'Don't be Afraid': How His Father's Battle With Dementia Inspired This Entrepreneur's Mission

In this compelling episode of The Founder CEO , I had the privilege of interviewing Howard Berman , the founder and CEO of Coya Therapeutics. Howard shared the extraordinary story behind the inception of Coya Therapeutics, born out of a deeply personal family experience. We delved into his evolution as a business leader, exploring his mission-driven approach to healthcare innovation and the challenges and triumphs of taking a biotech company public . Howard's insights into the complexities of neurodegenerative diseases and the future of therapeutic development are truly inspiring . Don't miss this dynamic conversation that highlights the future of healthcare .

Watch the full Founder CEO video interview above and see the takeaways below.

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Personal Influence and Family Background

• Howard's mother, a world-renowned expert in cancer prevention, and his father, a triple board-certified physician, significantly influenced his mission-driven approach.
• The inception of Coya Therapeutics is closely tied to the diagnosis and subsequent passing of Howard's father due to dementia.

Founding Challenges and Milestones:

• The idea for Coya emerged from Howard's collaboration with Dr. Stan Appel, a leading neurodegenerative disease expert.
• The company's founding coincided with personal tragedy, as Howard's father passed away the same week Coya went public.

Mission-Driven Approach:

• Coya Therapeutics is dedicated to developing therapies for neurodegenerative diseases by targeting inflammation through regulatory T cells (Tregs).

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Complexity of Neurodegenerative Diseases:

• Howard emphasized the complexity of diseases like ALS and dementia, which require targeting multiple pathways for effective treatment.
• Traditional single-mechanism drugs have often failed, underscoring the need for innovative, multi-targeted approaches.

Innovation and Therapeutic Development:

• Coya's unique approach involves administering two drugs simultaneously to address the multifaceted nature of neurodegenerative diseases.
• The goal is to prove the efficacy and safety of these therapies through rigorous clinical trials.

Biotech Market Challenges:

• Navigating the biotech market, especially during challenging times like 2022, required scrappy, innovative strategies to secure funding and achieve IPO status.

Resilience and Leadership Evolution:

• Howard's journey from an entrepreneur with a vision to a public company CEO involved overcoming significant barriers and learning to rely on a talented team.
• His leadership style emphasizes collaboration and trusting experts in their respective fields to drive the company's success.

Strategic Growth and Team Building:

• Hiring the best talent and fostering a collaborative environment has been crucial to Coya's progress.
• Howard's experience highlights the importance of adapting leadership strategies to meet the evolving needs of the company.

Future Vision for Coya Therapeutics:

• Howard is committed to proving the efficacy of Coya 302 for Lou Gehrig's disease and expanding into other neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's.
• Strategic partnerships with other pharmaceutical companies are part of Coya's growth plan to accelerate therapeutic development.

Howard Berman's personal story is inspiring. His resilience as a person and entrepreneur shines through in his stories. These lessons serve well for other founder CEOs as a reminder of all that comes with the trials and triumphs of starting and running your own business.

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