CONFERENCE DAY ONE

MAY 19, 2025

PART ONE: FIND YOUR FUTURE PARTNER

Bringing you a targeted and scientifically aligned partnership opportunity from the start, this opening section brings key buyers
together in a unique and unmissable format to find your next partner and route to more capital.

8:45-9:15: Deal-Making for Discovery: activity and ambition for partnerships that will support translational efficacy from
the Pharma Icebreaker

9.15-10.45: Face-to-face matchmaking for protected networking time during the Pharma Matchmaking Roundtables, to
qualify, hear feedback, and generate interest for the rest of the conference

11.45-12.15: Business panel to hear differences in experience and advice from representatives of deals from the
last 12 months

7:30 am
One-on-One Partnering portal meeting schedule starts. Grab a coffee and sit down with key contacts in the hour before the conference at bookable meeting spaces.

8:40 am Chair’s Opening Remarks


Strategic Priorities & Deal Trends: Which Problems are we Solving with Innovative Technologies & How are Collaborations Advancing Clinical Translation of Induced Proximity

8:45 am Pharma Icebreaker: Activity & Ambition for Deal Making to Expand the Drug Discovery Toolbox

  • Xiaodong Zhang BD Search and Evaluation, Oncology and Hematology, Novartis
  • Elena Diaz Senior Director External Innovation, Janssen
  • Akihiro Furukawa Director - Research & Technology Search & Evaluation & Global Business Development, Daiichi Sankyo
  • Adam Gilbert Executive Director - External Accelerators, Pfizer
  • Anna Rivkin Chief Business Officer, Foghorn Therapeutics
  • Carla Bauer Director, Oncology Search and Evaluation, Business Development & Licensing, Merck & Co
  • Minoru Kameda Scouting & Transaction Lead Business Development, Astellas Pharma
  • David Fang Senior Director, Search & Evaluation, AstraZeneca

Synopsis

• Understanding and appreciating why pharma would invest: What gap are the innovative technologies filling and what problem are they solving?

• How do research collaborations support translational efficiency of protein degradation clinical development? Where do we need to improve to clinically validate more protein degradation programs?

• Which technologies and targets invite interest – how does this play through into disease areas of interest?

9:15 am Pharma Icebreaker Roundtables:Ensure you Connect

  • Akihiro Furukawa Director - Research & Technology Search & Evaluation & Global Business Development, Daiichi Sankyo
  • Elena Diaz Senior Director External Innovation, Janssen
  • Carla Bauer Director, Oncology Search and Evaluation, Business Development & Licensing, Merck & Co
  • Xiaodong Zhang BD Search and Evaluation, Oncology and Hematology, Novartis
  • Adam Gilbert Executive Director - External Accelerators, Pfizer
  • Minoru Kameda Scouting & Transaction Lead Business Development, Astellas Pharma
  • David Fang Senior Director, Search & Evaluation, AstraZeneca

Synopsis

For interested parties to guarantee meeting time with each other, both pharma and attending biotech can select companies of interest for a pre-organized rotations across 90 minutes. Meet face-to-face with priority companies, and benefit from introducing yourself to pharma you have not scheduled meetings with through the One-on-One Partnering portal early in the event.

10:45 am
Morning Break & Networking

11:00 am
One-to-One Meeting Opportunity

11:45 am Business Panel: Effectively & Efficiently Structuring Deal Processes as an Early-Stage Company in TPD

Synopsis

• Discussing the panel’s experience executing deals, including how to manage alliances to grow more deals

• Outlining opportunities and experience for creative deal structures, and when and where they would be appropriate

12:15 pm
Lunch Break & Networking

12:30 pm
One-to-One Partnering Meeting Opportunity

PART TWO: SCIENTIFIC SHOWCASE

Designed to foster excitement and engagement in innovative companies, be part of back-to-back presentations to validate your
technology as solving scientific hurdles and differentiated versus peers to a group of aligned and qualified decision-makers.

 

Scientific Session Chair: Ann Rowley - Director Targeted Protein Degradation - Merck


Expanding the E3 Ligase Target Universe

1:40 pm Targeting Chromatin Modulators with Therapeutic Degraders

  • Danette Daniels Vice President, Protein Degradation Platform, Foghorn Therapeutics

Synopsis

• Applying degradation to achieve selectivity

• Exploration of varying E3 ligase activity

• Expanding degrader delivery and formulation

2:00 pm Discovery of Novel E3 Ligands for Targeted Protein Degradation

Synopsis

• Discussing how cullin-RING E3 ligases (CRLs) are better suited for developing novel E3 ligands due to their multi-subunit assembly mechanism and intrinsic structural flexibility

• What factors to consider for the selection of E3 ligases for developing E3 ligands?

• Updating on discovery of novel E3 ligands at Cullgen

2:20 pm Discovery of Molecular Glue Degrader of KRAS Mutants for Treatment of Lung, Colon & Pancreatic Cancer

  • Anita Bellail Chief Operating Officer & Chief Scientific Officer, HB Therapeutics, Inc.

Synopsis

  • Sharing the discovery of a new molecular glue degrader of KRAS mutants
  • Discussing the MOA and the engagement of a new E3 ligase
  • Providing initial proof of concept and overview of the KRAS program 

2:40 pm
Afternoon Break & Networking

3:00 pm
One-to-One Partnering Networking

4:10 pm Development of Oral ATAC Degraders for Extracellular Proteins

  • Effie Tozzo Chief Scientific Officer, Avilar Therapeutics

Synopsis

  • Harnessing natural cellular degradation machinery to eliminate pathogenic extracellular proteins ATACs (ASGPR-Targeting Chimeras)
  • Discussing Avilar's proprietary ASGPR ligands deliver superior affinity and optimized ADME properties, enabling differentiated product profiles. Also detailing from concept to candidate: Avilar’s systematic approach to developing oral ATACs
  • Sharing ASGPR ligand optimization for continued improvement in oral bioavailability
  • Achieving high oral bioavailability with multiple prototype ATACs targeting diverse proteins, including for Avilar’s cardiometabolic program

4:30 pm Polymed’s Optimized PROTAC & DAC Programs

  • Brent Meadows Chief Business Officer, Polymed Biopharmaceuticals

Synopsis

  • Sharing novel approach to optimizing PROTAC potency and selectivity
  • Discussing collaboration with Photys Therapeutics on IRAK4 PROTAC HBP/PHT-776
  • Updating on Polymed's PROTAC and DAC pipeline: EGFR and KRAS G12D

4:50 Drinks Reception:

Enjoy an informal networking drinks reception with all attending and presenting companies to catch up with key stakeholders outside of the regular meeting, as a touchpoint ahead of BIO.