Plenary Sessions
Wednesday, May 16
8:45 AM - 9:45 AM
OPENING PLENARY SESSION: Licensing to Solve the Innovation Gap
These are unprecedented times with no more easy solutions. What has worked in the past either seems to no longer be effective, or is clearly broken. Never has the need for innovation been greater, and never has the competition for quality of assets been fiercer. At the same time, gaps in funding and economic pressures have contributed to the decline in the inventory of quality opportunities. Or is this not the case? What is the state of innovation in the life sciences today? Where do we look for the next big ideas? How should we work to create value and unmet needs? Join our panel of thought leaders and weigh in with your own thoughts and ideas.
Moderator:
Mark Nawacki, VP Business & Corporate Development, Paladin Labs Inc.
Speakers:
Daniel Behr, Senior Vice President, Access BridgeGap Ventures
Jeff Elton, Managing Director, Accenture
Robert S. Langer, David H. Koch Institute Professor, MIT
Wednesday, May 16
12:30 PM - 1:45 PM
LUNCHEON & KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Licensing as a Source of Innovation
David Meeker
President & CEO
Genzyme
Genzyme President & CEO, David Meeker, M.D., will describe how Genzyme has leveraged licensing activities and strategic collaborations to expand its commercialized products and services, to supplement its product pipeline, and to access complementary research, technology and development capabilities. An undisputed leader in lysosomal storage disorders and rare diseases broadly, Genzyme has also expanded the diversity of its product and pipeline portfolio as it has searched for novel therapeutics with the potential to meet unmet or underserved medical needs. Partnering has been a core component of Genzyme's scientific and commercial activities, evidenced by partnerships with the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine for Fabry disease treatment, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. for the lysosomal storage disorder MPS I (Mucopolysaccharidosis I), Cambridge Antibody Technology for antibody therapies, and Kirin Brewing Co., Ltd. for antibody development. Dr. Meeker will describe the Genzyme approach and criteria employed when evaluating potential partnerships, and will tackle the question of how Genzyme has used licensing to help solve the innovation gap.
Thursday, May 17
8:45 AM - 9:45 AM
PLENARY SESSION: Tales from the Trenches – a Spotlight on Deals in the News
There are certain deals that simply make us sit back and collectively say "Wow!" These are the deals that we all study, desperately try to emulate and create that intoxicating industry buzz. What defines them is their creativity, innovation and potential to change the future. For licensing professionals, there is no better way to gain insight and knowledge than to hear from those lucky enough to be in on the inner circle of these cutting-edge, trailblazing transactions. Join our panel of experienced deal road warriors to hear about which deals have excited them of late, and perhaps to even hear a trick or two from their own recent licensing "tales from the trenches."
Moderator:
Cathy Sohn, President, Sohn Health Strategies
Speakers:
Ariel D. Jasie, Senior Director, Business Development, Celgene Corporation
Nagesh Mahanthappa, VP Corporate Development & Operations, Avila Therapeutics
John McDonald, Co-Head Business Development and Mergers & Acquisitions, Biogen Idec
Michal Preminger, Executive Director of Office of Technology Development, Harvard Medical School Office