The coolest health innovation – from local to global success
In our latest spotlight features, we focus on market-leading health industry innovators from our city and region who joined the recent West Yorkshire healthtech trade mission to the US. We hear how they’ve achieved huge success, how they’re benefiting people around the world and about their insights into the US healthcare markets following the recent trip. In part one, we hear from a local company whose innovations are helping millions of people across the UK and beyond, to manage the side effects one of the most prevalent and hardest health challenges of our time: cancer.
Cooling down cancer trauma
Who’d have thought a business with expertise in cooling and refrigeration would evolve into something which radically reduces the trauma linked to cancer treatments, which millions of people around the world experience?
But, a husband’s desire to prevent his wife from suffering through the trauma of chemotherapy-induced hair loss drove him to develop a scalp cooling system to minimize chemotherapy-induced hair loss for cancer patients and contribute to their quality of life.
For people undergoing cancer treatment, extra stress, suffering and trauma can arise because of the side effects of those treatments.
Hair loss as a side effect of chemotherapy is perhaps the most well-known and certainly the most outwardly visible and public.
Today, West Yorkshire-based Paxman Scalp Cooling are global leaders in cryotherapy-based chemotherapy side effect management. That is, minimising chemotherapy-induced hair loss, which is widely recognised as one of the most traumatic side effects associated with cancer treatment.
For those undergoing chemotherapy, the company’s cooling devices reduce the therapy’s toxic effect on hair follicle cells, thus helping reduce hair loss.
Managing this side effect contributes enormously to a person’s treatment experience, ongoing recovery and quicker return to work.
But the cooling innovation doesn’t stop there. Paxman is also breaking new ground in tackling another debilitating chemotherapy side effect: progressive and often irreversible pain or sensitivity in the hands and feet, also known as chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Around 30 to 40 per cent of people receiving chemotherapy for cancer experience CIPN which can lead to their cancer treatment being delayed or even discontinued.
Working with the National University of Singapore and in the final stages of clinical trials across the USA, Paxman’s new medical cooling compression device could soon be the solution for millions of people, preventing CIPN.
Growing and investing in West Yorkshire
Chief Executive Officer Richard Paxman OBE said: “My family were all born and raised in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, so the town was the natural location for our business, with the first ever Paxman scalp cooling device being installed at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary where my mum was treated for breast cancer.”
West Yorkshire is well-known for innovation and high-tech skills and its healthtech sector is internationally leading.
Paxman has invested significantly in the region over the past five years, attracting more than £10 million of foreign direct investment.
“We are more committed than ever before in increasing our presence and investment locally,” said Richard. “We are also providing further employment growth and additional investment in research and development with the University of Huddersfield and the University of Leeds.”
On behalf of West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Richard also chairs the West Yorkshire Healthtech Cluster – a network of more than 30 members from across the region. This is a valued and diverse network sharing intelligence, ideas, opportunities and mutual support towards developing a unified approach to overcoming barriers to healthtech innovation.
Going global
“I’m proud to lead a company that is impacting millions of people around the world, but we don’t rest on our laurels. We are continually evaluating our products to learn and improve them,” added Richard.
Paxman has extensive, published peer-reviewed data using its scalp cooling systems and open and active studies, advancing their knowledge with a view to improve efficacy and access globally.
Their extensive expertise in design, development, manufacture, regulatory approval, along with experience of commercialising medical cooling devices means the company is perfectly placed to roll out this technology to its existing and growing customer base throughout the world.
With an established leadership position in the Scalp Cooling sector, Paxman manufacture and supply the Paxman Scalp Cooling System (PSCS) to over 60 markets internationally.
Advantages and advice – the US market
“I was proud to join Mayor Tracy Brabin and partners on the recent West Yorkshire trade mission to the USA to further shine a spotlight on the enormous opportunities present within the transatlantic marketplace. It allows us to build on the healthtech innovation available in our region and share knowledge and ideas via the new healthtech bridge” said Richard.
“The USA is an incredibly exciting market. It’s the largest healthcare market in the world, with a fantastic opportunity – but to health industry innovators I’d say: be prepared to be patient, things take time so ensure you have the resourcing to make it a success.
“Also be prepared to spend time in the market developing relationships and a commercialisation strategy. This is crucial. Of course, virtual platforms may support this somewhat but building relationships face-to-face is important, so I urge you to get on a plane, learn about the market, and develop it. There is so much resource out there to support your company.
“Department for Business and Trade has continued to be a support throughout our journey both in the USA and globally, we are incredibly grateful as well as organisations like Medilink and ABHI both offering supportive programmes.
“Understanding the regulatory path is critical. It is important to work with a good partner to find the best, most cost-effective approach to the market.
“I also strongly suggest you look at market access from a reimbursement perspective too. How will the providers get paid and how will you get paid? This should ideally be handled at the same time as your regulatory path to ensure a strong start – something we learnt the hard way.”
Strong and growing
Paxman Scalp Cooling has experienced successful market growth over the last several years, with the company achieving record sales and its best year to date in 2023
And Richard believes the future continues to look strong.
“The recent launch of the HealthTech Strategy for West Yorkshire and the fact that we are surrounded by some of the best higher education institutions in the north means we have outstanding opportunities for research and development, business growth, skills development and job creation. That’s great for those whom our products are helping, great for business and great for our region’s economy.”
Discover more about Health Innovation Leeds:
Health Innovation Leeds represents the city’s internationally-renowned health and care research and innovation. It is supported by Leeds Academic Health Partnership, one of the biggest partnerships of its kind in the UK. Its members work together to solve the city’s hardest health challenges.
