An Unanticipated Biotech Startup With OS Therapies' Paul Romness
Nov 4, 2024
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Paul Romness, CEO and Chair of OS Therapies, shares his unexpected journey into biotech, sparked by his daughter's best friend's battle with osteosarcoma. He discusses how personal challenges led to the creation of a company focused on innovative cancer treatments. The podcast highlights Olivia's inspiring progression to med school while serving on the board, and examines the importance of community and strategic networking in shaping the startup's mission. Romness reflects on navigating career transitions and aspirations for advancing pediatric cancer treatment.
Paul Romness transitioned from a career in big biotech to founding OS Therapies, motivated by his daughter's best friend's battle with osteosarcoma.
OS Therapies is developing innovative antibody drug conjugates aimed at improving treatment options for osteosarcoma and potentially other solid tumors.
Deep dives
Olivia Egge's Inspirational Journey
The story of Olivia Egge, diagnosed with osteosarcoma, serves as a pivotal inspiration behind the creation of OS Therapies. As the daughter of a neighbor and a close friend of Paul Romness's daughter, Olivia's battle with the deadly bone cancer deeply impacted Romness, motivating him to take action. Remarkably, Olivia has overcome her diagnosis and is now seven years cancer-free, currently pursuing her medical studies. This success story highlights both the personal ties to the disease and the urgency felt by Romness and others to change the course of treatment options for osteosarcoma.
Formation and Mission of OS Therapies
Romness transitioned from a career in big biotech to founding OS Therapies in response to Olivia's experience, recognizing the desperate need for innovation in osteosarcoma treatment. Teaming up with leading experts in oncology, he quickly assembled a scientific advisory board committed to advancing research and genetic testing in pediatric cancers. Their collective goal is to improve patient outcomes by leveraging technologies that have previously shown promise in treating canine osteosarcoma. This transition from consultancy to biotechnology embodies a significant shift driven by shared experiences and the aspiration to dramatically alter therapeutic strategies for children affected by cancer.
Innovative Technology and Clinical Trials
OS Therapies is developing novel vaccines and antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting both osteosarcoma and potentially other solid tumors. The company recently completed a clinical trial with 41 pediatric patients, yielding positive preliminary results that are expected to be submitted for FDA review soon. Romness emphasizes the unique approach of combining innovative HER2 technologies with existing treatments to enhance tumor responsiveness while minimizing the risks of metastasis. This ambitious strategy aims not only to bring new treatments to market but also to transform the landscape of cancer therapies that are traditionally toxic.
Community Involvement and Future Aspirations
OS Therapies has cultivated strong ties within the osteosarcoma community through grassroots efforts and collaborative initiatives with patient advocacy groups. Romness highlights the crucial support from families and nonprofits, which not only provide funding but also amplify awareness for osteosarcoma research. The future aspirations include moving swiftly towards commercializing their findings, particularly in addressing the 400–500 million dollar market for osteosarcoma in the U.S. Additionally, plans to expand their technology's applications to other solid tumors, such as breast cancer, further diversify their impact, aiming to meet unmet medical needs across various demographics.
Becoming a biotech CEO wasn't on Paul Romness' bingo card. He'd forged his place in the biopharma industry as a foremost public and policy affairs expert. Thirteen years at J&J, more than 5 at Amgen, and half a dozen at Boehringer Ingelheim had earned him the right to coast into a consulting gig that would enable him to finish out his career on his terms.
Then his daughter's best friend Olivia, a teenage girl and neighbor he'd watched grow up, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma.
The ensuing journey, now in its seventh year, put Romness in the position of CEO and Chair of OS Therapies. It's a company formed through a combination of circumstance, determination, and ingenuity that's now shepherding its HER2 and tunable ADC therapeutics through mid-late-stage clinical trials. On this episode of the Business of Biotech, we dig into the building blocks of an unanticipated biotech startup. We'll learn how Romness leaned into his personal and professional communities to build a company that's now addressing unmet patient need in osteosarcoma and cancers of the breast, esophagus, lung, and pancreas. And we'll get an update on Olivia, who's now in med school at Columbia University and serving on the OS Therapies Board of Directors.
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