Keizai Events

Trends in BioTech: Value Creation and Innovation

Wednesday June 15, 2016

According to reports from PricewaterhouseCoopers, recent venture capital investments in the biopharmaceutical industry were some of the largest in history averaging $6B-$7B per year.  Thanks to the ease of global monetary policy, the rapid increase in merger & acquisition (M&A) activities along with much easier access to public financing via IPO and robust revenue growth help fuel the venture ecosystem and provide a fertile ground for high-risk companies and young start-ups. The recent paradigm-shift innovations, such as immune-oncology and targeted therapies for previously incurable diseases, surely helped open up many doors of opportunities for both companies and investors alike.

The panelists will share their experiences and insights on both value creation via sound business model and innovation in disease treatments, which are the two important elements for growth and success. Effective partnership/M&A as well as ever-changing US/global regulatory challenges and opportunities will also be discussed.

SPEAKERS

Dr. Akiko Futamura

President and CEO, InfiniteBio

Dr. Akiko Futamura is the President and CEO of InfiniteBio, Sunnyvale, California. She has extensive background in the business and science of biotechnology, and has worked for over 30 Japanese and US lifescience companies as an advisor/ consultant and played key roles in many important business deals and scientific collaborations. Currently Dr. Futamura is also the President and CEO of CarnaBio USA, the US subsidiary of Carna Biosciences. In addition, Dr. Akiko Futamura is formulating a new biotechnology company which is based on Dr. Futamura’s past research. Her new company will specialize in rational gene design and therapeutics development, especially in the areas of oncology and rare disease.
She was the founding member and the Executive Vice President of SC BioSciences USA from 2001-2006. SC BioSciences, the subsidiary of the Sumitomo Corporation. She was also the Vice President of Summit Biotech from 2001-2004 where she was one of the primary decision makers conducting investment activities of Sumitomo Corporation. Dr. Futamura obtained her B.S. in Biotechnology from University of Tokyo and a Ph.D in Biochemistry from the University of Illinois Medical School, Chicago.

Mr. Ken Horne

CEO, Symic Bio

Mr. Ken Horne has over 12 years of experience in the life science industry as an executive, entrepreneur and investor. He joined Symic Bio as CEO in April 2014. Previously, he was a founding member of TauTona Group, an early stage life science venture capital fund. At TauTona, Mr. Horne founded Aline Aesthetics, a novel biomaterial company, where he led the company as General Manager until its acquisition by Allergan (AGN) in 2014. He also served as Vice President of Business Development for TauTona portfolio companies, which included acquisitions by LifeCell and Novadaq (NVDQ). Mr. Horne has a BS and MS degree from Stanford University in mechanical engineering. He serves on the board of the Bay Area Discovery Museum (non-profit), and is also a Kauffman Fellow.

Dr. Kazunori Maruyama

Executive Investment Director and Head, Astellas Venture Management

Dr. Kazunori Maruyama is the executive investment director and the head of Astellas Venture Management (AVM), a California-based corporate venture arm of Astellas Pharma Inc. that is a top tier pharmaceutical company in Japan. Dr. Maruyama was appointed to the current position in December 2015. AVM is the fund management company with over $200M under management and with 50 investment portfolio in total. Prior to the current position, Dr. Maruyama served as Director, Business Development/ Innovation Management at Astellas Pharma Inc. from 2008 to 2015. He joined pharmaceutical industry as a research scientist at Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical in 1991, where he led a team of molecular endocrinology. Dr. Maruyama was one of the founding members of the corporate venture arm of Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical and deeply contributed to the expansion of its portfolio by 9 investments from 2003-2007, which ended up with four successful exits to date. He holds a PhD from The University of Tokyo.

MODERATOR

Dr. Danny Ooi

Technical Regulatory Lead/Program Manager, Genentech/Roche

Dr. Danny Ooi is a CMC regulatory professional at Genentech Inc. (a member of Roche Group) serving as a key stakeholder in numerous early-late stage drug development programs and contributing to the development of technical and global/US regulatory strategies. He currently co-authors a book chapter on ICH Quality guidance. He previously worked for TLC Biopharmaceutical in business development/R&D and Burrill & Company, a life-science focused venture capital firm based in San Francisco. Dr. Ooi received a BA from University of California, Berkeley and a Ph.D. from Harvard University.

DATE

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

REGISTRATION / NETWORKING: 5:30 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
PROGRAM: 6:00 P.M. – 8:15 P.M.
NETWORKING: 8:15 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
VENUE
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
650 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304
OPEN MAP
FLYERS

English Flyer
Japanese Flyer

FEES

$15: Early Bird Discount for first 30 registrations by May 28 (11PM)

$20: Regular Registration by Sunday, June 11 (11 PM)

$35: Late Registration by Wednesday, June 13 (Noon)

$50: Walk-ins (Seats are limited and may not be available)

Food, including sushi and beverages, will be served.