Paul Romness on Venture Philanthropy and the Race to Cure Pediatric Cancer

In this powerful episode of Money to Give, Rick Peck sits down with Paul Romness, President and CEO of OS Therapies, a clinical-stage biotech company tackling one of the most heartbreaking challenges in medicine: osteosarcoma, a rare pediatric bone cancer. With a therapy originally developed at the University of Pennsylvania, Paul and his team are using an innovative immune-boosting approach that is already showing promise in both human and canine trials. What makes OS Therapies particularly inspiring is its partnership with the nonprofit sector. Seven mission-driven organizations have stepped up to fund OS’s research through a venture philanthropy model, accelerating new treatments while staying true to their charitable missions. “If the trial had failed,” Paul says, “they still would’ve fulfilled their mission of advancing research. But the good news is, it’s working.” Rick and Paul explore the hope, science, and heart behind this game-changing model of nonprofit impact and medical innovation. Key Takeaways: OS Therapies is pioneering a HER2-targeted immunotherapy for osteosarcoma with minimal side effects and strong early results. The treatment has already received conditional USDA approval for dogs and is progressing through FDA trials for children. Nonprofits are playing a catalytic role by investing in translational research and accelerating therapies to market. The PBS documentary Shelter Me: Cancer Pioneers shares the moving story of OS Therapies' science and patients—human and canine. Resources & Links: OS Therapies Website :https://ostherapies.com/ PBS Documentary: Shelter Me: Cancer Pioneers – Watch here Connect with Paul Romness: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-romness-97a83886/