Interview: Luis Almeida, CEO, Luzitin, Portugal
Luis Almeida, CEO of Luzitin Portugal, talks about the Innovation of the Decade award Luzitin received for its patented technology, what exactly is so unique and innovative about this technology,…
Luzitin, S.A. is an early-stage pharmaceutical company focused on investigating and developing innovative compounds to be used in Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) or Photodiagnosis (PDx) of cancer or other diseases, thus contributing to the human wellness.
Luzitin emerged as a spin-off company from an R&D partnership between Bluepharma, S.A. and the University of Coimbra, Portugal. The Luzitin’s starting intellectual property is a series of new photosensitizing drugs licensed-in from the University of Coimbra. In March 2011, these new photosensitizers have been awarded the INVENTA Prize, which honoured the most relevant Portuguese invention of the 2001-2010 decade.
Luzitin’s shareholders are Bluepharma, S.A., a venture capital firm (Portugal Ventures, S.A.), and the inventors of the patented drugs. Luzitin’s headquarters are located at S Martinho do Bispo, Coimbra, Portugal. Luis Almeida, MD, PhD (Chief Executive Officer), Luis Arnaut, PhD (Chief Scientific Officer), and Sérgio Simões, PharmD, PhD (Chairman), compose the Management Team (MT). All have over 20 years of experience in their fields, and altogether they cover all disciplines involved in drug R&D from bench to bedside.
Luzitin’s long-term goal is to become a leader in PDT or PDx of cancer and other selected indications by providing innovative products and services, and partnering with other companies and public research institutions to bring new products to market.
Luzitin is committed to reach proof-of-concept clinical trials (phase II) and afterwards to negotiate licensing terms with a pharmaceutical company to further co-develop and co-market its compounds.
Contact:
Luzitin, SA
Edifício Bluepharma – Rua da Bayer – S. Martinho do Bispo
3045-016 Coimbra
PORTUGAL
Phone: +351 239 800 300
Fax: +351 239 800 333
www.luzitin.pt
Luis Almeida, CEO of Luzitin Portugal, talks about the Innovation of the Decade award Luzitin received for its patented technology, what exactly is so unique and innovative about this technology,…
Women account for half of the Portuguese labour force, but Portugal lags behind the European average for women in top positions, as a 2023 McKinsey study shows. However, Portuguese pharma…
Diabetes is a rising threat to the Portuguese people, the country’s healthcare system, and its economy. Portugal’s National Diabetes Observatory observed that 1.1 million Portuguese people between the ages of…
Novo Nordisk’s spectacular ascendancy in 2023 has meant that its country managers across the world have had to embrace scrutiny and press coverage like never before. In its centenary…
Luis Abrantes explains how Generis, as one of the leading companies by volume in both the retail and hospital segments of the Portuguese pharma market, serves a huge number of…
Azevedos Group’s João Sotana outlines the firm’s diverse strategic pillars, including manufacturing for Portugal and international markets; its focus on sustainability and innovation; and how it plans to stay ahead…
After achieving the highest sales figures in the affiliate’s history in 2023, general manager of Teva Pharmaceuticals Portugal Marta Gonzalez Casal outlines the restructuring efforts that have taken place in…
While not a major player in clinical trials at the European level, Portugal has untapped potential in this field, leveraging a first pioneering centre in Braga, the country’s strong scientific…
Monica Bettencourt-Dias of the Gulbenkian Institute for Science highlights the IGC’s pioneering role in biological sciences, supporting scientists and innovators who have significantly contributed to the field globally for over…
Alberto Navia-Osorio Pascual enthusiastically describes how Viatris has established itself as the leading pharmaceutical company in Portugal, leveraging the strengths of its integrated portfolios. The company has focused on brand…
Paula Barriga, VP & GM at Novo Nordisk Portugal, discusses the high prevalence of obesity, which affects over two million people in a country where none of the available pharmacological…
The Portuguese Association of Hospital Pharmacists (APFH) is dedicated to the education and training of over 1000 hospital pharmacists; essential members of the multidisciplinary teams needed to tackle serious illnesses…
João Rito introduces Bluebio Alliance, a Portuguese association focusing on bio-based marine resources and their sustainable utilisation. Rito’s work involves extensive collaboration across sectors, including pharmaceuticals, to promote the blue…
See our Cookie Privacy Policy Here