Legacy Healthcare, a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Switzerland, is dedicated to discovering, developing, and commercializing prescription botanical drugs. With a strong emphasis on leveraging the inherent therapeutic potential of plants, Legacy Health Partners is committed to addressing serious medical conditions while prioritizing patient safety and well-being. Their lead product candidate, CINAINU, showcases this commitment, having demonstrated compelling safety and efficacy in Phase 2/3 clinical trials for alopecia areata, a debilitating autoimmune disorder. This condition, characterized by significant psycho-social impact, particularly affects children, highlighting the urgent need for effective and safe treatments that Legacy Health Partners are striving to deliver.
Mission: Harnessing Nature for Advanced Medicine
The core mission of Legacy Health Partners is to innovate within the biopharmaceutical landscape by focusing on botanical drug development. They believe in the power of nature, specifically the pleiotropic activity and robust safety profiles inherent in certain plants, to create novel prescription medicines. This approach allows Legacy Health Partners to explore therapeutic avenues that complement traditional pharmaceutical methods, potentially offering gentler yet effective treatments for complex medical conditions. Their commitment extends beyond drug development to encompass a holistic approach to healthcare, recognizing the interconnectedness of physical and emotional well-being, especially for patients dealing with chronic conditions like alopecia areata.
Leadership: Guiding Legacy Healthcare Towards Innovation
The strength of Legacy Health Partners lies in its experienced and diverse leadership team, comprised of seasoned professionals from the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and healthcare sectors. This team brings together a wealth of knowledge spanning clinical development, regulatory affairs, commercialization, and financial management, ensuring a well-rounded and strategic approach to achieving the company’s mission.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors provides strategic oversight and governance, guiding Legacy Health Partners in its mission to develop innovative botanical drugs.
Saad Harti
Chairman & CEO
Saad Harti, MBA, is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Legacy Healthcare. Based in Switzerland, Saad’s entrepreneurial journey includes founding Altacare, a global distributor of innovative healthcare products. His extensive experience also includes serving as CFO of HRA Pharma and roles at Arthur Andersen and Glaxo SmithKline. His leadership drives Legacy Health Partners’ vision and strategic direction.
Geert Cauwenbergh
Director
Geert Cauwenbergh, PhD, a Director at Legacy Healthcare, is a Co-Founder and brings extensive biotech and pharmaceutical expertise. He is the Founder of Phases123, a biotech advisory firm, and has held leadership positions at Phio Pharma, RHEI Pharma, and Barrier Therapeutics, alongside senior roles at Johnson & Johnson’s consumer health business and Janssen.
Johanne Barthelet
Director
Johanne Barthelet, MBA, a Co-Founder and Director, contributes significant business acumen to Legacy Healthcare. Her background includes 16 years as CEO of Tremail, a global logistics company, and experience at PWC and Valtech, bringing a diverse skillset in business strategy and operations.
Peter Nicholson
Independent Director
Peter Nicholson, MBA, serves as an Independent Director, offering strategic consulting through ALTEKA. His extensive industry experience includes senior roles at Dermavant (Organon), Galderma, Mentor (Johnson & Johnson), INAMED (Allergan), and Blue Heron Bio (Eurofins Genomics), providing valuable insights into business development and strategy.
Bruce Patsner
Medical Advisor
Bruce Patsner MD, JD, provides medical expertise as an advisor. A cancer surgeon, law Professor, and former Senior Medical Officer at the FDA, his background encompasses clinical trial design, drug approvals, pharmacovigilance, and regulatory affairs. His FDA experience includes approvals of numerous drugs and review of over 50 INDs.
Bernard Lignon
Director
Bernard Lignon brings extensive pharmaceutical experience as a Director. His career includes management roles at Sanofi, Akzo, and Pierre Fabre, with a focus on European and African markets, alongside expertise in pharmaceutical communication and botanical-based treatments.
Michel Chrétienne
Director
Michel Chrétienne, PharmD, a Director and member of the French Academy of Pharmacy, offers deep pharmaceutical expertise. His 30-year career as Pharmaceutical Director at Roussel (Sanofi) and subsequent role at HRA Pharma bring invaluable insights into pharmaceutical development and quality systems.
Management Team
The Management Team is responsible for the day-to-day operations and strategic execution of Legacy Healthcare’s goals.
Saad Harti
CEO
(Same description as above – Saad Harti leads as CEO)
Nadine Vincent
Head of Regulatory
Nadine Vincent, PharmD, Head of Regulatory Affairs, has been with Legacy Healthcare since 2013. Her regulatory expertise was honed over 16 years at HRA Pharma and nearly 30 years at Laboratoire Roussel/Sanofi, focusing on international drug registrations across various therapeutic areas.
Julien Guiraud
Acting COO
Julien Guiraud, MBA, PhD, Acting as Chief Operating Officer, is the founder of Vergio, a life sciences firm partnering with Legacy Healthcare. His background includes a PhD from the University of Amsterdam, a Master’s in Aerospace Engineering, and experience as CEO and CSO at D&A Pharma, specializing in pharmacotherapy development.
William Pralong
Chief Scientific Officer
William Pralong, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, is an Emeritus Professor from EPFL. His 24-year tenure at EPFL included roles as Program Director in Life Sciences and Technology. He previously held positions at Modex Therapeutics and the University of Geneva, bringing extensive scientific and research leadership.
Cécile Bernier
VP Manufacturing
Cécile Bernier, VP Manufacturing Operations & Supply Chain, joined Legacy Healthcare in 2011. Her prior experience includes Formulation Manager at Laboratoire PAB and Production Manager at Laboratoires Paris Dome, bringing expertise in manufacturing and supply chain management within the pharmaceutical sector.
Marco Ruedi
Acting CMO
Marco Ruedi, MD, Acting as Chief Medical Officer, is active in supporting life science startups through organizations like Innosuisse and Biopôle. He founded Axalbion and held a similar role at Alveonix, with prior medical and commercial roles at Sanofi, adding significant clinical and industry experience.
Jiawei Liu
Head of Research
Jiawei Liu, PhD, Head of Research, brings over 20 years of preclinical and clinical research experience in molecular biology, dermatology, and oncology. His background includes positions at top academic and pharmaceutical institutions, along with co-inventorship of multiple patents, demonstrating his research and innovation leadership.
Michel Chrétienne
Director of Quality
(Same description as above – Michel Chrétienne also serves as Director of Quality Pharmaceutical Development)
Chris Cambourg
IT & Technical Director
Chris Cambourg, IT & Technical Director, has around 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, specializing in IT and Technology. His expertise lies in establishing IT policies and systems to support company strategies, ensuring robust technological infrastructure.
Tatiana Rossetti
Director of Clinical Operations
Tatiana Rossetti, Director of Clinical Operations, is a seasoned clinical development professional with 26 years in the pharmaceutical industry. Her expertise includes strategic planning for drug development, global program management, and achieving FDA and EMA marketing approvals, demonstrating strong clinical operational leadership.
Emmanuel Baert
Country Manager France
Emmanuel Baert, Country Manager France, has nearly 25 years of pharmaceutical experience, particularly in rare diseases. His roles include managing operations in France for LFB Biomedicaments and Menarini Hospital, and launching activities in Latin America, focusing on European market access and pre-launch strategies.
Tadafumi Shiiba
Country Manager Japan
Tadafumi Shiiba, Country Manager Japan, General Manager of Legacy Healthcare KK, has over 20 years in medical corporations. His experience includes managing clinical trials in Japan, demonstrating his expertise in the Japanese market.
Scientific Team: Leading Experts in Dermatology and Botanical Research
Legacy Health Partners collaborates with a network of leading scientific experts and principal investigators, further strengthening its commitment to scientific rigor and innovation in botanical drug development.
Principal Investigators
These principal investigators are key collaborators in Legacy Healthcare’s clinical research endeavors, bringing their expertise to the forefront of botanical drug development.
Ulrike Blume-Peytavi
Principal Investigator (Germany)
Ulrike Blume-Peytavi, MD, Principal Investigator, is affiliated with Charité University Berlin, Germany, bringing her expertise in dermatology and clinical research to Legacy Healthcare’s trials.
Bianca Maria Piraccini
Clinical Expert (Italy)
Bianca Maria Piraccini, a recognized Clinical Expert from the University of Bologna, Italy, contributes her specialized knowledge in dermatology to Legacy Healthcare’s clinical programs.
Yasuyuki Kojima
Principal Investigator (Japan)
Yasuyuki Kojima, MD, PhD, Principal Investigator from St Marianna University, Kanagawa, Japan, provides key clinical research leadership within Japan for Legacy Health Partners.
Juhee Cho
Principal Investigator (USA, South Korea)
Juhee Cho, PhD, Principal Investigator, associated with Samsung Medical Center, South Korea, and with affiliations in the USA, provides international clinical research expertise for Legacy Healthcare.
Khalil Zaman
Principal Investigator (Switzerland)
Khalil Zaman, MD, PhD, Principal Investigator from CHUV Lausanne, Switzerland, contributes local expertise and clinical research leadership within Legacy Healthcare’s home country.
Leorey N. Saligan
Principal Investigator (USA)
Leorey N. Saligan, PhD, RN, Principal Investigator from NIH Bethesda, MD, USA, brings his research expertise and clinical insights from the National Institutes of Health to Legacy Healthcare’s projects.
Scientific Advisors
Scientific Advisors provide invaluable guidance and expertise, shaping Legacy Healthcare’s research and development strategies.
Kurt Hostettman
Scientific Advisor (Switzerland)
Kurt Hostettman, PhD, Scientific Advisor based in Switzerland, provides expert guidance in botanical research and drug development, leveraging his extensive scientific background.
Bruno David
Scientific Advisor (France)
Bruno David, PhD, Scientific Advisor from France, contributes his scientific expertise to Legacy Healthcare, further strengthening their botanical drug development programs.
Latest News & Events
Stay informed about Legacy Health Partners’ progress through their recent news and event highlights, showcasing their active engagement in the healthcare and pharmaceutical community.
Dec 2024 Legacy to Attend JP Morgan Healthcare Conference Epalinges, Switzerland – Participation in a key industry event.
Dec 2024 Legacy Healthcare Appoints Peter Nicholson to Board of Directors Epalinges, Switzerland – Strengthening leadership with industry veteran.
Nov 2024 JAAD Review Article Highlights Alopecia Areata Patient Preference for Topical Treatments with Strong Efficacy and Safety Profile Epalinges, Switzerland – Publication in a prestigious dermatology journal.
Sep 2024 Legacy Healthcare Presents RAAINBOW Data at Barcelona Hair Meeting Barcelona, Spain – Sharing clinical trial data at a major dermatology conference.
Sep 2024 Legacy Healthcare Recognizes Alopecia Areata Awareness Month Epalinges, Switzerland – Raising awareness for alopecia areata.
May 2024 Legacy Healthcare presents RAIINBOW Data at AEDV Meeting Madrid, Spain – Presenting research findings at a European dermatology meeting.
May 2024 Legacy Healthcare Presents RAAINBOW Data at ESPD Meeting Kosice, Slovakia – Focusing on pediatric dermatology research.
Apr 2024 Legacy Healthcare Presents RAAINBOW Data at World Congress for Hair Research Dallas, US – Global presentation of hair research data.
Mar 2024 Legacy Healthcare Presents RAAINBOW Data at AAD Meeting San Diego, US – Showcasing data at a leading US dermatology meeting.
Dec 2023 Legacy Healthcare Presents RAAINBOW Data at JDP Meeting Paris, France – Presenting research at a French dermatology meeting.
Oct 2023 RAIINBOW Data Selected as Late Breaking Abstract at EADV Meeting Berlin, Germany – Recognition of significant research at a major European congress.
Aug 2023 Cinainu Featured in Drug Discovery & Development Epalinges, Switzerland – Product recognition in a key industry publication.
Jul 2023 Legacy Healthcare CEO Saad Harti Featured on Pharmaphorum Podcast Epalinges, Switzerland – Leadership insights shared on a pharmaceutical industry platform.
Jan 2023 Legacy Healthcare Reports Successful Outcome of Phase 2/3 Study in Children and Adolescents with Alopecia Areata Epalinges, Switzerland – Major milestone: positive clinical trial results for CINAINU.
Conclusion: Partnering for a Legacy of Health Innovation
Legacy Health Partners, through Legacy Healthcare, is forging a path in biopharmaceutical innovation, driven by a commitment to botanical drug development and a patient-centric approach. Their experienced leadership, dedicated scientific team, and promising lead product candidate, CINAINU, position them as a rising force in addressing unmet medical needs. As they continue to advance their research and expand their network of legacy health partners, Legacy Healthcare is poised to make a significant and lasting contribution to global healthcare.
