+Larry Page, Co-Founder of Google, has announced the creation of a new company, Calico. This company will be focusing on health and well-being, in particular the challenge of aging and associated diseases. He mentioned this in a post on his google+ page. He mentioned that Arthur D. Levinson, Chairman and former CEO of Genentech and Chairman of Apple, will be Chief Executive Officer and a founding investor.
Larry believes that there is tremendous potential for technology more generally to improve people’s lives. He also says that people should not be surprised if Google invests in projects that seem strange or speculative compared with its existing Internet businesses. But he urges us to remember that new investments like this are very small by comparison to the company’s core business.
In the subsequent press release, Larry says that “Illness and aging affect all our families. With some longer term, moonshot thinking around healthcare and biotechnology, I believe we can improve millions of lives. It’s impossible to imagine anyone better than Art—one of the leading scientists, entrepreneurs and CEOs of our generation—to take this new venture forward.” Art said: “I’ve devoted much of my life to science and technology, with the goal of improving human health. Larry’s focus on outsized improvements has inspired me, and I’m tremendously excited about what’s next.”
Art tells us in another Google+ post that Calico stands for “California Life Company,” and he is honored and incredibly enthusiastic about this opportunity, and eager to get started.
TheNextweb reports that Calico is certainly a personal issue for Page, given his health issues that he recently announced surrounding his vocal-cord nerve damage he experienced 14 years ago.
Commenting on Art’s new role, Franz Humer, Chairman of Hoffmann-La Roche, said: “Art’s track record at Genentech has been exemplary, and we see an interesting potential for our companies to work together going forward. We’re delighted he’ll stay on our board.”
Tim Cook, Chief Executive Officer of Apple, said: “For too many of our friends and family, life has been cut short or the quality of their life is too often lacking. Art is one of the crazy ones who thinks it doesn’t have to be this way. There is no one better suited to lead this mission and I am excited to see the results.”
