How AI is Changing Treatment for Food Allergies with Ukko CEO Anat Binur

Decoding Healthcare Innovation

In this episode you will discover:

• The food allergy and treatment landscape
• Protein design opening a new landscape of treatment possibilities
• Shifting from investing to the operational side of startups and navigating the world of biotech as a female CEO

Key Takeaways:

• The treatment for food allergy is difficult because it requires a balancing act between efficacy and safety. This is because food proteins that are needed to train the body to reduce its allergic reactions are often also the cause of allergic reactions.
• Through breakthroughs in protein design, Ukko has shown that it is possible to isolate the two parts of a protein and create a new one that can be used for more effective and safer immunotherapy, essentially removing the harmful part of the protein and keeping the part that trains your body to reduce its allergic reaction.
• The best thing that VCs can do is to experience the operational side, it makes you a much better VC on so many levels. It shifts your empathy and your understanding of what the CEO is going through. If you make the move from VC to founder, you will have great tools that will also make you a better fundraiser.

“I think that the best thing VCs can actually do is experience the operating side. There's something about understanding the roller coaster, the experience, the day to day of this person who just walked into your room - this is their blood, sweat and tears.” - Anat Binur

Resources:

Website: https://www.ukko.us/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anatbinur/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/abinur

Learn more from Carrie and Rebecca:

Healthcare Insights (a monthly deep dive into specific topics for innovators): https://nixongwiltlaw.com/healthcare-insights

Telehealth/Virtual Care Mgmt Update (a biweekly LinkedIn newsletter tracking legal and policy changes across the nation): https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/telehealth-virtual-care-update-6901900767960068096/

Website: https://nixongwiltlaw.com/

Carrie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrienixon/

Rebecca on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccagwilt/

NGL on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nixon-gwilt-law/