We already have a jam-packed lineup of creative entrepreneurs at next week’s big Xconomy event, but hey, you know what they say about the more the merrier?
That’s what I figured this week when John Mendlein, one of the more successful biotech executives on the West Coast, agreed to be one of the speakers at “Reinventing Biotech’s Business Model” on Tuesday, April 3 at PATH.
Mendlein, a rare bird who’s a scientist, lawyer, entrepreneur, humanitarian, and surfer, will bring valuable perspective about how biotech companies can create more viable business models. He was one of the architects of an unusual partnership between a biotech company (Aurora Biosciences, now part of Vertex Pharmaceuticals) and a nonprofit (the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation), about a decade ago. After the CF Foundation and Vertex pooled their resources, they ended up creating a drug called ivacaftor (Kalydeco) that would probably never have been financed by investors alone. Yet it may end up being the single biggest innovation ever for the treatment of cystic fibrosis.
Since working out that deal years ago, Mendlein had a successful stint as CEO of Waltham, MA-based Adnexus Therapeutics, and now has leadership roles at San Diego-based aTyr Pharma and Fate Therapeutics.
Mendlein will join another Renaissance Man in the opening keynote chat at this event—venBio’s Corey Goodman. So, unless something else changes, here’s what the agenda looks like for next Tuesday. We have 230 people registered at this point, but there’s still room to spare at PATH, and you can get your tickets here. This one is going to be fun and informative. See you Tuesday.
1 pm Registration and networking
2 pm Welcoming remarks, PATH & Xconomy.
2:10 pm Opening keynote chat.
Corey Goodman, venBio.
John Mendlein, aTyr Pharma, Fate Therapeutics
Luke Timmerman, Xconomy (moderator)
2:40 pm Experiments with new business models. 20 minutes each.
Ed Saltzman, president, Defined Health (moderator)
Brian Atwood and Peppi Prasit, Versant Ventures/Inception Sciences
Kathy Glaub, Plexxikon
Steve Tregay, Forma Therapeutics
Thong Le & Bruce Montgomery, Cardeas Pharma
4 pm Networking Break
4:30 pm Experiments with new models
Alex Lash, reporter/editor, Startup/In Vivo (moderator)
Carl Weissman & David McElligott, Groove Biopharma
Heather Franklin, Blaze Bioscience
Cliff Stocks, Theraclone Sciences
5:30 pm Closing Keynote Chat
Kevin Starr, Third Rock Ventures
John Maraganore, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
Luke Timmerman, Xconomy (moderator)
6 pm Networking reception
7 pm End
