In this convincing episode of Founder CEOI had the privilege of interviewing Howard Berman, founder and CEO of Coya Therapeutics. Howard shared the remarkable story behind starting 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 on a biotech company PUBLIC. Howard's insights into the complexity of neurodegenerative diseases and the future of therapeutic development are spot on charismatic. Don't miss this dynamic conversation highlighting the future of health care.

Watch the full Founder's CEO interview video above and check out the tips below.

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Personal influence and family history

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

Challenges and highlights:

• The idea for Coya arose from Howard's collaboration with Dr. Stan Appel, a leading expert on neurodegenerative diseases.
• The founding of the company 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, highlighting the need for innovative and multi-targeted approaches.

Therapeutic innovation and 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.

Biotechnology market challenges:

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

Flexibility and Leadership Evolution:

• Howard's journey from a visionary entrepreneur to a CEO of a public company involved overcoming significant barriers and learning to rely on a talented team.
• His leadership style emphasizes the collaboration and trust of 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 to other neurodegenerative conditions such as 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 tenacity as a person and entrepreneur shines through in his stories. These lessons serve well for other founding CEOs as a reminder of all that comes with the trials and triumphs of starting and running your own business.

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