If two-thirds of all Americans are too heavy, and millions more continue to get diabetes, how will we pay the trillions in medical bills over the next decade? Who will find ways to solve this public health problem, and build real businesses on prevention and treatment? How are some of San Diego’s biotech leaders adapting after their most important products for the twin epidemics ran into delays at the FDA?
These are a few of the questions I’m eager to pose at the big Xconomy San Diego event coming up tonight, titled “San Diego’s Fight Against Diabesity.” Registration opens at 5:15 pm, the program starts at 6 pm, and the usual networking over drinks and food (healthy stuff, I’m sure) will get going around 7:30 pm. The event will be held at Amylin Pharmaceuticals headquarters, at 9360 Towne Centre Drive in San Diego.
We have an all-star lineup of speakers seeking to attack the diabetes and obesity epidemics a number of different ways. The slate includes:
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
There’s also one more feature to this event that’s relatively new. We’re setting aside some space in the networking area for entrepreneurs from Freedom Meditech, DPS Health, and Corengi to offer “demos” of their new product strategies. Who knows, maybe one of these little companies will grow up to be the next Amylin of their own markets. See you there tonight.
