
Helsinn International Services sarl is the Helsinn subsidiary which provides a range of advisory services and strategic activities to the Group and its specific companies. In particular, it acts as the advisory company to Helsinn Investment Fund.
About Helsinn Investment Fund S.A., SICAR
The Helsinn Investment Fund is focused on early-stage investments in areas of high unmet patient need. Backed by the Helsinn Group, and guided by Helsinn’s core values of quality, integrity and respect, Helsinn Investment Fund aims to help companies with innovative technologies to transform new ideas into commercial solutions with the potential to impact health-related quality of life of patients. Drawing on Helsinn’s over 40 years of investment into research and development and commercial expertise, the investment fund selects companies with technologies in a range of areas including cancer therapeutics and diagnostics, cancer supportive care, metabolic and gastrointestinal disorders, and dermatology conditions. For more information, visit www.helsinninvestmentfund.com
About the Helsinn Group
Helsinn is a privately owned pharmaceutical group with an extensive portfolio of marketed cancer care products and a robust drug development pipeline. Since 1976, Helsinn has been improving the everyday lives of patients, guided by core family values of respect, integrity and quality. The Group works across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and nutritional supplements and has expertise in research, development, manufacture and the commercialization of therapeutic and supportive care products for cancer, pain and inflammation and gastroenterology. In 2016, Helsinn created the Helsinn Investment Fund to support early-stage investment opportunities in areas of unmet patient need. The company is headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, with operating subsidiaries in Switzerland, Ireland, the U.S., Monaco and China, as well as a product presence in approximately 190 countries globally. To learn more about Helsinn Group please visit www.helsinn.com
For more information:
Helsinn Group Media Contact Paola Bonvicini Group Head of Communication Lugano, Switzerland Tel: +41 (0) 91 985 21 21 Info-hhc@helsinn.com For more information, please follow us onTwitter, LinkedInand Vimeo.
Press Contact for Lyfebulb: Karin Hehenberger, MD, PhD CEO & Founder, Lyfebulb, Phone: + 00 1 917-575-0210 Email: karin@lyfebulb.com
[wpViralQuiz id=13361]
Winners of the second annual Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Summit & Awards in Oncology announced
Mihir Shah of UE LifeSciences Inc. has been selected as the winner of the 2019 Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Award in Oncology
Pierluigi Paracchi of Genenta Science has been selected as the winner of the 2019 Squinto-LePera Award
MONACO, PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO and NEW YORK, NY, MARCH 19, 2019: Lyfebulb, a patient-empowerment platform that connects patients with industry to support user-driven innovation, and Helsinn, a Swiss pharmaceutical group focused on building quality cancer care, today announced that Mihir Shah of UE LifeSciences and Pierluigi Paracchi of Genenta Science were chosen as winners of the second Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Summit and Awards in Oncology. Mihir received the Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Award, and Pierluigi received The Squinto-LePera award, which was presented by Dr. Stephen Squinto and Denise LePera. The awards recognize outstanding innovations by Patient Entrepreneurs which advance solutions in the prevention, management or care of cancer, and have the potential to be commercialized.
Mihir Shah founded UE LifeSciences to enable affordable and scalable access to early diagnosis of cancer for women everywhere, after seeing his mother-in-law go through breast cancer. The company’s iBreastExam, a US FDA-cleared, hand-held device, enables health workers to identify non-palpable breast lumps in just a few minutes, without pain or radiation and at a fraction of the cost of a mammogram.
Inspired by his mother’s brush with cancer, Pierluigi Paracchi, an experienced venture capitalist, co-founded Genenta Science, a clinical stage immune-gene therapy company which leverages the ground-breaking science from Professor Naldini at the San Raffaele Milano hospital. Genenta has phase 1 / 2 trials ongoing in multiple myeloma and glioblastoma.
Ten inspiring finalists were invited to compete at the 2019 Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Summit in Oncology, which was hosted on March 18-19 by Lyfebulb and Helsinn in Monaco. All finalists were Patient Entrepreneurs, meaning that they are cancer patients, survivors or people with a close relative or loved one who has been affected by cancer. Over the course of the Summit, the finalists presented their businesses to a jury with diverse expertise in cancer. Each winner received a $25,000 monetary grant.
“The innovations demonstrated at this Summit clearly show how the personal experiences of each of the ten finalists have informed and driven them in developing impactful solutions for people affected by cancer. We look forward to following their progress and believe that the Lyfebulb Patient Entrepreneur Circle and its Innovation Summits can play a significant role in their journey,”said Dr. Karin Hehenberger, CEO and Founder of Lyfebulb.
Riccardo Braglia, Helsinn Group Vice Chairman and CEO, added,“We were very impressed by the quality of applications received for this Innovation Summit and the finalists who competed in Monaco. We congratulate the winners and know the jury chose worthy award recipients, Mihir and Pierluigi. Helsinn is proud to be supporting dynamic entrepreneurs who are bringing innovation and personal experience to developing solutions to the challenges of cancer, and the second year of this event has demonstrated that this is a powerful idea with momentum. Looking ahead, we hope that this Innovation Summit will inspire more Patient Entrepreneurs to come forward in providing further solutions in cancer.”
The Lyfebulb-Helsinn Award recognizes outstanding potential among entrepreneurs who have demonstrated an ability to develop and bring to market solutions that improve quality of life of people with cancer. The Squinto-LePera Award by Lyfebulb was generously donated by Dr. Stephen Squinto and Denise LePera, and was added to the Summit to provide additional recognition among a highly talented pool of finalists.
About Lyfebulb
Lyfebulb is a chronic disease-focused, patient empowerment platform that connects patients and industry (manufacturers and payers) to support user-driven innovation. Lyfebulb promotes a healthy, take-charge lifestyle for those affected by chronic disease. Grounded with its strong foundation in diabetes, the company has expanded disease states covered into cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and multiple sclerosis. See www.lyfebulbdev.wpengine.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Lyfebulb LinkedIn, and Karin Hehenberger LinkedIn.
About Helsinn International Services sarl
Helsinn International Services sarl is the Helsinn subsidiary which provides a range of advisory services and strategic activities to the Group and its specific companies. In particular, it acts as the advisory company to Helsinn Investment Fund.
About Helsinn Investment Fund S.A., SICAR
The Helsinn Investment Fund is focused on early-stage investments in areas of high unmet patient need. Backed by the Helsinn Group, and guided by Helsinn’s core values of quality, integrity and respect, Helsinn Investment Fund aims to help companies with innovative technologies to transform new ideas into commercial solutions with the potential to impact health-related quality of life of patients. Drawing on Helsinn’s over 40 years of investment into research and development and commercial expertise, the investment fund selects companies with technologies in a range of areas including cancer therapeutics and diagnostics, cancer supportive care, metabolic and gastrointestinal disorders, and dermatology conditions. For more information, visit www.helsinninvestmentfund.com
About the Helsinn Group
Helsinn is a privately owned pharmaceutical group with an extensive portfolio of marketed cancer care products and a robust drug development pipeline. Since 1976, Helsinn has been improving the everyday lives of patients, guided by core family values of respect, integrity and quality. The Group works across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and nutritional supplements and has expertise in research, development, manufacture and the commercialization of therapeutic and supportive care products for cancer, pain and inflammation and gastroenterology. In 2016, Helsinn created the Helsinn Investment Fund to support early-stage investment opportunities in areas of unmet patient need. The company is headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, with operating subsidiaries in Switzerland, Ireland, the U.S., Monaco and China, as well as a product presence in approximately 190 countries globally. To learn more about Helsinn Group please visit www.helsinn.com
For more information:
Helsinn Group Media Contact Paola Bonvicini Group Head of Communication Lugano, Switzerland Tel: +41 (0) 91 985 21 21 Info-hhc@helsinn.com For more information, please follow us onTwitter, LinkedInand Vimeo.
Press Contact for Lyfebulb: Karin Hehenberger, MD, PhD CEO & Founder, Lyfebulb, Phone: + 00 1 917-575-0210 Email: karin@lyfebulb.com
CHALLENGE TIMELINE
March 18, 2019
Introductory meetings and activities
March 19, 2019
Pitch presentations, gala dinner and award winner announcement
The Winner
Boston Immune Technologies and Therapeutics
Russell LaMontagne is the CEO of Boston Immune Technologies and Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company developing immune-based approaches for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Russell has 20 years of experience in the health care industry, primarily focusing on consulting roles at biotechnology companies and non-profits from the University of Pennsylvania and the New England Journal of Medicine to VIRxSYS and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Over the past ten years, Russell has organized partnerships with Massachusetts General Hospital to promote clinical trials and new indications for the BCG vaccine. Prior to co-founding Boston Immune Technologies and Therapeutics, Russell served as president of Corinth Group, a boutique healthcare consultancy. Russell received his BS in Biology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and his MS from Yale University.
Russell LaMontagne
Co-Founder, President & CEO
ABOUT THE SUMMIT AND AWARD
11 finalists will compete at the third annual Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Summit. The Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Award will be presented to an exceptional innovator with outstanding entrepreneurial potential to commercialize a creative idea to better manage cancer using drugs, medical devices or healthcare information technology.
SHARE
SQUINTO LAPERA AWARD
Oncoheroes Biosciences
Dr. Cesare Spadoni is the founder and Chief Operating Officer of Oncoheroes Biosciences, a biotechnology company exclusively focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of new treatments for cancers in children and adolescents. Following the passing of his daughter Laura in 2006, Cesare founded the aPODD Foundation, a London-based charity focused on accelerating pediatric oncology drug development. As aPODD’s chairman and trustee, he is actively involved on a voluntary basis in drug repurposing projects, advocacy efforts and research collaborations with other childhood cancer charities. Frustrated by the lack of progress in new drug development for pediatric cancers, he then set out to take matters into his own hands by founding Oncoheroes. Cesare has over 20 years of experience in drug development in both scientific and commercial roles. Previously,he held senior business development positions at AMRI, Aptuit Laurus, ThalesNano and Auxiliis BV. Cesare started his career as research scientist in a pharmaceutical company (Eisai, London) and in academia (Institute of Enzymology, Budapest).
Cesare received his MSc in applied molecular biology and PhD in neuroscience from University College London, as well as his MBA from Central European University, Budapest.
Lyfebulb is a chronic disease-focused, patient empowerment platform that connects patients and industry to support user-driven innovation. Grounded with its strong foundation in diabetes, the company has expanded disease states covered into cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, mental illness and migraine.
Helsinn is a privately-owned pharmaceutical group with an extensive portfolio of marketed cancer care products and a robust drug development pipeline. Since 1976, Helsinn has been improving the everyday lives of patients, guided by core family values of respect, integrity and quality. The Group works across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and nutritional supplements and has expertise in research, development, manufacture and the commercialization of therapeutic and supportive care products for cancer, pain and inflammation and gastroenterology. In 2016, Helsinn created the Helsinn Investment Fund to support early-stage investment opportunities in areas of unmet patient need. The company is headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, with operating subsidiaries in Switzerland, Ireland, the U.S., Monaco and China, as well as a product presence in approximately 190 countries globally.
To learn more about Helsinn Group please visit www.helsinn.com
The award will be presented to the Patient Entrepreneur demonstrating outstanding science and potential to bring their idea to the market for cancer patients
LUGANO, SWITZERLAND, AND NEW YORK, NY, NOV 27: Helsinn, a Swiss pharmaceutical group focused on building quality cancer care, announced that for the second consecutive year it will be collaborating with Lyfebulb, a patient empowerment platform that connects patients with industry and investors to support user-driven innovation toward solutions in chronic disease. This collaboration will kick-off with an event on December 4, 2018 in New York City and will culminate with the announcement of the winner of the 2019 Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Award in Monaco on March 19, 2019. The Helsinn-Lyfebulb Innovation Summit is open to Patient Entrepreneurs building ground-breaking companies to advance the prevention, diagnosis, management or care of cancer. Entrepreneurs eligible to enter the competition include cancer patients, cancer survivors, or those having a close relative or loved one with cancer, who have established a company to address issues encountered by cancer patients. Helsinn and Lyfebulb will launch the process with a panel discussion focused on the cancer patient experience on December 4, 2018. Panelists will come together from patient, physician, advocacy and industry groups to discuss unmet needs in the products and services that are currently available to cancer patients and survivors today, as well as opportunities to address these issues.
Applicants for the competition must have established a company with impactful solutions to better manage and improve the quality of life of cancer patients with respect, integrity, and quality. All candidates are invited to submit applications through the Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Summit & Award website at lyfebulbprod.staging.wpengine.com/innovation-award/helsinn-2019 where more information regarding eligibility and key criteria is available. Submissions may be made between December 5, 2018 and January 23, 2019.
Riccardo Braglia, Helsinn Group Vice Chairman and CEO, commented: “The Helsinn Group has been working in healthcare for over 40 years, and patients and their real life experience with cancer have always driven everything we do. Patient Entrepreneurs have a unique insight into how products and solutions can improve the experience of living with cancer and we look forward to continuing to work with Lyfebulb.”
“Thanks to ground-breaking technologies that have come to market in the past decade, cancer has evolved into a chronic disease. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Helsinn in this critical area,” said Dr Karin (Hehenberger) Denoyer, CEO and Founder of Lyfebulb. “There is more to be done for cancer and the patient experience is integral in driving forward new ideas when it comes to managing our healthcare. We are thrilled to get to know even more brilliant entrepreneurs in the field of cancer and supportive care through this Summit.”
About Helsinn International Services sarl
Helsinn International Services sarl is the Helsinn subsidiary which provides a range of advisory services and strategic activities to the Group and its specific companies. In particular, it acts as the advisory company to Helsinn Investment Fund.
About Helsinn Investment Fund S.A., SICAR
The Helsinn Investment Fund is focused on early-stage investments in areas of high unmet patient need. Backed by the Helsinn Group, and guided by Helsinn’s core values of quality, integrity and respect, Helsinn Investment Fund aims to help companies with innovative technologies to transform new ideas into commercial solutions with the potential to impact health-related quality of life of patients.
Drawing on Helsinn’s over 40 years of investment into research and development and commercial expertise, the investment fund selects companies with technologies in a range of areas including cancer therapeutics and diagnostics, cancer supportive care, metabolic and gastrointestinal disorders, and dermatology conditions.
Helsinn is a privately owned pharmaceutical group with an extensive portfolio of marketed cancer care products and a robust drug development pipeline. Since 1976, Helsinn has been improving the everyday lives of patients, guided by core family values of respect, integrity and quality. The Group works across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and nutritional supplements and has expertise in research, development, manufacture and the commercialization of therapeutic and supportive care products for cancer, pain and inflammation and gastroenterology. In 2016, Helsinn created the Helsinn Investment Fund to support early-stage investment opportunities in areas of unmet patient need. The company is headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, with operating subsidiaries in Switzerland, Ireland, the U.S., Monaco and China, as well as a product presence in approximately 190 countries globally.
To learn more about Helsinn Group please visit www.helsinn.com
About Lyfebulb
Lyfebulb is a chronic disease focused, patient empowerment platform that connects patients, industry (manufacturers and payers) and investors to support user-driven innovation. Lyfebulb promotes a healthy, take-charge lifestyle for those affected by chronic disease. Grounded with its strong foundation in diabetes, the company has expanded disease states covered into cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and multiple sclerosis.
Winners of the inaugural Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Summit & Awards in Oncology announced
Lorenzo Pradella of GreenBone Ortho, srl has been selected from eleven finalists as the winner of the first ever Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Award in Oncology.
Gitte Pedersen of Genomic Expression, Inc. has been selected as the winner of the Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Award in Oncology by Denise LePera and Dr. Stephen Squinto.
The Jury created a special recognition award for Aaron Horowitz of Sproutel, Inc.
The Awards recognize outstanding innovations by Patient Entrepreneurs’ innovations for cancer and cancer supportive care using drugs, medical devices, consumer products, or healthcare information technologies.
The winners were presented with their awards at the Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Summit & Award in Oncology, on March 27, in Monaco, Principality of Monaco.
MONACO, PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO and NEW YORK, NY, March 28, 2018:
Lyfebulb, a patient empowerment platform that connects patients, industry and investors to support user-driven innovation in chronic diseases, and Helsinn, with activities focused on early-stage investments in areas of high unmet patient need, today announced that Lorenzo Pradella of GreenBone Ortho, srl and Gitte Pedersen of Genomic Expression, Inc. have been chosen as winners of the first ever Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Awards in Oncology. In addition, Aaron Horowitz of Sproutel, Inc. received a special recognition award from the jury.
“The innovation demonstrated by all eleven finalistsexemplifies how the insights of personal experience can combine with entrepreneurial skills to create solutions which will improve the lives of people affected by cancer. In my mind, all finalists are winners in the Patient Entrepreneur category,” said Dr. Karin Hehenberger, MD, PhD and CEO and Founder of Lyfebulb.
Eleven finalists were invited to compete at the Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Summit & Award in Oncology event, which was hosted on March 26th and 27th, 2018, by Lyfebulb and Helsinn at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort, in Monaco. Over the course of the summit, the finalists presented their businesses to an independent, curated panel with expertise in oncology.
Helsinn Group Vice Chairman and CEO Riccardo Braglia commented,“The expert panel has chosen worthy winners. I know Lorenzo and Gitte’s ideas have the potential to make real progress in areas of unmet patient need, and to make a difference to those living day-to-day with cancer. Helsinn is proud to support innovation of this quality and we hope that this award will inspire a generation of patient entrepreneurs to come forward with similar levels of enthusiasm.”
Mr. Pradella of GreenBone Ortho, srl has built a business that develops highly innovative, wood-derived, biometric and re-absorbable bone implants to repair critical defects in load bearing and non-loaded bones, which product can be used for cancer related bone loss. In winning the LBH Award, GreenBone Ortho, srl will receive a $25,000 monetary grant in recognition of its pioneering product.
Ms. Pedersen of Genomic Expression, Inc. has developed a diagnostic business that identifies the ideal drug for a patient and the ideal patient for the drug by sequencing RNA. Genomic Expression will receive the LBH Award by Denise LePera and Dr. Stephen Squinto, also a $25,000 monetary grant.
Finally, the jury created a special recognition award for Aaron Horowitz of Sproutel, Inc., who has created play-based healthcare innovations for children afflicted with disease, specifically the My Special Aflac Duck™ for children with cancer.
The LBH Award recognizes outstanding potential among entrepreneurs who have demonstrated an ability to develop and bring to the market innovation, using drugs, medical devices, consumer products and healthcare information technologies, designed to improve the quality of life of people with cancer. The LBH Award by Denise LePera and Dr. Stephen Squinto, derived from the generous donation by the couple, was added to the Summit to provide additional recognition among a highly talented pool of finalists:
Samuel Wagner of Batu Biologics, Inc
Massimo Bocchi of Cellply Srl
Walid Al-Akkad of Engitix Ltd
Gitte Pedersen of Genomic Expression, Inc
Lorenzo Pradella of GreenBone Ortho, srl
Samir Housri of TheMednet, Inc
Till Erdmann of Myelo Therapeutics GmbH
Christian Apfel of SageMedic, Inc
Aaron Horowitz of Sproutel, Inc
Thierry Desjardins of Surgisafe Ltd
Boaz Gaon of Wisdo Ltd
About Lyfebulb
Lyfebulb is a chronic disease focused, patient empowerment platform that connects patients, Industry (manufacturers and payers) and investors to support user-driven innovation. Lyfebulb promotes a healthy, take-charge lifestyle for those affected by chronic disease. Grounded with its strong foundation in Diabetes, the company has expanded disease states covered into Cancer and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Helsinn International Services sarl is the Helsinn subsidiary which provides a range of advisory services and strategic activities to the Group and its specific companies. In particular, it acts as the advisory company to Helsinn Investment Fund.
About Helsinn Investment Fund S.A., SICAR
The Helsinn Investment Fund is focused on early-stage investments in areas of high unmet patient need. Backed by the Helsinn Group, and guided by Helsinn’s core values of quality, integrity and respect, Helsinn Investment Fund aims to help companies with innovative technologies to transform new ideas into commercial solutions with the potential to impact health-related quality of life of patients.
Drawing on Helsinn’s over 40 years of investment into research and development and commercial expertise, the investment fund selects companies with technologies in a range of areas including cancer therapeutics and diagnostics, cancer supportive care, metabolic and gastrointestinal disorders, and dermatology conditions.
Helsinn is a privately owned pharmaceutical group with an extensive portfolio of marketed cancer care products and a robust drug development pipeline. Since 1976, Helsinn has been improving the everyday lives of patients, guided by core family values of respect, integrity and quality. The Group works across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and nutritional supplements and has expertise in research, development, manufacture and the commercialization of therapeutic and supportive care products for cancer, pain and inflammation and gastroenterology. In 2016, Helsinn created the Helsinn Investment Fund to support early-stage investment opportunities in areas of unmet patient need. The company is headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, with operating subsidiaries in Switzerland, Ireland, the U.S., Monaco and China, as well as a product presence in approximately 190 countries globally.
To learn more about Helsinn Group please visit www.helsinn.com
Pitch presentations, gala dinner and award winner announcement
The Winner
Boston Immune Technologies and Therapeutics
Russell LaMontagne is the CEO of Boston Immune Technologies and Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company developing immune-based approaches for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Russell has 20 years of experience in the health care industry, primarily focusing on consulting roles at biotechnology companies and non-profits from the University of Pennsylvania and the New England Journal of Medicine to VIRxSYS and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Over the past ten years, Russell has organized partnerships with Massachusetts General Hospital to promote clinical trials and new indications for the BCG vaccine. Prior to co-founding Boston Immune Technologies and Therapeutics, Russell served as president of Corinth Group, a boutique healthcare consultancy. Russell received his BS in Biology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and his MS from Yale University.
Russell LaMontagne
Co-Founder, President & CEO
ABOUT THE SUMMIT AND AWARD
11 finalists will compete at the third annual Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Summit. The Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Award will be presented to an exceptional innovator with outstanding entrepreneurial potential to commercialize a creative idea to better manage cancer using drugs, medical devices or healthcare information technology.
Lyfebulb is a chronic disease-focused, patient empowerment platform that connects patients and industry to support user-driven innovation. Grounded with its strong foundation in diabetes, the company has expanded disease states covered into cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, mental illness and migraine.
Helsinn is a privately-owned pharmaceutical group with an extensive portfolio of marketed cancer care products and a robust drug development pipeline. Since 1976, Helsinn has been improving the everyday lives of patients, guided by core family values of respect, integrity and quality. The Group works across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and nutritional supplements and has expertise in research, development, manufacture and the commercialization of therapeutic and supportive care products for cancer, pain and inflammation and gastroenterology. In 2016, Helsinn created the Helsinn Investment Fund to support early-stage investment opportunities in areas of unmet patient need. The company is headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, with operating subsidiaries in Switzerland, Ireland, the U.S., Monaco and China, as well as a product presence in approximately 190 countries globally.
To learn more about Helsinn Group please visit www.helsinn.com
Eleven finalists have been chosen for the first ever Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Summit & Award in Oncology
Eleven finalists have been selected from a strong roster of talent to compete at the inaugural Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Summit, March 26-27, Monaco
The Award recognizes Patient Entrepreneurs’ innovations for cancer and cancer supportive care using drugs, medical devices, consumer products, or healthcare information technologies
The award will be presented to the finalist demonstrating outstanding science and entrepreneurial potential to bring their ideas to the market
MONACO, PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO and NEW YORK, NY, March 1, 2018:
Lyfebulb, a patient empowerment platform that connects patients, industry and investors to support user-driven innovation in chronic diseases, and Helsinn, with activities focused on early-stage investments in areas of high unmet patient need, today announce the names of the eleven companies launched by patient entrepreneurs who are chosen as finalists for the Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Summit & Award in Oncology. The finalists are invited to compete at the Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Summit & Award, which will be hosted on 26-27 March 2018, by Lyfebulb and Helsinn at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort, in Monaco, Principality of Monaco.
Due to the high quality and quantity of applications this year, there will be 11 finalists:
Samuel Wagner of Batu Biologics, Inc
Massimo Bocchi of Cellply Srl
Walid Al-Akkad of Engitix Ltd
Gitte Pedersen of Genomic Expression, Inc
Lorenzo Pradella of GreenBone Ortho srl
Samir Housri of Mednet, Inc
Till Erdmann of Myelo Therapeutics GmbH
Christian Apfel of SageMedic, Inc
Aaron Horowitz of Sproutel, Inc
Thierry Desjardins of Surgisafe Ltd
Boaz Gaon of Wisdo Ltd
The Award will recognize outstanding potential among entrepreneurs who have demonstrated an ability to develop and bring to the market innovation designed to improve the quality of life of people with cancer using drugs, medical devices, consumer products and healthcare information technologies. The finalists represent companies of all sizes that have been founded by cancer patients, cancer survivors, or those with close relatives with cancer.
The finalists were selected by Karin Hehenberger, MD PhD, CEO and Founder of Lyfebulb, Leslie Brille, Chief Investment Officer, Lyfebulb, Riccardo Braglia, Helsinn Group Vice Chairman and CEO and Roberto De Ponti, Head of Corporate New Ventures and Strategic Investments, Helsinn International Services. The Innovation Summit has been founded upon Lyfebulb’s concept of Patient Entrepreneurship and Helsinn’s determination to provide the best supportive care for cancer patients and to improve the health and quality of life of every person affected by cancer. A “pitch session” will be held at the summit, where a winner will be selected from the eleven finalists by a panel of experts.
“At Lyfebulb, we interact with numerous individuals who are using their own experiences with chronic disease to originate and develop effective solutions to help others. The level of innovation demonstrated by people who submitted their ideas to the first Lyfebulb-Helsinn Innovation Award were of a very high caliber and we commend all of them. Core to Lyfebulb’s Mission is to empower individuals living with chronic disease, and by embracing patient entrepreneurs and furthering their ideas and businesses, we are doing exactly that.”says Dr. Karin Hehenberger.
Riccardo Braglia added,“I know from experience how a cancer diagnosis can often be a spur towards greater dynamism and entrepreneurship and have seen many examples of great innovation from people who have first-hand experience with the disease. I am looking forward to learning more about the potential of their concepts and am confident that the expertise and industry experience of the judging panel will help choose a finalist who can innovate to improve the lives of people with cancer.”
About Lyfebulb
Lyfebulb is a chronic disease focused, patient empowerment platform that connects patients, Industry (manufacturers and payers) and investors to support user-driven innovation. Lyfebulb promotes a healthy, take-charge lifestyle for those affected by chronic disease. Grounded with its strong foundation in Diabetes, the company has expanded disease states covered into Cancer and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Helsinn International Services sarl is the Helsinn subsidiary which provides a range of advisory services and strategic activities to the Group and its specific companies. In particular, it acts as the advisory company to Helsinn Investment Fund.
About Helsinn Investment Fund S.A., SICAR
The Helsinn Investment Fund is focused on early-stage investments in areas of high unmet patient need. Backed by the Helsinn Group, and guided by Helsinn’s core values of quality, integrity and respect, Helsinn Investment Fund aims to help companies with innovative technologies to transform new ideas into commercial solutions with the potential to impact health-related quality of life of patients.
Helsinn is a privately owned pharmaceutical group with an extensive portfolio of marketed cancer care products and a robust drug development pipeline. Since 1976, Helsinn has been improving the everyday lives of patients, guided by core family values of respect, integrity and quality. The Group works across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and nutritional supplements and has expertise in research, development, manufacture and the commercialization of therapeutic and supportive care products for cancer, pain and inflammation and gastroenterology. In 2016, Helsinn created the Helsinn Investment Fund to support early-stage investment opportunities in areas of unmet patient need. The company is headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, with operating subsidiaries in Switzerland, Ireland, the U.S., Monaco and China, as well as a product presence in approximately 190 countries globally.
To learn more about Helsinn Group please visit www.helsinn.com
For more information:
Helsinn Group Media Contact Paola Bonvicini Group Head of Communication Lugano, Switzerland Tel: +41 (0) 91 985 21 21 For more information, please visit www.helsinn.com and follow us onTwitter, LinkedInand Vimeo.
Press Contact for Lyfebulb:
Karin Hehenberger, MD, PhD CEO & Founder, Lyfebulb, Phone: + 00 1 917-575-0210 karin@lyfebulb.com www.lyfebulbprod.staging.wpengine.com We are on Twitter. Follow us @Lyfebulb
