Celgene and Lyfebulb Partner on ‘Innovation Challenge’ for Entrepreneurs Affected by MS

Lyfebulb announced that it has joined with Celgene in launching an innovation challenge for entrepreneurs with or impacted by multiple sclerosis (MS) to develop user-driven solutions that might make daily life a little easier for patients.

The initiative, “Addressing Unmet Needs in MS: An Innovation Challenge,” will be open to businesspeople affected by MS —either as a patient, a loved one, or a support partner — working to develop ways of addressing unmet needs in MS.

Rules and eligibility criteria will be announced in early 2019, a press release states.

“As part of our mission to reduce the burden of living with chronic diseases, we are thrilled to expand our focus into MS in conjunction with Celgene,” Karin Hehenberger, founder and CEO of Lyfebulb, said in the release.

MS, a debilitating and progressive disease, can significant impact a patient’s quality of life.

“People living with multiple sclerosis and their caregivers possess a deep understanding of the everyday challenges of living with a chronic disease, giving them unique insight into creative, achievable solutions,” said Terrie Curran, president of inflammation and immunology at Celegene.

The initiative is intended to increase awareness about MS, stimulate discussion, and highlight an entrepreneur’s ideas and efforts to develop new patient-centric solutions.

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“We look forward to engaging deeply with the MS community to better understand and elucidate their frustrations confronted in daily life. Importantly, we are eager to highlight those patient entrepreneurs whose solutions may really benefit the lives of the millions of MS patients,” Hehenberger said.

Once the challenge is underway, finalists will be chosen and invited to present their work at an “Addressing Unmet Needs in MS: An Innovation Challenge” event hosted by Celgene in  Summit, New Jersey. There, a panel of judges composed of business leaders, industry experts, and healthcare professionals will judge presentations.

Those whose solutions are thought most impactful and pioneering will be awarded a cash prize.

“By launching this innovation challenge with Lyfebulb, Celgene aims to reinforce the value of patient-centric innovation for multiple sclerosis by providing support to help progress the ideas of patient entrepreneurs,” Curran said.

Lyfebulb, a patient empowerment platform, has launched similar challenges for patient-innovators in such chronic disease areas as inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, and diabetes.