Event Overview
The Neurotech Investing and Partnering Conference is a global forum where investors, executives, entrepreneurs, scientists and others involved in the development of new treatments and diagnostics for the brain and nervous system come together to shape the future of their organization and the industry. This market-defining conference features keynotes on the state of the neurotech industry, cutting-edge company presentations, leading translational research projects and panel discussions on a comprehensive selection of neurotech topics.
PRELIMINARY AGENDA
Wednesday, May 31
7:30 am Conference Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 Welcome Keynote and State of Neurotech Industry 2017
Alison Fenney, Executive Director, Neurotechnology Industry Organization
Harry Tracy, President, NI Research
James Cavuoto, Editor & Publisher, Neurotech Reports
9:00 Investing in Neurotech Panel
A diverse panel of private, public and strategic investors will discuss their investment strategies. What does it take to get a neurotech company funded? What are the benefits and risks of business models in devices, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and information technology? What are today's deal terms and valuations? What are the best exit strategies and how is neurotech comparing to other industries?
Moderator: Josh Pinto, Vice President Healthcare Investment Banking, Credit Suisse
Panelists: Andy Schwab, Managing Partner, 5AM Ventures
Joseph Sum, Analyst, EcoR1 Capital
Ilan Zipkin, Senior Investment Director, Takeda Venture Partner
Heath Lukatch, Partner and Managing Director, TPG Biotech
10:00 Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall
10:40 Treatments for Alzheimer's and Cognitive Disorders
Globally, the population continues to age and the number of dementia patients keeps expanding. Ongoing efforts to develop disease modifying therapies have been plagued with failures. What new avenues are being pursued to address the growing global need? Will novel diagnostics allow us to initiate treatments earlier? What non-pharmacological options are in development?
Moderator: Michael W. Weiner, M.D. Principal Investigator, Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative and Professor, UCSF School of Medicine
Panelists: Casey Lynch, CEO, Cortexyme
Joseph Collard, Chief Business Officer, Tetra Discovery Partners
Eyal Baror, CEO and President, Neuronix
John Didsbury, Founder & CEO, T3D Therapeutics
11:40 Developments on the Horizon for Pain and Epilepsy
Ongoing research is revealing new pharmaceutical and device options to treat pain and epilepsy. Novel therapeutic modalities aim to decrease side effects and improve efficacy in treatment-resistant populations for epilepsy and neuropathic pain. What are the novel devices in this space? How are side effects being addressed?
Moderator: Garth Smith, Director, Industry Relations, Ontario Brain Institute
Panelists: Alex Ni, CTO, Avertus
Conrado Pascual, Scientist, AfaSci Research Laboratories
Christopher C. Gallen, M.D., Ph.D., CEO, WEX Pharmaceuticals
Ashish Khanna, Chief Business Officer, Aptinyx
12:40 pm Networking Luncheon
1:55 Internal and External Research & Development
Big pharma, big medtech and large biotech companies collaborate with smaller companies and academic institutions on a variety of projects. How can opportunities be spotted? What are current areas of interest? Where are companies focusing internal versus external resources? What opportunities exist for research and development collaborations with academic groups, research institutes, and platform companies?
Moderator: Jay Kranzler, CEO, Regenovation
Panelists: Ryan Westphal, Director, Search and Evaluation, Neuroscience, Eli Lilly and Company
Widya Mulyasasmita, Ph.D., Manager, New Ventures Johnson & Johnson Innovation
Kerry Mahon, Partnerships and Business Development, Verily
Anne Pianca, Director, R&D Neuromodulation, Boston Scientific
2:55 Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall
3:35 Strategies in CNS Drug and Device Development
Intelligent trial design, fundraising, business development and product life cycle development strategy is critical to the success of any neurotech venture. An insider panel will discuss specific tactics for improving drug and device development to navigate a path to approval and reimbursement.
Moderator: Carla Lema Tome, Advisor, Neurotechnology Industry Organization
Panelists: Tina Soulis, General Manager, Neuroscience Trials Australia
Lovingly Park, Director, Scientific Affairs, PAREXEL
Joseph Araujo, President and CEO, Intervivo
Stephanie Fertig, MBA, Director, NINDS Small Business Programs, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health
4:35 Emerging Company Showcase
Participants: John Andrews, CEO, SalubRx Therapeutics
Jean-René Bélanger, CEO, Imeka
Mylea Charvat, Founder and CEO, Savonix
Kye Cheung, COO, NGoogle
Carol Christopher, Principal, Grey Matter Technologies LLC
Gary Hasey, CMO, Digital Medical Experts Inc.
Liam Kaufman, CEO, WinterLight Labs
Vera Nenadovic, Founder, Brainsview Inc.
Nathan Yoganathan, President & CSO, KalGene Pharmaceuticals
5:35 Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall
6:30 Close of Day
Thursday, June 1
7:30 Conference Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 Licensing and Acquisitions in Neurotech
Neurology is projected to be medtech’s fastest-growing segment in the next five years. Pharma companies are adapting to the current environment with targeted deal-making. Overall all, big pharma, biotech and medtech are increasingly looking to smaller firms to provide innovative product candidates to fill pipelines. What are current trends in strategic alliances and inlicensing? What are priority indications and requirements for licensing deals? Which companies are active in deal-making?
Moderator: Christine de los Reyes, Vice President, Strategic Planning & Business Development, Alopexx Enterprises
Panelists: Carrie Cook, Senior Director, R&D Business Development, Takeda
Jeff Calcagno, New Ventures, Johnson & Johnson Innovation
Murali Gopalakrishnan, Senior Director, Head, Search & Evaluation Neuroscience, AbbVie
Steven Bartz, Director, Business Development & Licensing, Merck
9:30 Parkinson's and Other Movement Disorders
Current treatments for movement disorders can improve functioning but suffer from side effects and “off” period especially as the disease progresses. What are the latest advances in movement disorders? What is in the pipeline to address side effects and other issues specific to this class? Can disease modifying treatments alter the course of disease? Can diagnostics improve treatment?
Moderator: John Reppas, Director, Public Policy, Neurotechnology Industry Organization
Panelists: Kyle Gano, Vice President, Business Development, Neurocrine Biosciences
Judith Kelleher-Andersson, President and CEO, Neuronascent
John Hoekman, Interim CEO and Co-Founder, Impel NeuroPharma
Daniel Adams, CSO, PhotoPharmics
Timothy Still, President and CEO, Global Kinetics Corporation
10:30 Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall
11:15 Next-Generation Psychiatry
Schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, addiction, ADHD and other psychiatric illnesses represent a large portion of the neurotech market. What are the most promising next-generation treatments? How will devices and diagnostics change the treatment landscape?
Moderator: Manuel Lopez Figueroa, Partner, Bay City Capital
Panelists: Robert Linke, President & CEO, Embera NeuroTherapeutics
Brad Margus, CEO, Cerevance
Greg Vontz, CEO, BlackThorn Therapeutics
David Baker, Interim CEO, Alcobra Inc
12:15 pm Networking Luncheon
1:30 Frontiers in Neurotechnology
In this session we will hear from companies on the cutting edge. Novel neurostimulation devices for a variety of indications, software solutions for neuropsychiatric markets, and new neurodiagnostic tools are on the brink of success. Which are the most exciting next-generation products and companies? How are they addressing unmet needs in neurotech?
Moderator: Imran Eba, Partner, Action Potential Venture Capital, GSK
Panelists: Corinna Lathan, CEO, Anthrotronix
Melanie McWade, Vice President, Emerging Therapies, Nexeon Medsystems
Robert Hamilton, CEO, Neural Analytics
Patrick Tompkins, EVP, Sales, Stimwave Technologies, Inc
2:30 Therapeutic Nutrition in CNS
Nutrition is at the core of novel approaches for disease prevention and treatment, from neurodevelopment to neurodegeneration. Advances in the understanding of the biological effects of nutrients, enzyme activity and bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and the gut have illuminated new opportunities in drug development for CNS disorders. What companies are exploring these approaches? What challenges will companies face in developing, clinically validating and bringing these treatments to market?
Moderator: Charles Stacey, CEO, Accera
Panelists: John Andrews, CEO, Ketogen/NAMËNA
Joan Fallon, CEO, Curemark
David H. Donabedian, Co-founder & CEO, Axial Biotherapeutics
3:30 Networking Refreshment Break
3:45 Targeting Orphan Diseases
Orphan disorders are a hot area of investment due to perceived benefits with regulatory agencies, ready access to patients, and premium pricing. Hear from companies developing treatments for ALS, lysosomal storage disorders, Huntington's, and more. What are the strategies to succeed in addressing a smaller market? Are R&D approaches different than for other indications?
Moderator: Sara Shnider, Senior Manager, Academic Affairs and Networks, Teva Pharmaceuticals
Panelists: Christine Silverstein, Abeona VP, Investor Relations, Abeona Therapeutics
Alice Zhang, CEO & Co-founder, Verge Genomics
Lisa McKerracher, CEO, BioAxone bioSciences Inc.
4:45 New Strategies in Multiple Sclerosis
Therapies directed at novel targets, more specific immune modulators and trophic factors are in development for multiple sclerosis. What are the promising treatments in development? How are indication-specific hurdles being addressed? What novel approaches are being pursued?
Moderator: Edward Spack, President, MedaRed Inc.
Panelists: Marie Wesselhoft, President and Co-Founder, MSDx
Carlos Buesa, CEO, Oryzon
Travis L. Stiles, CEO, Novoron Bioscience
5:45 Close of Conference