2025 Advancing Drug Development Forum Agenda
Join Us at the Conference
Thursday, December 11, 2025
Timing is approximate, and subject to change
Agenda
Keynote: Biotech Leadership the Long View
A rare, candid conversation with Harvey Berger on building—and rebuilding—companies at the cutting edge of science. From pioneering cancer therapies to shaping the next generation of biotech leadership, his journey will inspire, challenge, and equip you to think bigger about what’s possible in drug development.
Expect hard-won lessons on leading through uncertainty, aligning teams through pivots, and developing leaders who can scale ideas from concept to clinic.
Harvey Berger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arena BioWorks, LLC
Moderator: Alok Tayi, CEO, Vibe Bio, Biotech 2050
AI in Pharma: Can it Really Accelerate Development Timelines?
Our cross-functional panel looks past the buzz to where AI is already earning time back through predictive modeling, smarter trial design, and faster decision cycles. Hear from leaders from across the industry and discover how AI is already transforming the way we discover, develop, and deliver new therapies.
Learn what’s working, what isn’t, and how to scope AI use cases that move real endpoints.
Keith Parent, CEO & Owner, Court Square Group
Alok Tayi, CEO, Vibe Bio, Biotech 2050
Kevin J Bittorf, Founder & Principal Consultant, SCxCMC Solutions
Quinn Johns, CEO EITRI AI
Break
Overcoming the Pitfalls of Getting Prepared for a Clinical Trial
Why Are the Trials Ex-US
Step inside the real-world challenges of getting clinical trials off the ground and why so many are happening outside the U.S. Our expert panel pulls no punches as they unpack the hidden pitfalls, regulatory hurdles, and operational missteps that can derail even the most promising programs, while sharing the strategies that can turn setbacks into successful, on-time launches.
Gina Matarazzo, Managing Director, Sallop Insurance Agency, Inc.
Craig Mooney, Global Head of IRT, Taikun Pharma Services
Sara Tylosky, CEO Farmacon
Lois Rosenberger, Founder of LBR Regulatory and Clinical Consulting Services
From China to Canada:
Rethinking Pharma Supply Chain Strategies
“As Heraclitus once opined, ‘Change is the only constant.’”
Few areas in drug development are more impacted—and more impactful—than the supply chain, where logistics remain in flux amid tariff pressure and reshoring.
This discussion examines regional risk, dual sourcing, tech-enabled visibility, and how to future-proof material and manufacturing plans when “normal” keeps shifting.
Ben Locwin, Reliant Life Sciences
Elizabeth Rebeil, Veranova, Global VP Supply Chain and Operational Excellence
Gil Roth, President, Pharma and Biopharma Outsourcing Association
Kurt Nielsen, Managing Partner, Expert Insights
Moderator: Ben Locwin, Reliant Life Sciences
Networking Lunch
Afternoon Keynote: RNA-Targeted Small Molecules (rSMs) are Pushing the Boundaries of Drug Development
Get ready for a bold and brilliant keynote from Jennifer Petter, the trailblazing founder of Arrakis Therapeutics. As a pioneer in RNA-targeted small molecules, Jennifer is rewriting the rules of drug discovery—pushing scientific boundaries, defying conventional thinking, and revealing how breakthrough ideas can become game-changing therapies. This is the future of drug development, delivered firsthand.
Jennifer Petter, Founder & Chief Scientific + Innovation Officer, Arrakis Therapeutics
NEW WORKSHOP LAUNCH
Kicking off its inaugural year, the bRo5 Live Lab participants begin their day of pushing the established boundaries of drug formulation with a keynote address from Jennifer Petter.
Investments Amid Market & Political Uncertainty
How Policy and Perception are Shifting Bio Tech Capital Flows
Fundraising looks different this cycle. Many are insulated from broader market swings, so headlines can mislead. From a macro vantage, this panel shows where capital is actually flowing—and what it means for timing, milestones, and deal structure amid market and political noise.
Danielle O'Neal, Senior VP, Banc of California
Meg Krench, Investor, Sanofi Ventures
Chris Garabedian, Portfolio Manager, Perceptive Advisors
Kirk Taylor, President/CEO, Mass Life Science
Far East Inlicensing:
The New Research Powerhouse
Biopharmaceutical deals with Asian partners have long centered on services, with Asian firms as providers and US/EU sponsors as innovators. That pattern is shifting: more Asian companies now lead with novel pipelines and pursue innovation-led licensing and M&A.
Expect guidance on scouting and diligence; deal structures; IP and data protection; and co-development models that transfer know-how.
Patrick Bench, Founder and President, Benchmark Strategies
Roger Frechette, Member Board of Directors, Jeevan Therapeutics
Brian Yang, Managing Editor Citeline and Sr Writer Informa
Simon McGurk, GSK VP Strategic External Development
Break
Scaling Up Without Falling Apart:
Can Culture Keep Up With Growth?
Moving from Biotech Startup to Operational Excellence
Scaling up isn’t just about headcount and funding—it’s about bringing in the right people at the right time. This session dives into how leaders can protect and evolve corporate culture while building organizations that move fast without losing focus. Hear candid insights from executives who have lived the tension between growth and culture, and learn what it really takes to scale with strength and stability.
Catherine Smith, Executive Director, The Termeer Foundation
Justin Klee, Founder & CEO, Amylyx Pharmaceuticals
Nele Van Dessel, CEO, Ernest Pharmaceuticals
Margaret "Missy" Fulton, Founder & CEO, Chameleon Strategies, LLC
Baruch Harris, COO Pretzel Therapeutics
Moderator: Margaret "Missy" Fulton, Founder & CEO, Chameleon Strategies, LLC
Fireside Chat: Transformation of the Boston Biotech
The Fireside Chat ignites the stage with Boston’s biotech trailblazers in a raw, no-filter conversation about what’s driving transformation right now. Expect bold perspectives, unvarnished lessons, and breakthrough ideas that challenge the status quo and spark new possibilities. This is where the energy peaks, the insights get real, and the future of drug development takes shape in front of you.
Brad Loncar, Founder, BiotechTV
Joshua Cohen, Founder & CEO, Amylyx Pharmaceuticals
Ivana Magovcevic - Liebisch, PhD, JD, Chief Executive Officer and President, Vigil Neuroscience
Networking
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