Tuesday, May 1, 2018

7:30 am Conference Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:30 Welcome Keynote and State of the Neurotechnology Industry

The Neurotechnology Industry Organization and guest speakers provide an annual review of trends and developments in neuropharmaceuticals, neurodevices, and neurodiagnostics.

Panelists: Alison Fenney, Member, Board of Directors, 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: Joshua Pinto, Vice President, Healthcare Investment Banking, Credit Suisse

Panelists: Rahul Ballal, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Versant Ventures

Laura Tadvalkar, Senior Associate, MP Healthcare Venture Management

Paulina Hill, Principal, Polaris Partners

Jamil Beg, Principal, 5AM Ventures

William Robb, Founding Partner, NovaQuest Capital Management

10:00 Coffee Break with Exhibit Viewing

10:40 Treatments for Alzheimer’s and Cognitive Disorders

As the population ages, the market for neurodegenerative disorders is exploding. Current treatments stabilize symptoms only for a short period of time. What is on the horizon for symptom improvement and disease modification from drug and device companies? Can earlier or more accurate diagnosis improve outcomes?

Moderator: Michael Gold, Vice President, Development Neurosciences, AbbVie

Panelists: Christopher U. Missling, President and CEO, Anavex Life Sciences 

Leen Kawas, President and CEO, M3 Biotechnology

Michael Mullan, CEO, Archer Pharmaceuticals

Casey Lynch, CEO, Cortexyme

Carlos Buesa, CEO, Oryzon

11:40 Developments on the Horizon for Pain and Epilepsy

Drugs and devices with novel mechanisms of action are on the horizon to decrease side effects and improve efficacy in treatment resistant populations for epilepsy and neuropathic pain. Hear from leading companies on their approaches.

Moderator: Robert H. Ring, Founder & President, Autós Consulting and Advisory Solutions

Panelists: Gregory T. Mayes, President, CEO & Founder, Engage Therapeutics, Inc.

Stephen Collins, CEO, Biscayne Neurotherapeutics

Ana Maiques, CEO, NeuroElectrics

Louis Mayaud, CSO, Mensia Technologies

12:40 pm Networking Luncheon

2:00 Internal and External Research and Development

Pharmaceutical and device companies are looking to provide complete solutions that span from prevention to treatment. Functions across the value chain will be kept in house or partnered. This panel of experts will discuss how they approach collaborations with other companies, academic groups, research institutes, and platform companies.

Moderator: Christine de los Reyes, Vice President, Strategic Planning & Business Development, Alopexx Enterprises, LLC

Panelists: Jeff Erb, Senior Director, Strategy and Business Development, Medtronic

Isaac Veinbergs, Head, External Innovation, Sanofi

Eric Schaeffer, Senior Director, Neuroscience Innovation, Johnson & Johnson Innovation 

3:00 Refreshment Break with Exhibit Viewing

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. This session will gather companies developing treatments for ALS, lysosomal storage disorders, Huntington’s, and more.

Moderator: Daniel Burch, Global Medical Officer, PPD Biotech

Panelists: Marc Martinell, CEO, Minoryx

Andrew Lim, CEO, Circumvent Pharmaceuticals

Lynn Durham, CEO & Founder, Stalicla

Michael Panzara, Franchise Lead, Neurology, WAVE Life Sciences Ltd.

Pushkal Garg, Chief Medical Officer, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

David B. Clissold, Director, Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C.

4:45 Strategic Development of Your Product Outside of the US:
The Australian Advantage

Tina Soulis, PhD, CEO, Neuroscience Trials Australia

This session will focus on case studies to demonstrate the approval process, regulatory framework, tax advantages, networks and overall capabilities that exist in Australia that could be used as part of a strategic development plan to save time, effort and cost when planning your studies.

5:00 Emerging Company Showcase - Learn More About Our Participants

The third annual Emerging Company Showcase offers the stage to young neurotech companies to pitch their drug, device, diagnostic, or software to an audience of investors, CEOs, and executives in the field. 

Moderator: Carla Lema Tome, Advisor, Neurotechnology Industry Organization

Participants: Lowry Curley, CEO, AxoSim, Inc

Dan Rizzuto, CEO, Nia Therapeutics

Shawn Ritchie, CEO and CSO, Med-Life Discoveries LP

Sefi Epel, CEO, Brainmarc

Visar Berisha, Co-Founder, CSO, Aural Analytics

Julie Collens, CEO, Vivid Genomics

Devon Greco, Founder and CEO, Narbis

Kumar Sripathirathan, CEO, DEHA

Steven Prawer, Director, Cofounder, CTO, iBIONICS

Eliav Shaked, Founder & CEO, RetiSpec

  6:00 Welcome Reception with Exhibit Viewing

7:00 Close of Day

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

8:00 am Continental Breakfast

8:45 Keynote Presentation

Stephanie Fertig, MBA, Director, NINDS Small Business Programs, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health

9:00 Partnering and Licensing in Neurotech Panel

Big pharma, biotech and medtech need to act to capitalize new innovations that provide solutions to the global demands in healthcare. This insider panel will discuss their areas of interest for in-licensing novel therapeutics, devices and diagnostics and what they look for in a partner.

Moderator: John Reppas, Director, Public Policy, Neurotechnology Industry Organization

Panelists: Murali Gopalakrishnan, Head, Neuroscience Search and Evaluation, AbbVie

Robert Bagdorf, Vice President, Biopharmaceuticals Search and Evaluation, Pfizer

Matt Gunderman, Director, Business Development, Boston Scientific

10:00 Coffee Break with Exhibit Viewing

10:40 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. A number of novel pipeline pharmaceuticals and devices seek to address these issues. This session will explore how disease modifying treatments alter the course of movement disorders, and how companion diagnostics can be leveraged to provide the most optimal outcomes for patients.

Moderator: Julie G Pilitsis, Chair Dept of Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics, Professor of Neurosurgery, Albany Medical College

Panelists: Ralph Kern, COO and CMO, BrainStorm Therapeutics

Randall W. Moreadith, CEO, Serina Therapeutics

Michael Almstetter, CEO, Origenis

Nader Yaghoubi, President and CEO, PathMaker Neurosystems Inc.

Jim DeMesa, CEO, Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals

11:40 Next-Generation Psychiatry

Schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, addiction, ADHD and other psychiatric illnesses represent a large portion of the neurotech market. Development of promising next-generation treatments is challenging. Novel devices and diagnostics are poised to change the treatment landscape. This session will gather the most innovative treatments for mental health disorders.

Moderator: Manuel Lopez-Figueroa, Venture Partner, Bay City Capital

Panelists: Remy Luthringer, CEO, Minerva Neurosciences

Stephen Brannan, CMO, Karuna Pharmaceuticals

Atul Mahableshwarkar, Vice President, Clinical Development, BlackThorn Therapeutics

Michael J. Detke, CMO, Embera Therapeutics

Eric J. Messika, President and CEO, Coronis Neurosciences Ltd.

12:40 pm Networking Luncheon

2:00 Frontiers in Neurotechnology

In this session, we will hear from companies on the cutting edge. Novel neurostimulation devices are being developed for new markets. Closed loop systems create the promise of reduced side effects and more targeted treatment. New technology is yielding benefits in delivery of therapeutics to brain. This session will preview next generation products and companies in neurotechnology.

Moderator: Daniel O’Connell, Founding member & Managing Partner, NeuroVentures; President and Chief Executive Officer, Acumen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Panelists: Abhishek Datta, CTO, Soterix

Susan Rosenbaum, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Lauren Sciences

Kate Rosenbluth, CEO, Cala Health

Craig A. Pierson, CEO, Centauri Surgical Systems

3:00 Challenges in Brain Trauma

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke and other trauma have devastating consequences to the brain. This session will explore novel approaches for early detection and treatment of brain trauma to minimize sequela and improve recovery.

Moderator: Gary Wynn, MD, Associate Professor, Uniformed Services University

Panelists: Rick Doblin, Executive Director, MAPS

Dan Kincad, CEO, Sense Diagnostics

Michael Singer, CEO, Brainscope

4:00 Close of Conference