The Biotech Press Lounge has established itself as a networking event for the Martinsried Science Campus. Over 100 guests from the biotech, pharmaceutical, and venture capital industries met on May 16, 2018, at the 8th Biotech Press Lounge in the Faculty Club G2B (Gateway to Biotech) to listen to renowned speakers and engage in discussion afterwards.
“I am very pleased that we have been able to attract such high-caliber speakers for the Biotech Press Lounge, who will not only be coming to the IZB for this event, but will also be accompanying us regularly throughout the year,”
so Dr. Peter Hanns Zobel, Managing Director of the IZB.
The event was moderated by IZB the editor-in-chief of FOCUS Gesundheit, Jochen Niehaus, win. Ph.D. Timothy Luker, Senior Director, Emerging Technology & Innovation, Business Development at Eli Lilly, explained the pharmaceutical company's external innovation strategy.
Prof. Dr. Patrick Baeuerle, Managing Director of MPM Capital, presented a new approach to investing in cancer drugs through the company Cullinan Oncology. Stephen S. Yoder, CEO of Pieris Pharmaceuticals Inc., spoke about the challenges and opportunities of building a sustainable, innovative biotech company in Germany and beyond.
“The outstanding technological developments and the good financing of Pieris, one of our most successful companies at the IZB, show how exceptionally innovative the life science location in Munich is,”
Zobel commented on the presentations.
High-quality medicines that improve lives
The first speaker was Ph.D. Timothy Luker, Senior Director, Emerging Technology & Innovation, Business Development at Eli Lilly, on the development of high-quality medicines and the necessary search for external innovations.
“Since Eli Lilly and Co. was founded in 1876, our mission has remained unchanged: to develop high-quality medicines that improve lives,”
says Luker.
"We know we can't do it alone and must be innovative in our scientific and collaborative relationships to develop medicines. We are excited about groundbreaking innovations in oncology, immunology, neurogeneration, pain therapy, and diabetes. This gives us exciting models to bring the best science into our pipeline,"
Luker explains further.
The second speaker, Prof. Dr. Patrick Baeuerle, Managing Director of MPM Capital, presented a new way to invest in cancer drugs and explained the concept of Cullinan Oncology. Founded in 2017 with Owen Hughes and Ansbert Gadicke, the company is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and currently has 10 employees. Investors include the UBS Oncology Impact Fund, managed by MPM Capital, and F2 Ventures.
“Cullinan Oncology received a Series A investment of $150 million, which will fund five to eight new companies developing new cancer drugs under its umbrella,”
Baeuerle is happy.
“The second half of the year will be exciting for Pieris”
Stephen Yoder, CEO of Pieris Pharmaceuticals, based at the IZB in Weihenstephan and Boston, discussed Pieris' Anticalin® drug discovery and development platform as well as the challenges and opportunities of building a sustainable innovative biotech company in Germany and beyond.
“Pieris uses its unique technology to develop treatments for oncological and respiratory diseases,”
explained Yoder.
The company recently announced a collaboration with Seattle Genetics in the field of immuno-oncology, which represents an important addition to its portfolio of strategic partnerships, which also includes AstraZeneca and Servier.
“The second half of the year will be exciting for Pieris as we intend to publish data for three of our clinical programs,”
said Yoder at the end of his lecture.
The next Biotech Press Lounge will take place on October 11, 2018. As the event is limited to 100 guests, a Registration required.
