Biotech Leaders Agenda

Capital Markets & Investment

Leading The Way In The Global Investment Landscape - New Strategies, Competition And Syndication

The numbers paint a picture of a booming investment market but the how, where and why of this capital influx are nuanced. And while total deal values for European biotechs have increased, the increase in the US has been higher still, and US investors are increasingly participating and being a driver in larger investment rounds in European companies. The larger and more established funds continue to attract the largest pools for news funds and vehicles and are finding new ways to help their portfolio companies grow. Leading investors discuss the global investment landscape and the part being played by Europe’s growth and maturation, as well as what they expect 2022 and onwards to hold.

• Is competition for deals higher than ever?
• Could de-fragmented and re-invigorated European public markets help the maturing ecosystem further and compete with US public markets?
• Evolution of funding vehicles and mandates – early stage, growth, crossovers, SPACs

Moderator: William Hicks, Co-chair Securities & Capital Markets Group, Mintz
Sofia Ioannidou, Partner, Andera Partners
Stephanie Sirota, Partner and CBO, RTW Investments
Tej Panesar, Investment Director, Life Sciences, British Patient Capital
Hubert Birner, Managing Partner, TVM Capital

De-Risk Investments And Increase ROI Through Strategic VC CDMO Collaboration

Early stage investment in biotech is high risk due to the low probability of candidate success and increasing competition globally. Lonza has developed a unique business model to partner with VCs, supporting them in de-risking their investments by offering due diligence support and can increase ROI through proven, scalable development and manufacturing solutions for their product supply.

• Partnering with a CDMO which takes a holistic approach to drug substance and drug product development
  
• How Portfolio companies can simplify their supply chain, resulting in a shortened development timeline
  
• Minimizing risks and reducing process complexity

Pnina Weitz, Global Head of Venture Capital Business Development & Relationship Management, Lonza

Striving For Progress In Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity is strength. Whether gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic background, in an industry that solves complex challenges it is the organisations and companies who have a variety of ideas, experiences, and mindsets that will be the most robust, resilient, and successful. Despite some improvements, there is a long way to go to in a truly equitable environment, and investment in terms of capital to more diverse organisations, but also time and focus is, needed to redress the imbalances. A multi-stakeholder panels discusses how the industry is faring, and what more of it should be doing, in championing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).

• The key role of investors leading the way and providing equitable access to funding and resources
• Prioritising DEI - practical steps investors, companies and the industry can take to make a difference
• The importance of collecting data, considering metrics and taking learnings from them

Moderator: Ian Coyne, Executive Director Global Information & Intelligence, Coulter Partners
Priya Mande, CEO, PsiOxus Therapeutics
Rhoda Steel, Head of Community Impact, Johnson & Johnson UK
Anya Roy, Head of Seed Investments & Technology, Illumina Accelerator

Partnerships & Deal Making

The New (And Improved) Normal - Building A More Connected European Ecosystem

After a period of enforced isolation, rather than a breakdown in communication many found efficiencies in the virtual world. As we get back to the ‘new normal’, how can Europe work to make this an improved normal, with a less fragmented and more collaborative ecosystem? Heads of leading life science hubs building cross-geography partnerships to build an even more robust European ecosystem.

• How are leading life science clusters working to build and develop and ensure success for innovators in their region?
• Cultural, incentive and structural differences across the continent
• Ideas and models for pan-European collaboration

Moderator: Madeleine Armstrong, News Editor, Evaluate
Bonnie Van Wilgenburg, Principal, Monograph Capital Partners
Michael Altorfer, CEO, Swiss Biotech Association 
Viola Bronsema, CEO, BIO Deutschland 
Anette Steenberg, CEO, Medicon Valley Alliance 

Moving The Needle - Successful Business Models At The Interface Between Industry, Academia And Investment

The pace of innovation in biotech and life sciences is only increasing and keeping at the cutting edge of new discoveries and next generation technologies is key. Pharma and investors are looking ever earlier to help support these ideas, alongside TTOs and accelerators, to translate early innovation into viable start-ups which can in turn then get treatments and technologies from the lab to the bedside as quickly as possible. A multi-stakeholder panel discusses evolving businesses models, stories of success, and how the whole ecosystem can work more effectively together.

• How to get new technology into commercially viable entities more quickly
• Learning from the successes in the UK ecosystem and how these models can be implemented in other clusters
• What more needs to be done to expedite translation of innovation?

Bill Haynes, Head of Novo Nordisk Research Centre Oxford, Novo Nordisk 
Anne Horgan, Partner, Cambridge Innovation Capital
Dima Kuzmin, Managing Director, 4BIO Capital 
Jason Mellad, CEO, Start Codon

Capital Deployment & Commercialisation Strategy

The Future Of The Emerging Biopharma Launch Landscape

• Overview of the first-launch landscape - reviewing novel first launches in Europe and the US in the last decade
  
• Best practices for first launches for COVID and beyond
  
• Recent trends in launches with a spotlight on cell and gene therapy and oncology
  
• What can we expect to see in the next 5 years in the emerging biopharma launch landscape?

Ben Hohn, Principal - Pharmaceuticals & Biotech, Emerging Pharma Lead, ZS Associates 

Challenges And Operational Scale Up For First Product Launch

Navigating the ‘go-it-alone’ strategy is a huge financial, operational, and structural undertaking. However, as the industry grows, evolves and matures, and with more capital in the space than ever before, first launches by emerging biopharma are becoming more commonplace - first launches have made up more than a quarter of all new molecules submitted to the FDA since 2016. Executives discuss…

• What does it take to build, scale and prepare your company for launch?
• Exit valuations after commercialisation compared with a late stage partnering strategy
• Key success factors and considerations in a first launch and evolving into a commercial company

Moderator: Ben Hohn, Principal - Pharmaceuticals & Biotech, Emerging Pharma Lead, ZS Associates 
Dick Sundh, VP, Head of Australia, Canada & Europe, Kite
Christina Rossi, Chief Commercial Officer, Blueprint Medicines

Business Models For Cell & Gene Therapy: Evolution Or Revolution From The Existing Biopharma Model?

The advent, development and commercialization of new technologies entails the development and refinement of new business models that allows companies to create, deliver and capture value. Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) is an exciting frontier in in therapeutics and capital investments are fuelling rapid scientific innovation and providing the opportunity for biotechs to commercialize themselves. However, there are several challenges associated with the CGT business models and some of these vary depending on the therapeutic modality and disease area being targeted. Industry leaders have long been talking about shifting from becoming a supplier of therapeutic products to delivering ‘value’ in the form of patient outcomes – CGT could be seen as a catalyst and accelerator of this change. But will this change require companies to evolve or create new business models?

• Which components of the biopharma business model are largely impacted by CGT? – value capture, value delivery or value creation
  
• What does the future of CGT look like?
  
• How does the system need to evolve for future commercial sustainability?
  
• What are key capabilities that companies need to invest in to succeed in the future world?

Capital Markets & Investment

Sourcing And Funding Next Generation Innovation

With more capital available for early-stage companies than ever before, how are investors sourcing the latest innovations with larger rounds, bigger and more diverse syndicates? What are their focus areas and how are they sourcing the latest discoveries and technological advances that will be the next wave of biotech leaders? As focus switches back from pandemic treatments and solutions, panel of early-stage investors discuss the early- landscape and what’s exciting them in 2022.

• Will we continue to see investors back the best companies with increasingly larger seed and series A funding rounds to give young companies a stronger runway?
• Geographical syndication – are early-stage investors seeing greater global interest in syndication opportunities?
• In the ‘Golden Age of Biotechnology’ we are in, which next generation tech is exciting investors?

Moderator: Samana Brannigan, Head of Health Technologies, Innovate UK 
Diana Torgersen, Senior Associate, Novo Seeds 
Edward van Wezel, Managing Partner, BGV 
Roel Bulthuis, Managing Director, INKEF Capital 
Mehdi Ainouche, Principal, Jeito
Alex Hamilton, Partner, Syncona

Preparing For And Protecting Your Assets When Entering The US

Entering the US market can be a challenge, but it is becoming a strategic consideration ever-earlier in the growth process for many companies. Asset protection when entering a new market is the key to long-term success and includes securing capital from investors, preparing for licensing and transactions, and minimizing litigation risk. Efficient and effective due diligence can protect your assets and save you time, money and headaches further down the line. A multi-stakeholder panel will discuss how companies and their investors can optimize their intellectual property portfolios for entry to the US.

• How investors analyse, identify and mitigate risk in investing in life science companies seeking to market in the US
• How to put yourself in the best possible position for investment and deals
• What assets investors and partners will want to see in your intellectual property portfolio
• How to protect privileged and confidential information during the due diligence process

Moderator: Gwilym Attwell, Principal, Fish & Richardson
Tim Luker, VP Venture Science, Corporate BD, Eli Lilly
Pierre-Louis Joffrin, CDO, Mogrify
Robin Bhattacherjee, CEO, Actimed

Partnerships & Deal Making

Making A Mark - Emerging Players In Biotech Deals And Acquisitions

While the world’s largest pharma companies often dominate headlines with large ‘biobucks’ licencing agreements and M&A mega deals, a growing number of smaller pharma companies are also hungry for partnerships, deals and acquisitions. Heads of BD & M&A and emerging deal-makers at growing pharma share their strategies, focus areas and how they are looking to make their mark in the biopharma landscape:

• Finding the right partners and in dedicated ecosystems
• Smaller pharma’s partnering and deal making strategies in a competitive market
• Strategic alignment - key therapeutic areas of interest

Jukka Muhonen, Global BD & Alliances, Orion Pharma
Paolo Cionini, Chief Commercial Officer, Amirall
Kieran Rooney, VP, Strategic Alliances and Licensing, Amryt Pharma 
Steven Harris, Chairman, CS Pharmaceuticals

Competition Intensifying? China’s Partnering And Deal Making Strategies

Records levels of cross-border licensing partnerships have been agreed between multi-national Pharma and Chinese companies through 2020 and 2021. Deals boomed both for Pharma acquiring or partnering on innovative Chinese assets as well as Chinese companies developing and commercialising drugs for Western companies. While capital is still awash in China, this increased activity has meant a more competitive landscape - has sourcing and building win-win deals become ever harder? Executives discuss the booming Chinese partnering and deal-making landscape.

• Will the growth in cross-border transactions with Chinese companies continue?
• In a more global competitive market for deals, how are strategies evolving?
• What are Chinese companies looking for in deals?

Guillaume Vignon, SVP BD, Beigene 
Yuehua Cong, Executive Director, Head of Europe, Simcere Pharmaceutical Group
Maria Dahl, COO and Head of Europe, Innovent Bio
Donald Xu, Managing Director, Lynx Capital

Capital Deployment & Commercialisation Strategy

A Platform For Success – Strategic Imperatives In Building And Growing Discovery Platforms

After two decades of venture investors primarily funding product-centric companies, now newly hatched companies with disruptive drug discovery platforms but no identified lead assets are raising historically unprecedented financings. Platform companies face numerous strategic development challenges prior to and beyond the point at which the value of tangible product assets ultimately takes over as the principal valuation driver. The rewards of developing a compelling corporate development strategy can be considerable, since strategically developed platforms are capable of generating enterprise value both more rapidly and expansively than conventional “phase transition” asset development. Early-stage investors and platform company CEOs discuss the strategic imperatives in extracting optimal near and long-term value from discovery platforms.

• Determining and executing near-term preclinical studies
• Selecting and prioritising therapeutic area(s), disease(s) and indication(s)
• Taking a portfolio approach to platform vs target risk
• Developing a proactive strategy to utilize partnering as a strategic value multiplier

Moderator: Ed Saltzman, Executive Chairman, Cello Health BioConsulting
John Orwin, CEO, Atreca

Capital Markets & Investment

SPACS – Are They Here To Stay And How Will They Evolve?

Whilst blank cheques are not a new vehicle, SPACs in biotech and healthcare have exploded and been the hottest trend in the sector. There is much debate around the pros and cons, with SPACs allowing the ability to merge crossover rounds with the IPO into one step and giving speed to market for the companies, but many, including at Pharma, have reservations. Are SPACs here to stay in the life science industry for the long term? Experts and SPAC sponsors discuss the recent boom, the future of the vehicles in the space and how the products could evolve moving forward

• What are the pros and cons for companies considering a SPAC compared to a traditional IPO?
• What makes a company attractive for a de-SPAC merger?
• Are these vehicles, which have exploded in the US, to become increasingly commonplace in Europe?

Eduardo Bravo, CEO, EBAC (European Biotech Acquisition Corporation)
Jim Polson, Managing Director, FTI Consulting
Jasper Bos, General Partner, Forbion; CEO, Forbion European Acquisition

Continuation Or Cool Off…A Reckoning Looms? - Assessing The Booming Public Markets

The pandemic-caused global recession passed biotech by, with Investment and funding reaching record levels including an explosion of IPOs, SPACs and follow-ons. The question now becomes, is the current public markets environment sustainable? While current conditions remain very healthy, how big is the risk of the bubble bursting? Fund managers and analysts debate the future of the capital markets.

• While 2021 was not quite the same as 2020, the public markets environment remains robust – how long will this last?
• The impact and risks of deep-pocketed new entrants to healthcare investment
• What are the drivers for continued optimism, and what are the risks that could result in a cool-down?

Geraldine O’Keeffe, General Partner, LSP 
Ulrica Slåne Bjerke, CIO, Arctic Aurora LifeScience 

Partnerships & Deal Making

Go-To-Market Strategies Across Geographies And Overall Equity Returns

Biotech companies’ commercial planning should be starting earlier and earlier as industry dynamics shift. A key consideration will be the strategy around commercialising in different geographies and potential partnerships in licencing or co-promotion. But how do these decisions affect overall equity returns? After a presentation of in-depth analysis to date, executives and investors discuss:

• Developing a global commercial strategy and considerations for commercialisation rights
• Going alone or licencing or co-promoting across different geographies and how that impacts overall equity value
• Analysing the importance of retention of commercialisation rights in different geographies
• Investor perspectives on biotech’s commercial strategies

Presenter and moderator: Cody Powers, Principal - Portfolio & Pipeline, ZS Associates
Peter Llewellyn-Davies, CEO, APEIRON 
Karl Nägler, Managing Partner, Wellington Partners
Erik van den Berg, CEO, AM Pharma
Renee Aguiar-Lucander, CEO, Calliditas Therapeutics

Finding The Fit - Win-Win Deals In Pharma Partnering

As the pace of innovation across the healthcare space increases, pharma are ever-more active in scouting for early and later stage deals The expertise, resources and connections of industry giants remains critical, but in a sector awash with capital and with increased competition, are strategies changing? Pharma S&E and BD executives discuss how they are supporting innovation, going earlier in building their pipelines, and the increasingly competitive landscape for attractive deals.

• "Earlier and earlier" cried Alice in Pharmaland - how are the industry biggest players looking to source innovation sooner and support the youngest startups?
• Is it more competitive than ever before?
• What are the key considerations for companies in their partnering strategy approaching pharma, and are most commonly overlooked?
• Which type of partnering at which stage?

Khatereh Ahmadi, Head of Search and Evaluation Team, European BD&L Hub, MSD 
Tim Luker, VP Venture Science, Corporate BD, Eli Lilly
Marta Helena Lesko, Head of BD Enabling Technologies, Merck KGaA 
Markus Kalousek, Global Head Search & Evaluation, Novartis

Capital Deployment & Commercialisation Strategy

Managing Risk In The New World – Security, Data, Resilience In The Biopharma Supply Chain

The last 24 months have been quite historic for organisations within the life sciences and healthcare industries. In addition to the obvious global COVID-19 response, businesses have continued to grow and evolve in cyber terms. Whether it be innovations in cyber-enabled treatments or therapies, or making the best use of technology to support efficient delivery of organisational objectives and business strategies, one thing is clear – the industry is at the very forefront of the cyber operating environment. With this level of innovation, the heightened degree of interaction within the cyber space, and in considering the ‘data heavy’ and highly regulated nature of the industry, all against a backdrop of growing and emerging cyber threats, it is crucial that life science sand healthcare organisations of all types view cyber risk as being amongst, if not the, biggest risks to their businesses.

• What does the cyber threat landscape look like for this industry?
• Have cyber security practices kept pace with innovation and the implementation of new technologies?
• Is the convergence of the physical and virtual domains fully understood by this industry, and what are the risks in this space?
• How can organisations better protect themselves in the now, and what or where should they focus their efforts in looking ahead?

Moderator: Dean Chapman, Director (People + Cyber Solutions), Willis Towers Watson

Dressing For Success Early As A Biopharma Startup

Pre-Clinical biopharma start-ups often don’t have time to rest – always needing to propel their organization to their next phase of development. But what that next phase of development looks like uniquely to that organization is often unclear and when do they need to ‘dress’ for it are common questions. Identifying the structural, technical, and development challenges to plan for in trying to get to the next level are widely complex. In this panel, hear from newly formed companies and how they worked through their planning process and set themselves up for their next phase of growth, issues they faced along the way, and the realities they face as a start-up.

Moderator: Matt Cardinal, VP Strategy & Program Leadership, Halloran
Ros Deegan, CEO, OMass Therapeutics
Valerie Vanhooren, CEO & Co-Founder, ONA Therapeutics
João Siffert, CEO & President, Design Therapeutics
Suzanne Dilly, CEO, ValiRx

Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Development

The pandemic had ripple effects throughout the healthcare industry, one of which being regulatory healthcare authorities undergoing their own adaptation and changes. A lot more communication between regulators in different geographies is now more common, with a lot more sharing of information. Experts and companies who are undertaking and multi-jurisdictional drug development discuss what this means for companies and the wider industry post-covid.

• Navigating drug development strategy across the FDA, EMA, MHRA and other regulatory bodies
• Key success factors in targeting multiple jurisdictions at the same time
• Starting early and with the end in mind whilst avoiding common pitfalls and bottlenecks

Moderator: Laurie Smaldone Alsup, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, NDA
Steffen Thirstrup, Advisory Board Director, NDA Group