Beyond Barriers: Cheryl Ball on Shaping Lantheus' Future and Championing Women in Science
As the leading radiopharmaceutical-focused company committed to enabling clinicians to Find, Fight and Follow disease to deliver better patient outcomes, Lantheus is dedicated to advancing precision medicine for patients.??
In an insightful Q&A inspired by this year’s International Day of Women and Girl in Science, Cheryl Ball, SVP of Strategy at Lantheus, delves into the company's culture and Purpose, underscoring the transformative potential of radiopharmaceuticals in cancer therapies. Touching on her strategic role, Lantheus' pipeline, and the intersection of business and science, she addresses the advancement of women in the field. Cheryl advocates for women in science, encouraging girls to explore the field, and stressing the importance of mentorship.??
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Q: What aspects of the company culture, purpose, or your role do you find most fulfilling??
A: Lantheus brings unique experience in the radiopharmaceutical sector that has the potential to drive important advances in precision medicine for cancer patients.?Our Purpose is to Find, Fight and Follow disease to deliver better patient outcomes – and I believe that the radiopharmaceutical modality has potential to offer safer and more effective cancer therapies, precisely targeted to a patient’s disease, than other treatment modalities. In my role, I’ve had the opportunity to help drive the strategic planning and business development search, evaluation and diligence processes focused on shaping Lantheus’ leadership in the field.?
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Q: What are some key responsibilities and priorities in your role at Lantheus??
A: I work closely with the Executive Team on how we shape our strategy and invest in our future by leading our strategic planning, portfolio governance, and BD search, evaluation and due diligence processes. In that role, I get to stay on top of developments in the radiopharmaceutical field and the options we have available to us, and how we can position ourselves for success while facilitating investment in innovative assets that offer differentiated value for patients.?
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Q: Which developments in our pipeline most excite you??
A: It’s almost easier to ask what I’m not excited about! We have some great studies exploring broader use of PSMA diagnostics – and potentially therapeutics – in additional populations, including outside of prostate cancer. We are exploring studies that combine radiotherapeutics with other modalities that have potential for synthetic lethality. And then I’m super excited about what we can do with our new partnership with Perspective Therapeutics. They have some great technologies that can be used to rationally design radiopharmaceuticals to improve therapeutic index – so we can bring more payload directly to tumors, retain it on tumors while the payload is active, and protect normal tissues from damage.??
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Q: While you're not a scientist yourself, how do you see the intersection of various fields, including non-scientific ones, in contributing to the advancement of women in science??
A: The biopharmaceutical industry is incredibly complex, and I believe that the most successful companies combine great science with great business. As a business leader, I need to apply discernment to the science to identify and understand the best opportunities for investment, and I need to be able to communicate and collaborate with scientists who can dig deeper, drive further and realize the scientific potential of new products and technologies. By offering a strong voice for science in the service of driving differentiated value to patients and the companies that serve them, and engaging equally and openly with the best scientists, I hope to have an impact on the advancement of women in science. I also strive to act as a resource to women scientists who wish to expand their careers by going deeper into the business side of pharmaceuticals.?
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Q: Have you encountered any specific challenges or biases that women in science face, and how have you sought to address them??
A: I see two challenges that women in science face, and these are common challenges that women in business face. And these are presenting ourselves and communicating with confidence and power in an environment that is not often open and ready to hear from us. Being seen and heard takes focus, work and persistence – what and how we communicate makes a difference, not just the fundamentals. I do two things: in addition to putting in the work myself for myself, I create space for women to speak and mentor women whom I work with on these qualities. I’ve also found that organizations like Women In Bio, the Healthcare Business Women’s Association, and Women in Science all provide great opportunities for mentoring, skill building and growth in a supportive learning environment.?
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Q: In your view, how can we encourage young girls to develop an interest in science from an early age, irrespective of whether they choose a scientific career later on??
A: By showing them great examples of women who’ve had an impact in science, by supporting their curiosity, learning and engagement, and by investing our time and expertise in organizations that create opportunities for girls to experiment and play in the world of science.?
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Q: As we celebrate the International Day of Women & Girls in Science, what message or advice would you like to convey to those aspiring to make a difference in this field??
A: Network and rely upon each other. Women and girls are fantastic at supporting one another when they set out to do so.?
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#InnovationSpotlight #WomenInScience #LantheusLeadership #FindFightFollow?#WomenInScience #IDWGIS?
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