It was our great pleasure to announce at Healthwell this week that we would be merging with Starton Therapeutics. A two year SPAC odyssey of due diligence and deal-making resulted in a partnering with a tremendous biotech company that is striving to drive costs out of the healthcare system and improve patient outcomes via its proprietary continuous delivery technology platform. Its first areas of focus are Multiple Myeloma (“MM”) and Leukemia (“CLL”) as it enters is Clinical Phase 1B trials. 

Most important, I was reminded throughout this journey of some timeless leadership lessons that were hallmarks of Leadership and Life Hacks: 

•    As the one and only Hal Morris always reminds me, unless it’s the 9th inning, 3rd out, Keep Swinging
•    Hang on as long as you can as the tide (often, if not) always turns
•    Your relationships with key stakeholders like board members are bespoke. 
•    Make it easy to be mentored
•    [New!] The greatest driving force behind a team is one aligned by its mission, vision and values.

You can read the press release about our merger here and if you’re really keen, listen to Starton’s CEO, Pedro Lichtinger, and me talk about it via this investor presentation here.