Commercialization strategies for next-generation medicines

The Center for Biotechnology at Stony Brook University, in collaboration with Demy-Colton Life Science Advisors, and key opinion leaders from the biotech and biopharmaceutical industries, academia, medical research foundations, and investment community, has organized a two-day event to forge partnerships to accelerate the development of new treatments for some of the world's most devastating diseases affecting millions. The Life Sciences Summit is the only national translational science partnering event that brings these groups together to map out commercialization strategies for next-generation medicines. The event takes place at Sentry Centers Midtown East in New York City on November 16-17, 2011.

Event co-hosts include Stony Brook University, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and Brookhaven National Laboratory. The program features more than 150 internationally recognized speakers, including presentations by pharmaceutical company executives, venture capitalists, and nationally recognized physician and academic leaders. Attendees will engage in interactive symposia, workshops, and partnering sessions focused on biomedical solutions in the fields of infectious diseases, neuroscience, oncology, and regenerative medicine. Dozens of new companies will showcase their business platforms featuring breakthrough technologies emerging from leading academic institutions worldwide that have the potential to transform the industry and human healthcare.

"All of the companies and technologies that will be presented have the potential to make significant contributions to the next generation of medical products that could help to transform therapies for many illnesses," says Diane Fabel, Executive Director, Life Sciences Summit, and Director of Operations, Center for Biotechnology. "The concentration of intellect, creativity, and innovation at the event creates a dynamic atmosphere that fosters opportunities for collaborations, new business, and new dialogue focused on the future of the biotechnology industry."

Fabel adds that leading executives from the world's most prestigious and prolific biomedical research institutions, along with leaders from industry and major medical research foundations, will debate what needs to change industry-wide in order to accelerate translation and increase the yield of new "bench to bedside" therapeutics. Four featured plenary sessions will be platforms for the debates.

"The Power of Patients: Their Role in Developing new Translational Research Models to Accelerate the Quest for Cures" looks at new ways to involve patients as partners to deliver the promise of discoveries more quickly to patients' bedsides.

"Evolution or Revolution? Transforming how Basic Research Discoveries Become Life Saving Therapies" examines why despite increasing investment by pharmaceutical research, the number of drug approvals has not improved in decades.

"Working Together: The Need is Mutual" explores new models that have the potential to make therapeutic development more efficient and productive, benefitting all stakeholders including patients.

"Funding Innovative New Medicines: Where is the Money?" will discuss the characteristics of fundable projects and companies, and share views on what will be fundable in the future.

A central component of the program is the Translational Research Forum, which focuses on breakthrough science of commercial significance led by internationally recognized thought leaders in infectious diseases, neuroscience, oncology, and regenerative medicine.

Despite the plethora of clinically useful antibacterial agents developed in the 20th Century, continued development of bacterial resistance to agents call for the discovery and development of new antibiotics. The Forum's Infectious Diseases Tract includes information on some of the most promising small and large molecule developments in the antibacterial agent arena. With neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases affecting 10 million people globally each year, and expected to grow another 20 percent over the next decade due to the aging population, the Neurology Tract details emerging treatments based on unraveling the genetic underpinnings and environmental factors related to neurological diseases for new treatment and prophylactic solutions.

The Oncology Tract explores new paradigms for the development of next-generation cancer therapies with a look toward new treatments that meet a rising standard of care for patients. The Regenerative Medicine Tract features recent developments in bioengineering technology and provide a lens into the future beyond currently available treatments based on regenerative processes, such as bone marrow transplantation, skin grafting, and cartilage repair. Presentations focus on technologies with regenerative applications to treat major diseases of the cardiovascular, neurological, hepatic, pulmonary, and renal systems.

Eight Business Workshop sessions will serve as a guide to emerging companies and academic faculty entrepreneurs looking to launch, build and fund a life sciences company. Workshop examples are "Technology Transfer: New 'practices' are emerging to meet the reality of funding and drug development," and "Drug Development Basics: It is a very multidisciplinary effort."

Rounding out the event is the Partnering Forum powered by "Collaborate™," an on-line partnering service meeting delegates can use before and during the meeting to profile their organization and connect with other attendees to discuss mutual business opportunities.

Proceeds from the Summit will help seed a bio-innovation research fund being developed by the Center for Biotechnology to support the discovery, development, translation, and commercialization of the next generation biomedical technologies. For more on the full schedule of activities, see this page on the Life Sciences Summit website.