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
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