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Accelerating pharma-digital health partnerships
PharmStars is the pharma-focused accelerator for digital health startups, dedicated to driving digital health adoption to improve patient outcomes. We educate and mentor digital health startups seeking engagement with pharma and biotech firms. We are supported by our pharma members who are committed to working with startups that graduate from our accelerator.
PharmStars mission is to facilitate and accelerate successful partnerships between digital health startups and pharma, leading to greater success for each and faster adoption of digital health to improve patient outcomes.
Digital health has the potential to transform the pharmaceutical industry and the patient experience. Digital health and pharma firms are eager to engage with one another. Yet both have found it challenging to create successful partnerships.
PharmStars is a novel digital health accelerator aimed at bridging the pharma-startup gap to drive greater adoption of digital health. Our 10-week accelerator program is designed to prepare startups for more productive engagements with pharma by teaching them what they need to know. The program culminates with the Showcase Event. Startups present their solutions to our pharma members and then have the opportunity to meet individually with them.
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Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide1 and the second leading cause of death in the US2. Digital health innovations have the potential to transform almost all aspects of oncology.
Cancer drug discovery and development are slow and resource intensive. Cutting-edge digital technology could assist in rapidly identifying or evaluating cancer targets and novel drug candidates in the discovery stage. Digital tools could be used to overcome the challenges associated with clinical trial recruitment and retention and to enhance trial design and execution.
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Current modes of cancer care are complex and can be physically, intellectually, and emotionally taxing for patients and care partners. Digital solutions have the potential to improve each step of a patient’s cancer experience: prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment selection, care delivery, follow-up, and monitoring. In addition, clinicians could benefit from digital technologies that improve patient navigation and increase access to research about new therapies. Digital innovation holds out the promise of reducing the burdens of, improving the outcomes from, and closing disparities in cancer care.
The Spring 2024 PharmStars’ cohort theme is “Digital Innovations in Oncology.” We invite applications from startups with digital innovations relating to any type of cancer. Areas of interest include but are not limited to:
Digital health startups with a product or prototype connected to our theme are invited to apply by February 1, 2024. Please refer to the Program Terms for details and program requirements.
January 2
February 1
March 20
April 2 - 3
April 8 - May 30
June 2024
The centerpiece of the PharmStars accelerator is PharmaU: a unique, comprehensive educational program. Its three components are a curriculum for startups, mentoring for startups, and "Executive Ed" courses for pharma. PharmaU’s courses are developed and led by PharmStars’ experienced team of former pharma executives with deep expertise in digital health, innovation, and startups.
Courses for startups about how to engage pharma successfully include topics such as:
Individualized coaching from our PharmStars staff on how startups can successfully engage pharma. We guide startups through the process, from building a compelling value proposition through crafting an effective pitch.
Workshops and seminars for pharma members, providing insight into how to successfully implement digital health programs and partnerships.
