Business Models

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Track 4
Friday, March 9, 2012

Session 1
Life Sciences Innovation: A Fundable Future or Financial Flop?
9:45AM – 11:00AM

We’ve seen a flurry of venture activity in the past for life sciences companies betting that they can take their concept through the arduous FDA process to market — and ultimately to financial success — for both them and their investors. But if history is any indicator, most organizations will die trying. This begs the question: Is funding innovation in the life sciences industry truly a viable strategy for private equity and venture capital firms, or is all a house of cards? Join us for this spirited and insightful debate by veteran venture capitalists who will offer their perspective on this topic. It’s sure to be lively and engaging!

Moderator

Carol Gallagher
Former CEO, Calistoga Pharmaceuticals

Panel Speakers

Jay Lichter, Ph.D.
Managing Director, Avalon Ventures

Robert More
General Partner, Frazier Healthcare

Bryan Roberts
Partner, Venrock

Camille Samuels
Managing Director, Versant Ventures

Session 2
Blueprint for Success: Which Biotech Business Model Works Best for You?
11:30AM – 12:45PM

There are as many different ways to build a biotech company as there are to skin a cat, but how do you know which approach is best for your company and your management style? Are you the type that thinks the virtual model is so virtually foolproof that anyone could run a virtual biotech? Do you have the “go big or go home” mentality needed to build a real brick-and-mortar biotech that can handle all aspects R&D in-house? Do you want the flexibility that the incubator model affords, allowing you to maintain control of conducting R&D in-house, without the headache of setting up the infrastructure? This panel of industry veterans will share their insights into the relative pros and cons of different biotech business models and what leadership qualities and personality characteristics are needed to be successful at each. This lively and informative discussion will help guide those new to the industry as well as those who have plenty of experience, but are looking to experiment with doing things a different way.

Moderator

Alex Lash
Editor, IN VIVO

Panel Speakers

Bassil I. Dahiyat, Ph.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Xencor

Jeff Morhet
Chief Executive Officer, Diomics

Court Turner
Venture Partner, Avalon Ventures

David Urso
COO and General Counsel, Tioga Pharmaceuticals

Session 3
Biotech Then and Now: What Does Biotech Look Like 10 Years from Now?
2:30PM – 3:45PM

Reflecting on the recently released California Biomedical Industry Report, this session takes the pulse of the top biomedical executives in the world on topics ranging from financing and access to capital to regulation and the overall business climate. These key opinion leaders who have successfully led corporations through financings, IPOs, clinical trials and product approvals will discuss current trends and implications for the industry and biomedical innovation in the state of California for the next decade. Will biotech remain a stand-alone industry or become a subset of pharma? Will biotechs continue to team up with generic manufacturers to create generic biologics? Will the big developments in primary areas of biotechnology investing including regenerative medicine, neurological disorders, vaccines and infectious diseases, continue their upward trends?