Zikria Saif is rising as a biotech exec: As co-founder and CEO of early-stage Valfard Therapeutics, he’s focused on treating chronic wounds, specifically diabetic foot ulcers. But the agenda here is about much more than just entrepreneurial success. It’s about connecting on a personal level with the struggles of patients. “As someone who thrives on uncovering the root cause of problems and creating meaningful solutions, I am driven by an innate desire to serve others,” he says.

The word valfard means “welfare” in Swedish, a perfect reflection of the company’s mission: To serve patients. As a biotech startup, the company’s lead therapy promotes true tissue healing rather than symptom management. The tech arose directly from Saif’s experience at Drexel: He contributed to four pending patents while on co-op and leveraged the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem to advance Valfard to the preclinical stage. The company already has successfully raised pre-seed funding through competitive innovation grants and fundings. It has filed multiple provisional patents and was one of 10 companies selected out of hundreds of regional companies in the HiveBio accelerator program. Valfard has also built a strong scientific and commercial advisory team. Saif’s work toward his degree laid the groundwork for all of this. “I stepped in as an international student, with just a whole lot of ambition but no real direction,” he says. He knew he wanted to do research, to understand things at a molecular level in a way that would have meaningful impact. Drexel helped him navigate a path, with co-op experiences that helped him see how research could actively contribute to the betterment of human lives. “Drexel gave me an opportunity to not just explore, but contribute,” he says. “As a result, I was able to step into the world of entrepreneurship, where I felt ready to take on the most challenging problems.”