BIO Announces Plenary Sessions for 11th Annual BIO Investor Forum

Sessions to focus on new pharma-VC models for biotech investing, new corporate VC models and forecasting 2013

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announces plenary sessions for the BIO Investor Forum, an international biotech investor conference focused on investment strategies for early stage and established private companies as well as emerging public companies. Hosted by BIO, the 11^th annual event will take place at the Palace Hotel on October 9-10 in San Francisco, Calif.

“Attendees have come to expect stimulating dialogue which will offer insight and guidance on how to best approach the challenges facing the industry.”

“Our plenary sessions feature an esteemed group of industry analysts and investors that speak to the pressing business issues directly affecting investment in biotech,” said Alan Eisenberg, executive vice president, Emerging Companies & Business Development at BIO. “Attendees have come to expect stimulating dialogue which will offer insight and guidance on how to best approach the challenges facing the industry.”

Plenary Sessions include:

Opening Plenary Session – It Takes a Village: The New Pharma-VC Model for Biotech Investing
Tuesday, October 9, 12:00 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.
High-profile funding collaborations between pharmaceutical companies and traditional venture capital funds have made headlines in recent months, pooling resources and expertise in an attempt to source and develop the most successful drugs. This panel will examine what factors are driving this new model of biotech investing from both the VC and pharma standpoints and how these deals are structured.
Moderator: Alan F. Eisenberg, EVP, Emerging Companies & Business Development, Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
Panelists: Francesco De Rubertis, Partner, Index Ventures; Jonathan MacQuitty, PhD, Partner, Abingworth, LP and Brian McVeigh, CPA, CMA, CLP, MBA, Vice President, WWBD Transactions & Investment Management, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals

Lunch Plenary Session – Tried & True or Something New? Dissecting the New Corporate VC Model
Wednesday, October 10, 12:30 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.
Funded by deep pharma pockets and an investment strategy often focused on early stage, corporate venture capital (CVC) has been a much-needed funding source for companies struggling to keep their development programs moving. The CVC model has been around since the early 1970s, but a new crop of CVCs has sprouted in recent years. A panel of leading CVCs will explore how the CVC model has changed over time and whether these changes measure up to the tried and true models.
Moderator: Joseph S. Dillon, CLP, Managing Director, Investor Relations & Business Development, Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
Panelists: Jeff Calcagno, MD, Senior Director, Emerging Technologies, California Innovation Center, Johnson & Johnson: Lauren Silverman, PhD, Managing Director, Novartis Option Fund; Ron Laufer, MD, MPH, Senior Managing Director, MedImmune Ventures and Geeta Vemuri, PhD, Senior Managing Director, Baxter Ventures

Closing Plenary Session – Forecasting 2013: Trick or Treat?
Wednesday, October 10, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Seasoned biotech investors engage in a candid and insightful discussion on what the industry can expect in 2013. Topics to be covered include: IPO markets; big pharma acquisitions and their effect on the biotech pipeline and early-stage funding sources.
Moderator: Joel Sendek, Managing Director, Head Healthcare Equity Research, Stifel Nicolaus
Panelists: Srini Akkaraju, PhD, MD, Managing Director, New Leaf Venture Partners; Evan McColloch, Portfolio Manager, Franklin Templeton Investments; Bryan Roberts, PhD, Partner, Venrock and Asish Xavier, PhD, Vice President, Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation

In addition to Plenary Sessions, the Investor Forum will feature Business Roundtables which will take a closer look at both early stage financing and late stage exit strategies for private companies.

Business Roundtables include:

The New Kids on the Biotech Block: Trends in Early Stage Financing
Tuesday, October 9^th, 9:00 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
Although venture capital financing continues to decrease in the life sciences, the dearth in capital has spawned a new team of funders that are stepping up to the plate to fill the gap. Panelists will discuss what unique experiences these new players bring and how they will impact and improve the drug development process.
Moderator: Jeron Eaves, Senior Practice Executive, Campbell Alliance
Panelists: Lindy Fishburne, Executive Director, Breakout Labs, Thiel Foundation; Mark Goldsmith, MD, PhD, Venture Partners, Third Rock Ventures; Walter C. Ogier, President & CEO, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals, Inc and Robert Sarisky, PhD, Chief Business Officer, Forma Therapeutics, Inc.

Choose Your Own Adventure – Late Stage Private Company Decisions
Wednesday, October 10^th, 9:00 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
A promising company that is no longer a start-up and has secured series C states us often faced with the question…now what? Experienced decision makers that have navigated the exit strategy crossroads will discuss the lessons learned and how this year’s developments could affect exit strategies.
Moderator: Peter Reikes, Vice Chairman, Healthcare Investment Banking, Stifel Nicolaus Weisel
Panelists: Mark Leuchtenberger, President & CEO, Rib-X Pharmaceuticals, Inc; Dennis Purcell, Senior Managing Partner, Aisling Capital; Todd Smith, EVP, Chief Commercial Officer, Horizon Pharma and Timothy Trost, CPA, SVP & CFO, Chimerix, Inc.

The BIO Investor Forum features public and venture-stage company presentations, expert-led therapeutic workshops on the latest market and investment opportunities with emphasis on drug and technology development, business roundtables, one-on-one investor meetings and networking opportunities.

To learn more about the BIO Investor Forum, including registration and program information, please visit here. Advance media registration is available here. Registration is complimentary for credentialed members of the media and qualified investors.

BIO is pleased to recognize the leadership provided by the BIO Investor Forum Conference sponsors including Supporting Bank Stifel, Nicolaus & Company. BIO Double Helix and Helix Sponsors include Abbott Biotech Ventures, Amgen Ventures, Baxter Ventures, J&J Development Corporation, MedImmune Ventures, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck and Pfizer.

About BIO

BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. BIO produces BIOtechNOW, an online portal and monthly newsletter chronicling “innovations transforming our world.” Subscribe to BIOtechNOW.

Upcoming BIO Events

BIO Investor Forum
October 9-10, 2012
San Francisco, CA

Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy
October 10-12, 2012
Vancouver, Canada

The BIO Convention in China
October 24-25, 2012
Shanghai, China

BIO IP Counsels Committee Fall Conference
November 12-14, 2012
Charleston, SC

BIO Asia International Conference
January 29 – 30, 2013
Tokyo, Japan

BIO CEO & Investor Conference
February 11 – 12, 2013
New York City, NY

BIO International Convention
April 22 – 25, 2013
Chicago, IL