HealthCap senior advisor Bengt Samuelsson has passed away at the age of 90

Professor Bengt Samuelsson became an advisor to HealthCap at the firm´s inception in 1996 and stayed on his post the remainder of his life. Bengt provided invaluable advice and strategic insights to our firm. Bengt was always generous with time and made himself available when we needed his input. During scientific due diligence work, if he didn´t have personal expertise, he almost certainly knew who would, and a call from Bengt opened most doors. He is fondly remembered.

Bengt earned the Nobel Prize in 1982 for his systematic elucidation of the biochemistry of prostaglandins, a group of signaling substances involved in many biological functions such as e.g. blood pressure regulation, hemostasis and the immune system. His discoveries have laid the foundation for a number of approved pharmaceuticals against e.g. glaucoma, pain, inflammation and allergy.

Bengt served as the President of the Karolinska Institutet between 1983-1995 and as the Chairman of the Nobel Foundation from 1993-2005. Further, Bengt served as a director of many biotech companies, several big pharmaceutical companies and other listed blue chips.

Bengt Samuelsson was a giant upon who´s shoulders many scientists have stood, both in academia and industry. His legacy will live on.