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CONFERENCE

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7th Annual Biosimilars Conference

7th Annual Biosimilars Conference

Optimising commercial strategies to develop Biosimilars and Biobetters

5th - 7th October 2010, BSG Conference Centre, London, UK

  1. Background Info
  2. Workshop
  3. Day 1
  4. Day 2
  5. Partners
  6. Past Papers
  7. Venue Info
  8. Speakers
Associate Sponsors
  • PharmaNet Development Group
  • PAREXEL Consulting
  • SYRINX Bioanalytics Oy
  • RecipharmCobra Biologics
Media Partners
  • PharmiWeb.com
  • BIOTECHNOLOGY EUROPE
  • Future Pharmaceuticals
  • InPharm
  • Pharma Connections Worldwide

Background Info

Key Speakers
• Gillian Cannon, Executive Director - Commercial Operations, Merck Bioventures
• Dr Anne Cook, Biologicals Quality Assessor, Biologicals and Biotechnology Unit, MHRA
• Mohamed Oubihi, Senior Manager, International Regulatory Affairs, Biogen Idec
• Jo Pisani, Partner Strategy, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
• Mateja Urlep, Founder & CEO, Tikhe Pharma, Former Global Head of Marketing and Medical, Sandoz
• Dr Fernando de Mora, Chairman, Dept of Pharmacology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Partner, Salupharma
• Robin Thorpe, Head - Biotherapeutics Group, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control
• Dr David Goldsmith, Consultant Nephrologist, Guy's Hospital and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Hospital, UK
• Michael Dilger, Senior Director, Simon-Kucher & Partners

Biosimilars, biobetters and follow-on biologics are the new wave of growth for the pharmaceutical industry. According to the GIA report, the market for biosimilars in the US, Europe, and Japan is projected to exceed US$2 billion by 2015. As numerous countries including the United Status and EU collaborate, there exists a huge challenge in developing biosimilars across regulated and unregulated markets.

With the newly introduced US health reform bill, the branded drugs would be given a 12-year exclusivity period before generics may be developed. The new legislation also allows FDA to approve generic versions of biological drugs. It is vital to understand what will the future hold for the global biosimilars sector?

Visiongain’s 7th Annual Biosimilars Conference will discuss strategies to understand the complexity of regulatory framework, overcome barriers and gain market access within the global landscape. Our distinguished panel of speakers and interactive sessions will provide key solutions to identify growth areas and achieve commercial success for biosimilars across diverse environments. Learn, maximise your knowledge and network with diverse industry leaders at our global forum. 

Key topics of discussion include:
• Gaining insights of the competitive landscape in biosimilars: US, EU and emerging markets 
• Evaluating biobetters and differentiated biosimilars as practical alternatives to biosimilars for regulated markets
• Implementing successful commercial models for biobetters and follow-on biological medicines
• Reviewing the global pricing and reimbursement models in the biosimilars and generics market 
• Learning the impact on biosimilars product patenting
• Leveraging licensing opportunities for biosimilars
• Validation of biomarkers and comparative immunogenicity as surrogate endpoints
• Exploring technologies for producing improved biologics: Drug delivery, half-life extension, cell production, and glycoengineering methods

Who should attend?
Members of Board, Vice President, Directors, Heads and Senior Managers involved in:
• Follow-on Biologics/Follow-on Proteins/Biosimilars
• Biologics/Biotechnology/ Biogenerics
• Biopharmaceuticals/ Biotherapeutics
• Clinical Immunology
• Process Control and Analytical Technologies
• Quality Affairs/ Quality Control
• New Product Development
• Process Science
• Analytical Characterisation
• Research & Development
• Quality Assurance
• Scientific Affairs
• Commercial Affairs
• Legal Affairs
• Intellectual Property
• Health Economics
• Pricing and Reimbursement
• Regulatory Compliance
• Pharmacovigilance
• Business Development
• Marketing & Sales

- Branded and Generic Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology Companies
- CROs/CMOs
- Drug Regulators, Academic & Government Bodies
 

Workshop

Pre-conference Workshop, 5th October 2010

Patent issues in the development of biosimilar medicines 

Led by: Dr Duncan Curley, Director, Innovate Legal

Biosimilar medicines are already a commercial reality in the European Union. The U.S. Healthcare Reform Bill, with its defined pathway for the regulatory approval of follow-on biologics, should open up the U.S. market in the coming years. However, the next wave of biosimilars faces other difficulties in reaching the market, both in the EU and in the USA, because many valuable second generation biological products are better protected by originator patent estates. The aim of this workshop is to examine and discuss the patent issues that may be confronted in developing biosimilar products for these markets. The discussion will be framed by reference to specific products. There will also be an analysis of the patent dispute procedure in the new U.S. legislation.

Agenda

9.30 Registration and Coffee

10.00 Part 1 - A European Perspective

10.10 Patent issues in the development of biosimilars - an introduction

10.30 Insulin analogues
• Commercial overview
• Rapid and long-acting insulin analogues

11.30 Morning Coffee

11.45 Pegylation
• PEG-interferon
• PEG-filgrastim

12.30 Monoclonal antibodies - the EU guidelines

13.00 Lunch

Part 2 - A U.S. Perspective

14.00 The U.S. Approval Pathway for Biosimilars - An Update
• terminology: “highly similar” and “interchangeable”
• data exclusivity
• the patent dispute procedure

14.45 Discussions and Questions

15.00 Close

About your workshop leader

Dr Duncan Curley qualified as a solicitor in 1995. He became a partner in the intellectual property (IP) department of an international law firm in 2003 and he founded the boutique London-based IP law practice, Innovate Legal, in 2007. Duncan is a life sciences specialist and he acts for a number of multinational pharmaceutical companies on freedom to operate, patent clearance and litigation issues. He has worked on many high profile cases, including Lenzing v Courtaulds (fibre technology), Bespak v 3M (metered dose inhalers for asthma), Pliva v Eli Lilly (gemcitabine) and two of the major UK cases on antitrust ‘Eurodefences’ to IP claims (Sandvik v Pfiffner, patents and Sportswear v Stonestyle, trade marks). He is the author of numerous published articles on IP issues, the textbook “Intellectual Property Licences and Technology Transfer” (on the European Technology Transfer Block Exemption) and “Extending Rewards for Innovative Drug Development”, a Report on Supplementary Protection Certificates, published in December 2007 by the Intellectual Property Institute.  

Day 1

Day 1, Wednesday 6th October 2010, London UK

09:00 Registration and refreshments

09:30 Opening address from the chair

Dr Fernando de Mora
Chairman, Dept of Pharmacology, Autonomous University of Barcelona
Partner, Salupharma

09:40 Understanding the competitive landscape in biosimilars
• Exploring the biosimilars opportunity
• Exploring obstacles to entry: Strategic, pricing, sales & marketing
• Assessing the major markets for biosimilars: US, EU and emerging markets
• Identifying current and potential players and business models

Jo Pisani
Partner
PricewaterhouseCoopers

10:20 Overview of Japanese regulatory framework on biosimilars: Trends, opportunities and challenges
• Introduction of Japanese regulatory environment and biosimilars market
• PMDA’s new guidelines on follow-on biologics
• Opportunities and challenges

Mohamed Oubihi
Senior Manager, International Regulatory Affairs
Biogen Idec

11:00 Morning refreshments

11:20 Impact of healthcare reform on biosimilars in global biosimilars development
• Anti-trust aspects (comparing FTC latest reactions as well as its June 2009 report)
• Patent aspects and the creation of new “Orange book-like system”
• Regulations promulgated pursuant thereto

Liz Fuller
Director, Life Sciences Regulatory (US qualified)
Wragge & Co

12:00 Biosimilar erythropoietin: Uptake in Europe
• Rationale for biosimilar epoetins
• Epoetin market factors
• EMEA regulatory environment
• Clinical considerations

Dr David Goldsmith
Consultant Nephrologist
Guy’s Hospital and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Hospital

12:40 Networking lunch

13:40 Biosimilars: Between innovator biomedicines and classical generics
• The rationale behind the EMA regulation on biosimilars
• Answering payers, patients and prescribers concerns about biosimilars
• Biosimilar vs. the generic market
• Need for a specific strategic approach to the biosimilar market

Dr Fernando de Mora
Chairman, Dept of Pharmacology, Autonomous University of Barcelona 
Partner, Salupharma

14:20 Comparability evaluation of biological products
• Evaluation: Biochemical characterisation, non-clinical and clinical characterisation
• Elements to successful biosimilar comparability
• Process & product comparability

Dr Anne Cook
Biologicals Quality Assessor, Biologicals and Biotechnology Unit
MHRA

Marie-Christine Bielsky
Senior Medical Assessor, Biologicals and Biotechnology Unit
MHRA

15:00 Afternoon refreshments

15:20 Comparability, biosimilars, “interchangeable biosimilars,” and current US legislation
• Comparability as a physical-chemical exercise: Limitations and open questions
• Biosimilars and the FD&C Act: Biosimilars and the US Public Health Service Act
• Biosimilars and interchangeability
• Biosimilars and “proper names”

William Egan, Ph.D
Vice President
PharmaNet

15:40 Unwanted immunogenicity of biologicals and biosimilars
• The problems of unwanted immunogenicity for biologicals
• Assessing unwanted immunogenicity
• Guidance available, including regulatory guidance
• Specific issues with immunogenicity of biosimilars

Robin Thorpe
Head - Biotherapeutics Group
National Institute for Biological Standards and Control

16:20 Immunogenicity testing of biosimilars and biobetters
• Product related risk factors of immunogenicity
• Consequences on pharmacokinetics of the product
• Selection of immunogenicity assay formats and techniques

Timo Piironen
Scientific Director, Adjunct Professor
SYRINX Bioanalytics

16:40 Closing remarks from the chair

16:50 Networking drinks
Take your discussions further and build new relationships in a relaxed and informal setting 

Day 2

Day 2, Thursday 7th October 2010, London UK

09:00 Registration and refreshments

09:30 Opening address from the chair

Keith Powell, CEO, Polytherics

09:40 Developing a long term commercial strategy for biosimilars
• Challenges in commercialisation of biosimilars
• Understanding the evolving US and EU market environment
• Identifying the elements for developing long-term commercial strategies for biosimilars 
- Portfolio approaches
- Targeted contracting
- Sales force support
- Customer focused educational programmes

Gillian Cannon
Executive Director - Commercial Operations
Merck Bioventures

10:20 Revolutionising biosimilar development in the EU market
• Are current regulations adequate?
• Navigating the complexity: Review of the EU guidelines
• Indentifying the risks and benefits for successful development

Mateja Urlep
Founder & CEO, Tikhe Pharma
Former Global Head of Marketing and Medical, Sandoz

11:00 Morning refreshments

11:20 Presentation to be announced

Shaun Cochrane
Bioclones

11:40 Presentation to be announced

Representative
RecipharmCobra Biologics

12:00 Global P&R models for the biosimilars and generics market
• Health economic challenges of R&D, registration, P&R of biopharmaceuticals and biosimilars
• Identifying inherent differences in safety, effectiveness and costs
• Adopting innovative mechanisms such as risk-sharing arrangements

Michael Dilger
Senior Director
Simon-Kucher & Partners

12:40 Networking lunch

13:40 Believing in biobetters: Half-life and antigenicity
• Global market overview for protein drugs
• Future of biosimilars/biobetters
• Extending the half-life/duration of action of biologics
• Efficacy and safety of PEGylated products

Keith Powell
CEO
Polytherics

14:20 Rising to the challenge of developing biosimilar monoclonals
• Demonstrating physicochemical and biological comparability
• How useful is non-clinical testing?
• The challenges in demonstrating PK/PD equivalence
• Might surrogate endpoints be acceptable?
• To what extent can one extrapolate findings across indications?

Cecil Nick
Vice President (Technical)
PAREXEL Consulting

14:40 Afternoon refreshments

15:00 Panel Discussion: The regulatory approaches to chemicals and biologicals - Is it time that the "Process is the Product" finally died?"
Panel members will be drawn from the speakers who take part on day one or day two. If you would like to submit a question to the panel, please email it to: koos.mohammed@visiongain.com

Panelists: Jeff Edwards, Development Director, Polytherics

15:40 Emerging markets: A spotlight on Asia
• Understanding the dynamics of the Asian markets
• Benefits and risks of outsourcing the development of biosimilars
• Explore partnership opportunities

16:20 Chair’s closing remarks

16:30 End of Conference 

Partners

Associate Sponsor:

PharmaNet Development Group
PharmaNet Development Group, a global, drug development services company, provides expertise to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, generic drug, and medical device industries. PharmaNet companies offer clinical development solutions including consulting services, Phase I clinical studies, bioequivalency and pharmacodynamic studies, bioanalytical analyses, and Phase II, III, and IV clinical development programs. With more than 2,300 professionals in 40 offices around the world, PharmaNet is a recognized leader in outsourced clinical development. For further information, please visit www.pharmanet.com

PAREXEL Consulting
PAREXEL Consulting provides integrated product development services, helping biopharmaceutical and medical device companies shorten time to market and maintain product viability for the long-term. Through our unique fusion of scientific, regulatory, and business expertise, we help clients manage risk and maximize product value at every milestone and phase of development worldwide.As leaders in biosimilars development, we played an integral role in bringing the first biosimilars to the EU market, and are actively working with clients seeking FDA biosimilar approval. Download our latest biosimilars white papers on The Dawn of US Biosimilars and Biosimilar mAbs at www.parexel.com

SYRINX Bioanalytics Oy
SYRINX Bioanalytics Oy is a Contract Research Organization (CRO) offering bioanalysis of biologicals, biomarkers, vaccines, anti-drug antibodies (immunogenicity testing) and small molecules in GLP. SYRINX was founded in 2007 as a spin-out from Bayer Schering Pharma. It is 100% owned by its management team. SYRINX is supporting full development programs by utilizing its in-house scientific expertise, 'Gold' standard methods, novel innovative techniques and modern GLP facilities. The services include method development, validation and routine studies with special expertise in difficult or bespoke situations offering large variety of modern immunoassay techniques. For further information please visit www.syrinxbioanalytics.com.

RecipharmCobra Biologics
RecipharmCobra Biologics is a contract development and manufacturing organisation with over 10 years experience in the development and production of monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, viruses, DNA and cell based vaccines and therapies for customers' preclinical studies, clinical trials and regulatory approval.
RecipharmCobra Biologics has two GMP approved production facilities, from which a comprehensive service is provided; including cell line development, process and analytical development, GMP manufacture, and release to clinic.
This, together with fill-finish and formulation capabilities, provides customers with a true one stop shop for their biologics outsourcing needs.
RecipharmCobra is the specialist biologics division of Recipharm AB. For further information, please visit www.recipharmcobrabio.com 

Media Partners:

PharmiWeb.com
PharmiWeb.com is the leading industry-sponsored portal for the pharmaceutical sector. Supported by most of the leading pharmaceutical corporations, PharmiWeb.com provides dynamic real-time news, features, events listings and international jobs to industry professionals across Europe and the US. For further information please email: corporate@pharmiweb.com

BIOTECHNOLOGY EUROPE
BIOTECHNOLOGY EUROPE is owned by BIOTECHNOLOGY WORLD. It is based and located in Warsaw, Poland. Biotechnology World was founded in 2007 to provide the world’s biotech and pharma information and market to make it universally accessible and useful for scientific and business processes. Its first step to fulfilling that mission was building the BIOTECHNOLOGY EUROPE platform that will allow a quick spread of information in different channels. BIOTECHNOLOGY EUROPE offers companies completed internet public relations, publication and marketing solutions. One of the main goals of BIOTECHNOLOGY EUROPE is to integrate the Biotech and Pharma Sector in Europe to global biotechnology, pharmaceutical and life science activities. For further information please visit www.biotechnology-europe.com

Future Pharmaceuticals
Future Pharmaceuticals has forged powerful relationships with key industry leaders to provide a platform for successful brand recognition, and for senior decision-makers to have the means to procure and plan implementation strategies based on the topics covered. Positioned to be an authoritative resource within top pharma companies as well as small, specialty, and biotech, Future Pharmaceuticals magazine is geared to create a deep penetration into a highly targeted and responsive audience, bridging the gap between the industries' top issues and the solutions top-tier vendors can provide. For further information, please visit www.futurepharmaus.com

InPharm
InPharm is the online platform for exclusive pharmaceutical news, comment, contracts, services, jobs and events and is home to InPharmjobs.com, Pharmafile and Pharmafocus. For further information please visit: www.In-Pharm.com

Pharma Connections Worldwide
Pharma Connections Worldwide® is the leading professional business networking website focused in the Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology and Life Sciences research industry. Our goal is to provide a conduit for delivery of premiere content coupled with the right clientele in order to facilitate business development opportunities among industry professionals responsible for making key decisions in a global marketplace. For further information please visit www.pharmaconnections.com

Enquiries

If you would like more information on the range of sponsorship or exhibition possibilities for visiongain's 7th Annual Biosimilars Conference, please contact :
Ronald Magali, +44 (0)20 7549 9934
ronald.magali@visiongainglobal.com
James Hopkins, +44 (0)20 7549 9974
james.hopkins@visiongain.com
 

Past Papers

Speaker presentations are free to delegates. If you are unable to attend the event, the presentations are published two weeks after the event and are available to purchase. 

Venue Info

The visiongain event is to be held at BSG House, London. The address of the venue is:
BSG House, 226-236 City Road, London EC1V 2QY
Click for Google maps.

Directions to the venue:
The nearest airports are:

London/Heathrow - LHR
• By train: take the Heathrow Express to Paddington. Change onto the London Underground - Hammersmith & City Line (pink) to King’s Cross, change to the Northern Line (black) to Old Street
• By taxi: Approx. distance: 20 miles / 33KM. Approx. cost: GB£50.00. Approx. time: 1hour 20 mins

London/Gatwick - LGW
• By train: take the Gatwick express to Victoria. Change onto the London Underground - Victoria Line (light blue) to King’s Cross, change to the Northern Line (black) to Old Street.
• By taxi: Approx. distance: 35 miles / 56KM. Approx. cost: GB£60.00. Approx. time: 1hour 20 mins

London City – LCY
• By train: take the Docklands Light Railway to Bank station. Change onto the London Underground - Northern Line (black) to Old Street.
• By taxi: Approx. distance: 6 miles / 9KM. Approx. cost: GB£25.00. Approx. time: 45 mins
Please note these timings and prices are given only as an indication. During peak hours they are subject to increase.
If you wish to pre-arrange travel by taxi and prices with a local taxi company, Addison Lee can be contacted on +44 (0) 20 7387 8888

Eurostar St Pancras International
By train: Change onto the London Underground at King’s Cross – Northern Line (black) to Old Street.
By taxi: Approx. distance: 1.8 miles / 2.89 KM Approx. cost: GB £7.00 Approx. time: 5 minutes
Please note these timings and prices are given only as an indication. During peak hours they are subject to increase.

The nearest major train stations are:
• King’s Cross – take the London Underground - Northern line (black) to Old Street
• Liverpool Street – take the London Underground – Hammersmith & City (pink), Circle (yellow) or Metropolitan lines (maroon) to Moorgate. Change onto the Northern line (black) to Old Street
• Waterloo – take the London Underground – Jubilee line (grey) to London Bridge. Change onto the Northern Line (black) to Old Street

Walking from Old Street station:
Take exit 8 from the station and follow the green line on the floor to Moorfields Eye Hospital, continue on past there for 3-4 minutes, you will see a blue sign on the side of the building saying BSG. This is BSG House, 226-236 City Road.

Venue facilities include:
BSG House features wi-fi internet access and the possibility of using additional meeting rooms. Please contact visiongain for further information.

Local Accommodation:

Here are a list of recommended local hotels
Travelodge London City Road Hotel, 7-12 City Road, London, EC1Y 1AE, Tel: 0871 984 6333, Fax: 0207 628 2503, http://www.travelodge.co.uk/search_and_book/hotel_overview.php?hotel_id=340
Approximately a 10 minute walk to BSG House and close to Old Street tube station and Moorgate which is just 0.5 miles away. The hotel has a breakfast restaurant area and is close to a range of bars and restaurants with attractions including the Globe Theatre and St Pauls Cathedral close by.
Jury’s Inn Islington, 60 Pentonville Road, Islington, London N1 9LA. Tel: +44 (0) 207 282 5500
This hotel is a short journey, or 20-minute walk, away from the conference venue. It is a few minutes walk from Angel tube station and close to King’s Cross, and Euston stations. Also close by is Upper Street (Islington) which has many restaurants, cafes and bars. The rooms offer satellite TV, and internet connections. The hotel has both a bar and restaurant. Standard double room – Single occupancy £98, including breakfast £105, Double occupancy only £98 including breakfast £112. Call reservations on +44 (0) 207 282 5500 and quote Visiongain on booking. This offer is subject to availability.
Hilton London Islington, 53 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 0UY Tel: +44 (0) 207 354 7700
Probably the furthest from the venue of all of our recommended hotels, but probably the most up-market of the local hotels. Close to Upper Street (Islington) which has plenty of dining and drinking options. Also nearby to Angel tube station and a short cab ride from King’s Cross. The hotel offers wi-fi and a business centre, and a restaurant and bar. Each guest room offers internet access, satellite TV channels and a desk.
London City Holiday Inn Express, 275 Old Street, London, EC1V 9LN Tel: +44 (0) 207 300 4300
Approximately a 10 minute walk to BSG House and close to Old Street tube station, this hotel offers a restaurant and a range of business services, including high-speed internet access in all rooms and the lobby area. The hotel is ideally located for the fashionable bars and restaurants of areas of Hoxton, Shoreditch and Clerkenwell.

The best to see in your host city:

Places to eat:
• Fifteen, 15 Westland Place, N1 7LP T: +44 (0)871 330 1515 – Italian/Fusion
• Carluccio’s Caffe, 305-307 Upper Street, N1 2TU, T: +44 (0) 207 359 8167 – Italian
• Hanoi Café, 98 Kingsland Road, E2 8DP, T: 020 7729 5610 – Vietnamese
• Isarn, 119 Upper Street, N1 1QP, T: 0207 424 5153 – Thai
• Moro, 34-36 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QE, T: 020 7833 8336 - Spanish

Places to drink:
All of the bars listed do serve food during peak hours
• The Eagle, 2 Shepherdess Walk, City Road, London N1 7LB, T: +44 (0) 20 7553 7681
• Cantaloupe Bar, 35-42 Charlotte Street, London, EC2A 3PB T: +44 (0) 20 7613 4411
• Bavarian Beerhouse, 190 City Road London EC1V 2QH, T: +44 (0) 20 760 80 925
Also Upper Street in Angel Islington, just a short taxi ride away, has a large number of bars and restaurants offering a wide range of cuisine.

If you have the time:
St Pauls Cathedral (1 MI / 1.61 KM )
British Museum (1 MI / 1.61 KM )
Oxford Street * Great for shopping * (1.5 MI / 2.41 KM )
Tower of London (2 MI / 3.22 KM )
Tate Modern (2 MI / 3.22 KM )
London Eye (2 MI / 3.22 KM )
Westminster Abbey (2.5 MI / 4.02 KM )
Houses of Parliament (2.5 MI / 4.02 KM )

Please note: The information contained herein is intended for guidance purposes only. The responsibility to ensure accuracy of the details before visiting remains that of the individual. Visiongain can not be held responsible for any losses resulting from actions taken on the above information.

Speakers

Speaker bios: 

  • Dr Anne Cook

    Dr Anne Cook

    Biologicals Quality Assessor, Biologicals and Biotechnology Unit

    MHRA

    Anne is a Senior Quality Assessor in the Biologicals and Biotechnology Unit at MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency), where she has been working for 6 years. She previously worked in the pharmaceutical industry and academic research for several years, where she gained relevant experience. Anne completed her PhD on immunological mechanisms in autoimmune skin disorders while working in Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge. Here she also undertook autografting with cultured skin cells, long before regulatory guidance for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products.

  • Dr Duncan Curley

    Dr Duncan Curley

    Director

    Innovate Legal

    Dr Duncan Curley qualified as a solicitor in 1995. He became a partner in the intellectual property (IP) department of an international law firm in 2003 and he founded the boutique London-based IP law practice, Innovate Legal, in 2007. Duncan is a life sciences specialist and he acts for a number of multinational pharmaceutical companies on freedom to operate, patent clearance and litigation issues.

  • Dr. Timo Piironen

    Dr. Timo Piironen

    Scientific Director, Adjunct Professor

    SYRINX Bioanalytics

    Dr. Timo Piironen is currently Scientific Director at SYRINX Bioanalytics, which is a CRO providing services in the field of PK sample analysis and immunogenicity testing of biologicals.
    Timo Piironen is a co-founder of SYRINX Bioanalytics Oy, which started its operations in December 2007 after management buy-out (MBO) from Bayer-Schering Pharma. Dr. Piironen has also Adjunct Professorship in Immunotechnology at the department of Biotechnology, University of Turku, Finland. He has over 40 peer reviewed publications in the field of protein chemistry, immunochemistry, immunotechnology, novel in vitro -assays and cancer diagnostics.

  • Gillian M. Cannon MBA PhD

    Gillian M. Cannon MBA PhD

    Head of Commercial Operations

    Merck BioVentures (MBV)

    Gillian Cannon has been a member of the Executive Leadership Committee for MBV since April 2008. As Head of Commercial Operations, she is responsible for developing and implementing the commercialization strategy for Merck BioVentures as well as providing commercial leadership to a broad range of portfolio products.
    Gillian has more than 20 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry in both US and Global roles. She most recently served as Vice President of the Migraine Franchise where she was responsible for managing the Global Marketing and US Sales organizations for this billion dollar franchise. Gillian has held leadership positions at Merck across a range of disciplines including Sales, Marketing, Pricing, Outcomes Research, and Strategy Development.

  • Jeff Edwards

    Jeff Edwards

    Development Director

    Polytherics

    Jeff has a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Cambridge University. He has held the roles of Head of Biotechnology Development at SmithKline Beecham and Head of Exploratory Development at Ipsen. More recently Jeff was Director of Development at the UK biotech, Thiakis, which was acquired by Wyeth following successful development to Phase 1 of an oxyntomodulin peptide for the treatment of obesity. He is now Development Director at PolyTherics.