Astellas Oncology Announces Grand Prize Winner in Annual C3 Prize to Cultivate Innovation in Cancer Care Beyond Medicine

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Aug 08, 2022, 08:00 ET

- Winner developed app to empower cancer patients after experience as a cancer caregiver -

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas Pharma US, Inc. ("Astellas") today announced the winner of the sixth annual C³ (Changing Cancer Care) Prize, a global challenge that funds and advances the best non-treatment ideas to improve cancer care for patients, caregivers and the broader oncology community. Aimee DeGolyer, Founder & CEO of REPROSENT, based in Los Gatos, California, was chosen as the 2022 Grand Prize winner and will receive a $100,000 grant plus additional resources and hands-on support.

"In alignment with Astellas' patient-centric approach focused on supporting innovative health solutions beyond medicine through a deep understanding of the patient experience, REPROSENT honors the perspective and needs of patients with an outcomes-based digital app that complements in-person touchpoints," said Anthony Yanni, M.D., senior vice president and global head of Patient Centricity, Astellas. "We are honored to fuel this year's winning idea, which is based on real-world experience and has the potential to meaningfully help people living with cancer."

After losing her father in 2020 to a cancer immunotherapy adverse reaction, DeGolyer founded REPROSENT and developed a mobile app to help cancer patients track their own symptom data, enabling them to have greater control in their treatment. The app aims to reduce clinical team burden, drive deeper understanding of the patient's daily data and improve outcomes.

"Cancer patients need better inclusion in their care, and our app and reports inform clinical conversations to manage what is most important - the patient's lived experience," said DeGolyer. "Patients or their caregivers can log symptoms in the app daily and provide the data to their healthcare providers to help them make more informed decisions tailored to the patient."

With the funds from the C³ Prize, REPROSENT will be able to gather more data, faster, and scale access to more patients in the cancer community.

"The Astellas Oncology C³ Prize gives people with a passion for healthcare innovation an opportunity to pursue ideas and solutions that may make a difference in the lives of people living with cancer, their loved ones and those who care for them," said Phil Tennant, senior vice president and head of Oncology Business Unit, Astellas. "This year's winner stood out for the creative, patient-centric digital app to help improve the cancer patient journey through better and more accurate communication with their care team."

A panel of volunteer judges who are leaders in innovation, healthcare and business selected the Grand Prize winner. Judges included: Steven Collens, CEO, MATTER; Johanna DeYoung, managing director, Slalom; Christy Leonard, caregiver and author; and Dr. Omolola Salako, 2020 C³ Prize Grand Prize winner, Founder and CEO, Oncopadi.

This year's challenge awarded a Grand Prize of $100,000. Along with the funding, the winner will also receive hands-on support, expertise and resources from Slalom, a global consulting firm focused on strategy, technology and business transformation, and a yearlong complimentary membership to MATTER, the premier healthcare incubator and innovation hub.

About Astellas

Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are promoting the Focus Area Approach that is designed to identify opportunities for the continuous creation of new drugs to address diseases with high unmet medical needs by focusing on Biology and Modality. Furthermore, we are also looking beyond our foundational Rx focus to create Rx+^® healthcare solutions that combine our expertise and knowledge with cutting-edge technology in different fields of external partners. Through these efforts, Astellas stands on the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into value for patients. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.astellas.com/en.

About the Astellas Oncology C³ Prize

The Astellas Oncology C³ Prize, launched in 2016, is a global challenge that aims to address the complexities of the cancer journey by funding the best ideas in cancer care beyond medicine. The C³ Prize sparks innovative developments in cancer care, tackling cancer challenges by awarding the winners with prize money and connecting them with resources and support. The C³ Prize directly reflects the mission of Astellas Oncology: striving to make every day better for those impacted by cancer. Astellas maintains no ownership in the ventures funded by the C³ Prize.

About MATTER

At MATTER, we believe collaboration is the best way to improve healthcare. The MATTER collaborative includes more than 700 current and alumni startups from around the world, working together with dozens of hospitals and health systems, universities and industry-leading companies to build the future of healthcare. Together we are accelerating innovation, advancing care and improving lives. For more information, visit matter.health and follow @MATTERhealth.

About Slalom

Slalom is a global consulting firm focused on strategy, technology, and business transformation. In 43 markets around the world, Slalom's teams have autonomy to move fast and do what's right. They are backed by regional innovation hubs, a global culture of collaboration, and partnerships with the world's top technology providers. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Seattle, Slalom has organically grown to over 12,500 employees. Slalom has been named to multiple Fortune awards, including 100 Best Companies to Work For seven years running, and is regularly recognized by employees as a best place to work. Learn more at slalom.com.

SOURCE Astellas Pharma US, Inc.