Israeli tumour-beating pioneer lures life sciences VC to C-suite

Israeli medical devices firm Alpha Tau Medical has lured Medstrada CEO Ruth Alon to its c-suite.

The Nasdaq-listed developer of alpha-radiation cancer therapy believes the seasoned senior executive – with stints in venture capital and Silicon Valley consulting – will bring her extensive financial and strategic operations expertise to bear on the Tel Aviv-based firm.

Medstrada is Israel’s first VC to nurture and invest in new food technologies.

Apha’s new director was also the co-founder of Israeli Advanced Technology Industries (IATI), an umbrella organisation of the hi-tech and life sciences industries in Israel, which includes venture capital funds and R&D for multinational corporations.

In addition, Alon founded and chairs Israel Life Science Industry, representing 1,000 Israeli life sciences companies.

Founded in 2016, Alpha Tau focuses on research, development, and the potential commercialisation of its flagship Alpha DaRT treatment of solid tumours.

Alpha DaRT (Diffusing Alpha-emitters Radiation Therapy), is designed to enable alpha-irradiation of solid tumours by intratumoral delivery of radium-224 impregnated sources. When the radium decays, its short-lived ‘daughters’ are released and disperse while emitting high-energy alpha particles to destroy the tumour.

Since the alpha-emitting atoms diffuse only a short distance, Alpha DaRT aims to mainly affect the tumour, and to spare the healthy tissue around it. The technology was initially developed by Prof. Itzhak Kelson and Prof. Yona Keisari from Tel Aviv University.