Oncomfort, the leader in Digital Sedation^TM for relieving patients’ pain and anxiety without medication, is pleased to announce the appointment of Karl Schweitzer as non-executive Director and Chairman of the Board. With this appointment, Oncomfort brings on board the experienced leadership to guide the organisation in its global expansion and significant knowledge for the realization of the company’s strategy in Digital Sedation™

Oncomfort, Belgian start-up innovating Digital Sedation^TM for relieving patients’ pain and anxiety using clinically proven therapeutic sessions in Virtual Reality, announces the appointment of Karl Schweitzer, representative of Transform Medical, as its non-executive Chairman and Director, effective from January 2022.

Karl replaces Tanja Dowe, representative of Debiopharm Innovation Fund, who endorsed the role of Chairwoman of Oncomfort since September 2020 following the successful A-Round of Oncomfort, co-led by Debiopharm Innovation Fund and Credit Mutuel Innovation with support of Wallonia Investment and Growth. Tanja has led Oncomfort through the transformation into a scale-up-ready organisation and prepared the handover to domain-experienced board leadership, which comes with the appointment of Karl. 

Karl has built a significant experience as business leader in medical device in the fields of neurology and cardiology where he launched several industry-firsts. From 1991 till 2013, he held multiple global leadership functions in different international companies such as Physio-Control, Boston Scientific and Medtronic. From 2014 onwards, Karl moved into entrepreneurial innovation in medtech start-ups in neuromodulation as CEO of EBS Technologies, President International of Autonomic Technologies and co-founder and CEO of Neuromodtronic. He built a strong track record as advisor, executive and fundraising support. Karl currently holds director and chairman positions in Biomodex and Neuromodtronic. He also serves as strategic advisor to Novostia. 

“I am very enthusiastic about joining Oncomfort”, says Karl Schweitzer, Chairman of Oncomfort. “The company’s unique technology in digital sedation not only opens a new era in anxiety and pain management but also provides a long sought-for solution of reducing the use of opioids, improving patients’ lives while at the same time saving health care cost.”

“I am excited to welcome Karl to take over the leadership of Oncomfort’s board”, Tanja Dowe, CEO of Debiopharm Innovation Fund explains “strengthening the board was one of the key goals on our roadmap to global success – with Karl we have achieved this beyond expectations”.

We are extremely pleased with the appointment of Karl as Chairman of our board”, says Mario Huyghe, CEO of Oncomfort. “Karl brings to Oncomfort the right knowledge, experience and network for realizing the global upscaling of Oncomfort with the Oncomfort Sedakit™ for Digital Sedation™. Karl joining Oncomfort strengthens the innovation capabilities of Oncomfort with the addition of scientific and business insights and network that will enable Oncomfort to introduce significant breakthrough capabilities in drugfree pain and anxiety management.”