Sam Helgerson to join Symphony Medical, Inc. as Vice President, Research and Development

Life Science Partner recruits former Senior Research Director of Bioscience Research & Development at Baxter Healthcare Corporation.

Life Science Partner announces the recruitment of Sam Helgerson, a senior product development leader, to Symphony Medical, Inc. as the Vice President, Research and Development.   Symphony Medical is a venture-backed development stage company focused on non-destructive therapies directed toward the treatment of cardiac abnormalities.  The Company is currently developing a number of novel technologies including a non-surgical, non-ablative biological therapy for the treatment of post-operative atrial fibrillation, a therapy for congestive heart failure that utilizes unique biomaterials to effect cardiac reconstruction and reversal of cardiac remodeling and a cell-based biologic therapy for the treatment of chronic atrial fibrillation.

In Helgerson’s most recent role at Baxter Healthcare, a global manufacturing company that develops medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology products for the healthcare industry, he was responsible for leading the R&D efforts focused on developing biotherapeutic products for tissue regeneration, especially to promote angiogenesis and neovascularization in both wound healing and bone regeneration applications.  Prior to his numerous leadership roles at Baxter, Helgerson held academic research positions at the University of California and Montana State University.

“Sam has extensive leadership experience in biopharmaceutical product development and a drive and enthusiasm to successfully take products from early-stage discovery through to commercialization,” noted Tom Callaway, MD, founder and president of Life Science Partner.

Helgerson will have the responsibility of providing scientific intelligence and leading the decision process regarding the potential clinical utility, product definition and development, and regulatory strategy of products within the product pipeline.

Helgerson received his Bachelor of Science degree from University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington and his Doctorate degree in Biophysics from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.  He completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the Cardiovascular Research institute at the University of California in San Francisco.