Overview
NovoCure is a privately held company dedicated to bringing a completely new cancer treatment modality into clinical use. Professor Yoram Palti, MD, Ph.D., founded NovoCure in 2000 to develop his research in treating cancer with electrical fields. The Company builds upon six years of research including cell culture studies, animal studies, and human trials. In addition to Professor Palti, the Company has assembled a world class team of experts who have spent their entire careers inventing, building, or commercializing innovative medical products.
Team
Yoram Palti, MD, Ph.D., Founder, Director
Professor Palti is a professor of physiology & biophysics at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. He was formerly an associate professor of physiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Professor Palti is an expert in electrophysiology and biomedical engineering. Professor Palti was previously the head of the Rappaport Institute for Research in the Medical Sciences, the research arm of the Technion Medical School, for 12 years. He also founded and managed Carmel Biosensor Ltd. and CellSense Ltd. Professor Palti is the author of more than 30 patents and 70 scientific papers.
Asaf Danziger, CEO
Asaf Danziger joined NovoCure in 2002 with significant experience leading the development of innovative medical technologies in both corporate management and hands-on R&D positions. His experience ranges from the definition and design of advanced devices to monitor critically ill patients, to the development and introduction of novel therapies in oncology and infectious diseases. Asaf has particular expertise leading multidisciplinary teams of engineers, scientists, and physicians from initial concept design to commercial production. Asaf served as a Communications and Electronics Officer (Captain) in the Israeli Defense Force, commanding a company of 90 soldiers specializing in ground radar and advanced electro-optical equipment. Asaf holds a B.Sc. in material engineering from Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel, where he specialized in microelectronics and biomedicine.
Michael Ambrogi, US General Manager
Mike Ambrogi is the US General Manager for NovoCure. Mike was previously the General Manager of Deka Research and Development, an intellectual property company providing product development services to the medical device market. Under Mike’s direction and the leadership of world-renowned inventor Dean Kamen, Deka developed several breakthrough products including the Baxter HomeChoice peritoneal dialysis machine, the Davol Hydroflex surgical irrigation device, the J&J Cordis Crowne Stent, the J&J Independence Technology IBOT 3000 mobility system, and the Segway Human Transporter. Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Eilon Kirson, MD, Ph.D., VP of R & D
Dr. Kirson leads NovoCure’s research and development activities. In this role, he has had responsibility for NovoCure’s preclinical research, clinical planning, and interactions with the FDA. Before joining NovoCure, Dr. Kirson served as Head of Electrophysiology at Carmel Biosensensors. Dr. Kirson received his B.Med.Sc., MD and Ph.D. in Biophysics from the Hebrew University and underwent his residency in neurology at Sheba Medical Center, Tel Ha-Shomer Hospital, Israel.
William F. Doyle, Director
Bill Doyle was a member of Johnson & Johnson’s Medical Devices and Diagnostics Group Operating Committee and Vice President, Licensing and Acquisitions. At J&J, Bill was also Chairman of the Medical Devices Research and Development Council and a member of the board of directors of Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation, J&J's venture capital subsidiary. Bill is currently the Managing Director of WFD Ventures LLC, a New York-based venture capital firm that he founded. WFD Ventures provides equity financing and industry expertise to medical device companies. Bill holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
W. Anthony Vernon, Director
Tony Vernon led a number of Johnson & Johnson’s largest and most successful franchises during a 24 year career at J&J. Tony served as President of McNeil Consumer Products and Nutritionals, Worldwide President of The Johnson and Johnson-Merck Joint Venture, President of Centocor, and Company Group Chairman of DePuy Orthopedics. He also served as a member of Johnson and Johnson’s Group Operating Committees for Consumer Healthcare and Nutritionals, Biopharmaceuticals, and Medical Devices and Diagnostics. Tony holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Lawrence University and an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School.
Lennart Perlhagen, Director
Lennart Perlhagen is an active investor in emerging healthcare companies and was the founding investor of NovoCure. Lennart previously founded Meda AB, a leading specialty pharmaceutical company that grew from a market capitalization of $10 million to over $4.0 billion during his tenure with the company. Prior to Meda AB, Lennart was the CEO for Scandinavia and the UK for Pfizer where he gained extensive experience in oncology through the launch of the chemotherapy agent doxorubicin (Adriamycin). Outside oncology, Lennart helped lead the commercial launch of omeprazole (Losec / Prilosec), which became the best selling pharmaceutical product in the world, for AstraZeneca AB where he served as Regional Director for South Europe.