Edward Haeggström
CEO, Nanoform
A former Harvard visiting professor with an academic portfolio consisting of over 400 papers and 25 patents/patent applications, Hæggström is renowned within the scientific community. He co-founded Nanoform in 2015, launching a nanoparticle engineering technology for small-molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients. Nanoform’s CESS technology was leveraged by Portuguese biotech company TargTex for a glioblastoma treatment study that showed promising results.
We asked…
What has been the most exciting breakthrough in the pharma industry in recent years, and what is your biggest fear for the future of the industry?
Artificial Intelligence. AI is a powerful tool that is still relatively new and this is exciting within itself. We’ve only just scratched the surface of what’s possible. With applications in predicting potentially life-changing APIs to automation within drug manufacturing – the possibilities are almost limitless. We should explore new opportunities for scientists to leverage AI to improve current processes and innovate new methods for pharmaceutical development and manufacturing.
While the increasing use of AI may open new possibilities within the pharma industry, I do have some concerns for the future. There isn’t enough attention being brought to the discussion that we’re at risk of slowing down scientific discovery. Fewer young people are considering a career in STEM, and that’s a concern for future generations. Even with the rapid developments in AI technologies, we’re not yet at the stage where computers can replace scientists. We still need bright new minds to carry on innovating for the future.
