There’s a biotech “Big Three” in San Diego fixated on developing new diabetes and obesity drugs (Amylin, Arena, Orexigen). But they aren’t the only ones in town dedicated to treating these closely related public health scourges. So I’ve been rounding up more and more creative businesspeople from all over the West Coast to add their voices to our next big event, “San Diego’s Fight Against Diabesity,” on January 27.
Today I’m happy to announce that Paul Laikind, the chief business officer of the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, and Chrysa Mineo, the vice president of corporate development at San Diego-based Receptos, will be joining this stellar lineup of biotech entrepreneurs and investors we’re bringing together at Amylin Pharmaceuticals headquarters at 6 pm on January 27th.
Laikind recently negotiated a partnership with Japan-based Takeda Pharmaceuticals to discover new biological targets for obesity drugs, which he will talk about briefly during one of our short “burst” presentations. And Mineo will give a similar talk about how her company, Receptos, is using its technology to create a novel new pill for diabetes which it hopes can hold its own with some of the injectables of today.
So here’s the updated lineup of speakers.
Dan Bradbury, CEO, Amylin Pharmaceuticals
Jack Lief, CEO, Arena Pharmaceuticals
Kurt Graves, Executive Chairman, Intarcia Therapeutics
John “Chip” Scarlett, Executive Chairman, Vega Therapeutics
Bob More, General Partner, Frazier Healthcare Ventures
Mike Powell, General Partner, Sofinnova Ventures
Pratik Shah, Partner, Thomas McNerney & Partners
John West, CEO, ViaCyte
Jeff Purvin, CEO, Calibra Medical
Paul Laikind, Chief Business Officer, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute
Chrysa Mineo, Vice President of Corporate Development, Receptos
And, before I forget, I should mention have an extra special feature at this event, in which startups working on novel approaches to diabetes or obesity will present “demos.” We have three entrepreneurs who will be on hand during the networking portion of the evening to show their new technologies in the foyer at Amylin. Here’s the latest group of “demo” presenters, with a link to provide more information on what they do.
Freedom Meditech (San Diego)
DPS Health (Los Angeles)
Corengi (Seattle)
If you or someone you know is interested in doing a “demo” I might have room for one or two more, so just send me a note at [email protected]. This event is just a little more than one week away, so if you haven’t gotten a ticket already, you can get one by clicking here on the registration page. I look forward to moderating this big event next week, and as always, to catching up with our readers to hear what you think is new and innovative.
