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The Termeer Foundation Announces Recipients of 2021 Henri Termeer Transatlantic Connections Award; connecting emerging industry leaders in Massachusetts and the Netherlands

Apr 16, 2021

Joshua Cohen and Justin Klee co-founders of Amylyx Pharmaceuticals and Eline van Beest of Hybridize Therapeutics are recognized as recipients of the Award’s inaugural honor

BOSTON, April 16, 2021 – The Termeer Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on connecting life science innovators and catalyzing the creation of new medicines, today announced the recipients of the inaugural 2021 Henri Termeer Transatlantic Connections Award. The awardees will be recognized during a presentation at the Innovation for Health conference taking place April 15-16, 2021 in the Netherlands.

The 2021 Henri Termeer Transatlantic Connections Award honorees are: Eline van Beest, CEO, Hybridize Therapeutics; and Joshua Cohen and Justin Klee, co-Founders and co-CEOs of Amylyx Pharmaceuticals. Information about the 2021 Henri Termeer Transatlantic Connections Award winners can be found here.

“The Henri Termeer Transatlantic Connections Award winners represent the highest caliber of entrepreneurial life science leaders currently working to advance the global biosectors in Massachusetts and the Netherlands,” said Belinda Termeer. “Josh, Justin and Eline have shown from the outset of their careers that they have the vision and leadership capabilities to address the ongoing needs of the biotechnology industry as this vital business area continues to respond to global health needs. The Foundation is proud to recognize these three life science leaders with this honor.”

The Henri Termeer Transatlantic Connections Award began as part of an agreement in July 2019, between the Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment and the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, which created and signed a Memorandum of Understanding laying the basis for a Massachusetts – Netherlands Transatlantic Life Sciences Partnership. The signatories included Top Sector Life Sciences & Health (Health-Holland), MassBio, HollandBIO and the Henri A. Termeer Tribute Committee; all of whom agreed to provide support and organize activities to promote trans-Atlantic collaboration between the two biotechnology ecosystems.

“When the Termeer Foundation created the Transatlantic Connections Award it was with the goal of celebrating those emerging life science leaders who represent the drive and innovative thinking necessary to create transformative discoveries in science and medicine. It was also to underscore the idea of the life sciences industry as a global entity driven by collaborations across borders,” said Hans Schikan, board member of Health-Holland and a member of the Henri Termeer Transatlantic Connections Award Steering Committee. “We are proud to announce this year’s recipients of the Henri Termeer Transatlantic Connections Award and look forward to following their career and future accomplishments.”

Beginning with the 2021 Award, the Termeer Foundation and Health-Holland will select two emerging life science entrepreneurs, one in Massachusetts and one in the Netherlands, who are leading innovative biomedical research activities, and whose programs have the potential to strengthen transatlantic relations between the two life science regions. Each year, candidates will be selected based on their initial entrepreneurial success in establishing a life science company that meets certain scientific and financial criteria, exhibit a strong interest in mentoring other young entrepreneurs, and a willingness for additional involvement in Termeer Foundation programs. Awardees also receive Fellowship status within The Termeer Foundation, which includes access to experienced healthcare mentors, networking with fellow peer entrepreneurs, and recognition at the annual Termeer Fellows Celebration. Recipients are invited to spend a week visiting their fellow awardee’s company, and to participate in additional learning, networking and cultural events in that location.

“When we founded Amylyx more than 8 years ago, we knew we had an opportunity to help improve the lives of people affected by neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and Alzheimer’s,” said Justin Klee, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Amylyx. “It was Henri Termeer who told us that when you have positive data in people, it’s no longer an opportunity, but a responsibility. We’re honored to push forward with that responsibility as a global representative of the Termeer Foundation and the values Henri stood for.”

“We’re thrilled to be chosen as honorees for the 2021 Henri Termeer Transatlantic Connections Award, particularly as we reflect on the incredible impact the late Henri Termeer made at the foundational stages of our company,” said Joshua Cohen, Co-CEO, Chairman and Co-Founder of Amylyx. “Our team of industry veterans continues to grow, and we know that our connections to the wonderful team at the Termeer Foundation will further propel us as we aim to launch global products for patients who need better treatment options”

The Greater Boston and Netherlands biotechnology sectors represent two of the world’s prolific global biomedical research centers. Boston and Cambridge is home to approximately 1,400 biotechnology companies; ranging from small, emerging start-ups to larger, more established biopharmaceutical companies. Cambridge’s Kendall Square is the heart of this sector and holds a large concentration of life science companies, with over 120 located within the Square’s small footprint. The highly collaborative Dutch Life Sciences & Health community includes 3,100 R&D life sciences companies, 420 biopharmaceutical companies, 65,000 employees in pharmaceuticals and a 4.7-billion-euro medtech market. Life Sciences businesses in the Netherlands profit from countless opportunities for growth and collaboration.

“The Termeer Transatlantic Connections Award creates a strong link with the Massachusetts biotech ecosystem, which tremendously increases the chances and opportunities for all kind of collaborations,” said Eline van Beest, CEO, Hybridize therapeutics. “I’m very impressed by the Termeer Foundation and eager to listen and learn from their stories, feedback and advice and hope that I will be able to implement and embed their insights”

About The Termeer Foundation

The Termeer Foundation is a nonprofit organization working to connect the world of healthcare innovators until every patient has a cure. We build and support an ever-expanding network of biotech entrepreneurs, CEOs, academics, and other innovators because we believe that helping people succeed will ultimately help their innovations reach patients. Our support includes mentoring, networking, professional development, and financial grants intended to facilitate connections, break down silos, strengthen skillsets and ultimately enable a diverse array of current and future healthcare leaders who bring much-needed solutions to patients. Find out more about The Termeer Foundation and how you can support, engage with, and join our network at www.termeerfoundation.org or on LinkedIn @TermeerFoundation.

Contact:
Erica Mawby-Roche
Termeer Foundation
erica@termeerfoundation.org

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Building a successful biotech company requires more than money and an innovative approach to treat disease. It also requires a leader who is passionate, values-driven and people-focused — willing to go the distance to ensure patients get the life-changing therapies they need.

The Termeer Foundation’s Fellows Program is uniquely focused on this third ingredient, a distinctive program dedicated to supporting the person at the helm of a growing company. Through its multi-faceted curriculum and diverse network of innovators and entrepreneurs, the Termeer Fellows Program provides professional development through specific skills, competency growth, development opportunities, mentorship, executive coaching, and network building for first-time CEOs of early-stage or non-profit biotech and life sciences organizations. These offerings are designed to empower biotech leaders and provide them with the tools, resources, and support they need to build a culture and company that will thrive.

The Fellows Program, which began in 2018, includes a variety of both in-person and virtual events. These sessions cover a diverse range of topics, including personal leadership, team development, DEI initiatives, communication, executive presence, professional presentation, transparency, board management, strategy, problem-solving, change management, decision-making, and human resources-focused topics such as hiring, recruiting, and retention.

To date, 61 fellows have participated in the program, and the feedback has been extremely positive. In a survey of the 2023 Termeer Fellows, 100% said they acquired a variety of resources to continue to refine their development as a leader and that they feel connected to a network of professionals who can guide and assist them.

Because leadership, particularly of an early-stage biotech company, can be a lonely, isolating experience at times, the Fellows Program also helps foster a sense of community and support among the fellows in each class. In the 2023 Termeer Fellows survey, 100% indicated they have a strong professional network of peer biotech founders after participating in the program.

Each year, incoming fellows are selected for the Termeer Fellows Program through a competitive, stepwise process that begins with an open, online application. This selection process reflects the values that lie at the core of the Foundation’s mission and the Fellows Program: responsibility, passion, innovation, humility, and connectivity. (Applications for the 2025 fellowship year will be available online on September 30.)

As Safia Rizvi, CEO of CILA Therapeutics and a 2023 Termeer Fellow, remarked, “The Termeer Fellowship has been a transformative experience for me, both professionally and personally. It offered me the chance to learn from my peers, mentors, foundation members, and the numerous resources provided throughout the program. Most importantly, I have found a community.”