Fierce Pharma Engage 2025: Full Schedule

The biotech industry has witnessed significant shifts in investment trends and therapeutic focus in recent years. Historically, dominated by oncology and immunology, there is now a rising interest in Central Nervous System (CNS) transactions, driven by innovative developments in neuropsychology, including new treatments for Alzheimer's and schizophrenia. This anticipated surge is fueled by the loss of exclusivity for major drugs, creating a competitive landscape with substantial pent-up demand. Additionally, the importance of early engagement, strategic leadership, and relationship-building in mergers and acquisitions is underscored by the increasing bidding intensity and scarcity of quality assets.

This presentation will delve into these trends, highlighting the strategic implications for future investments and partnerships in the biotech sector.

Speakers

Konstantina Katcheves

Senior Vice President, Innovative Medicines Global Business Development, Teva Pharmaceuticals

Tuesday April 29, 2025 9:15am - 9:45am PDT
Town & Country Ballroom A Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Business Development & Licensing

9:45am PDT

Accelerating Due Diligence with Generative AI Solutions

Tuesday April 29, 2025 9:45am - 10:15am PDT

Town & Country Ballroom A

In a world where generative AI chatbots and Q&A solutions are revolutionizing how we interact with information, the true power of these technologies hinges on the foundation they’re built upon. In this session, we’ll explore how agentic workflows and multi-threaded generative AI can process countless bespoke queries simultaneously—driving unprecedented speed, scale, and depth in research.

Yet amidst this wave of innovation, one truth stands firm: the insights generated are only as valuable as the data behind them. For both providers and consumers of information, the most transformative breakthroughs will come not from generic web content, but from leveraging the most trusted research—what resides within the four walls of your organization. By anchoring AI in your proprietary intelligence, you unlock a new era of precision and confidence in decision-making.

Speakers

Craig Farrell

Director, Enterprise Intelligence Application, AlphaSense

Craig Farrell is currently the Director, Enterprise Intelligence Application at AlphaSense. From 2018 to 2024 he served as the Director of Go-To-Market Strategy. During that time, he focused on building growth strategies for AlphaSense’s largest client segment, life sciences, as... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 9:45am - 10:15am PDT
Town & Country Ballroom A Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Business Development & Licensing

10:15am PDT

Networking Break BD&L

Tuesday April 29, 2025 10:15am - 10:45am PDT

Golden State Ballroom

Tuesday April 29, 2025 10:15am - 10:45am PDT
Golden State Ballroom Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Business Development & Licensing

10:45am PDT

Panel: Navigating Pharma’s Deal Drivers and Priorities

Tuesday April 29, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am PDT

Town & Country Ballroom A

Explore the key factors influencing pharma’s deal-making decisions, from therapeutic focus areas to strategic priorities, and uncover how to align opportunities with the evolving needs of the industry.

Identify the therapeutic areas and deal types that are driving pharma’s current business strategies.
Understand how pharma companies are adapting to shifting market dynamics and innovation pipelines.
Learn practical approaches for aligning biotech and VC opportunities with pharma’s evolving priorities.

Moderators

Siobhan Pomeroy

Vice President, Corporate Development, Gilead Sciences

Speakers

Jakub Pijewski

VP US Commercial Strategy, Business Development and External Collaborations, GSK

Jakub Pijewski, PhD, is a seasoned commercial leader in the pharmaceutical industry with background in business development, brand strategy, and therapeutic area management. Currently serving as the VP of Commercial Strategy and Business Development at GSK US, Jakub has built a new... Read More →

Kendra Rose

Senior Vice President and Head of BD&L/OI New Platforms, Cardiovascular and Immunology, Bayer

Emma McBurney

Vice President, Head of Business Development & M&A, Biogen

Emma McBurney serves as the Vice President and Head of Business Development and M&A at Biogen, where Emma leads a team responsible for negotiating and executing significant transactions across various therapeutic areas, and across all development stages from research to commercial... Read More →

Lesley Stolz

Vice President, Early Innovation Partnering, Johnson & Johnson

Lesley is Vice President, Early Innovation Partnering at Johnson & Johnson Innovation. In this role, she leads identification, incubation, due diligence, negotiation, execution and on-boarding for high-impact partnerships and collaborations in external innovation. Lesley also oversees... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am PDT
Town & Country Ballroom A Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Business Development & Licensing

11:30am PDT

Accelerating Biotech Success: Early-Stage Development Strategies to Secure Funding

Tuesday April 29, 2025 11:30am - 12:00pm PDT

Town & Country Ballroom A

When it comes to maximizing asset value and securing funding, a compelling commercialization strategy is as important as strong science. In this session, we’ll discuss how new approaches to asset development which wholistically integrate both clinical and commercial considerations can de-risk development costs, maximize uptake, and help support a better value creation narrative for investors or other key stakeholders.

Speakers

Vik Chawla

Managing Director, Commercial Advisory, Syneos Health

Vik Chawla has over 14 years of experience advising leading biopharma companies on a wide range of strategic issues, including portfolio strategy, M&A, commercial due diligence, forecasting, and commercialization. In addition, Vik led and supported numerous commercial due diligence... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 11:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Town & Country Ballroom A Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Business Development & Licensing

12:00pm PDT

Better Together Mixer Sponsored by Swoop

Tuesday April 29, 2025 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT

Golden State Foyer

Tuesday April 29, 2025 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Golden State Foyer Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Medical Affairs

12:00pm PDT

Networking Lunch BD&L

Tuesday April 29, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT

Golden State Ballroom

Tuesday April 29, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Golden State Ballroom Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Business Development & Licensing

12:00pm PDT

Registration Medical Affairs

Tuesday April 29, 2025 12:00pm - 5:00pm PDT

Town & Country Foyer

Tuesday April 29, 2025 12:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Town & Country Foyer

Medical Affairs

12:00pm PDT

Registration Pharma Marketing

Tuesday April 29, 2025 12:00pm - 5:00pm PDT

Town & Country Foyer

Tuesday April 29, 2025 12:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Town & Country Foyer

Pharma Marketing

12:00pm PDT

Registration PR & Communications

Tuesday April 29, 2025 12:00pm - 5:00pm PDT

Town & Country Foyer

Tuesday April 29, 2025 12:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Town & Country Foyer

PR & Communications

12:45pm PDT

Medical Affairs Opening Remarks

Tuesday April 29, 2025 12:45pm - 1:00pm PDT

Town & Country Ballroom C

Speakers

Ralph Rewers

Former Executive Director Medical Affairs, Gilead

A creative, achievement oriented professional with established performance at three pharma/biotech companies, progressing from a field based medical role to senior leadership level positions in more than 12 different therapeutic areas. Proven ability to create functions and communicate... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 12:45pm - 1:00pm PDT
Town & Country Ballroom C Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Medical Affairs

12:45pm PDT

Pharma Marketing Opening Remarks

Tuesday April 29, 2025 12:45pm - 1:00pm PDT

Town & Country Ballroom D

Speakers

Stephanie Butler

Senior Conference Production Director, Fierce Life Sciences

Stephanie Butler is a Senior Conference Production Director with Fierce Life Sciences responsible for content development for various in-person and virtual Fierce events including Digital Pharma East, BD&L for Life Sciences, Fierce Pharma Engage, Fierce Pharma Week, and Fierce JPM... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 12:45pm - 1:00pm PDT
Town & Country Ballroom D Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Pharma Marketing

Qtag FPE-Marketing

12:45pm PDT

Welcome and Opening Remarks - PR & Communications

Tuesday April 29, 2025 12:45pm - 1:00pm PDT

Town & Country Ballroom B

Speakers

Wendy Lund

Chief Client Officer, Health@WPP

Wendy rejoined WPP in a newly created role to ensure strong, global, WPP-level support for clients around the world and further differentiate, diversity, and expand WPP’s footprint in the transforming health sector. With ongoing transformation in the healthcare sector, her goal... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 12:45pm - 1:00pm PDT
Town & Country Ballroom B Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

PR & Communications

1:00pm PDT

Ice Breaker Activity

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:00pm - 1:30pm PDT

Town & Country Ballroom D

Speakers

Stephanie Butler

Senior Conference Production Director, Fierce Life Sciences

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:00pm - 1:30pm PDT
Town & Country Ballroom D Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Pharma Marketing

1:00pm PDT

Media Readiness on the Global Stage: Telling Your Untold Story When it Matters Most

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:00pm - 1:30pm PDT

Town & Country Ballroom B

Speakers

Gloria “Glo” Janata, JD

President, CEO & Owner, TogoRun

Gloria (Glo) Janata is an award-winning public relations strategist and marketing communications expert with more than 25 years of global agency, in-house and non-profit experience, focusing on health care and wellbeing.Known for her creativity, passion, and drive for excellence... Read More →

Kate Broderick, PhD

Chief Innovation Officer, Maravai LifeSciences

Dr. Kate Broderick leverages more than 20 years of life science experience with over 15 years in research and development as the head of Maravai’s newly established Science and Innovation Office. A recognized expert in vaccine and nucleic acid technology, Dr. Broderick has led global... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:00pm - 1:30pm PDT
Town & Country Ballroom B Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

PR & Communications

1:00pm PDT

Panel: The Investor Perspective on Life Sciences Investment Trends

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT

Town & Country Ballroom A

Hear from capital partners on the latest trends shaping life sciences investments, including how they evaluate opportunities, manage risks, and identify game-changing innovations in biotech and pharma.

Explore the therapeutic areas, technologies, and business models attracting VC interest in 2025.
Learn how VCs approach valuation, risk assessment, and market positioning for biotech startups.
Gain insights into building strong partnerships with investors to drive long-term success.

Moderators

Mariana Mihalusova

Vice President, Venrock

Speakers

Jennifer Friel Goldstein

Head of Relationship Management, Technology and Healthcare, Silicon Valley Bank

Jennifer Friel Goldstein is head of Relationship Management, Technology and Healthcare at Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank. In this role, she leverages her 20+ years of experience financing innovation to develop creative capital solutions for SVB's clients, connect... Read More →

Andrew Lam

Managing Director, Head of Biotech Private Equity, Ally Bridge Group

David Yang

Principal, Lux Capital

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Town & Country Ballroom A Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Business Development & Licensing

1:00pm PDT

Keynote Panel: Shaping the Future: CMO Insights on Strategic Evolution in Medical Affairs

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT

Town & Country Ballroom C

Discover how Medical Affairs drives a comprehensive approach to product development
Explore the transformative impact of Medical Affairs throughout every stage of a product’s lifecycle
Learn strategic approaches to fostering innovation and prioritizing future-focused investments

Moderators

Allison Trucillo, MD

Vice President, Medical Affairs, Avalyn Pharma

Speakers

William Go, MD, Ph.D.

Chief Medical Officer, A2 Biotherapeutics

William Go, M.D., Ph.D., oversees all aspects of A2 Bio’s development of T cell therapies utilizing the company’s novel platform technology.Previously, Will worked at Kite Pharma (acquired by Gilead) where he developed novel immune-cellular therapies for the treatment of cancer... Read More →

Amreen Husain, MD

Chief Medical Officer, RayzeBio

Amreen Husain, MD is an accomplished physician and drug developer who brings more than a decade of experience across large pharma and small biotech. Her extensive experience in oncology drug development spans all phases and multiple therapeutic areas and modalities including immuno-oncology... Read More →

Steven Zhang, MD, PhD

Chief Medical Officer, Thea Pharma

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Town & Country Ballroom C Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Medical Affairs

1:30pm PDT

Opening Keynote: Catch and Correct: Data-Triggered Promotion for Hospital Transition of Care

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:30pm - 2:00pm PDT

Town & Country Ballroom D

This talk will explore the use of Data-Triggered promotion to identify HCPs that have discharged their hospitalized invasive candidiasis patients on daily IV therapy vs once -weekly IV therapy and “correct” their prescribing going forward.

Speakers

David Newman

VP of Marketing, Melinta Therapeutics

Specialty marketing leader with 25 years of experience in the oncology, critical care, hospital and anti-infective markets. Currently VP of Marketing at Melinta Therapeutics overseeing the successful launch or REZZAYO™ (rezafungin for injection) for Candidemia and Invasive Cand... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:30pm - 2:00pm PDT
Town & Country Ballroom D Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Pharma Marketing

Qtag FPE-Marketing

1:30pm PDT

Case Study: From Startup to Market: Inside Arcturus Therapeutics’ Vaccine Launch

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:30pm - 2:00pm PDT

Town & Country Ballroom B

Discover the remarkable journey of Arcturus Therapeutics, a trailblazing biotech that defied the odds to launch the world’s first sa-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine—that’s been approved in the European Community which includes the 27 countries of the EU (plus three others), and in Japan. This case study will showcase how a company that started with just $15,000 built a commercialized product through relentless effort, innovative collaboration, and strategic branding.

Speakers

Neda Safarzadeh

Vice President, Head of: Investor Relations/ Public Relations /Marketing, Arcturus Therapeutics

Neda Safarzadeh is the Vice President, Head of Investor relations/Public relations/Marketing at Arcturus Therapeutics. She has served at Arcturus Therapeutics since company’s inception, joining company’ co-founders in 2013. During her time at Arcturus, she helped the management... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:30pm - 2:00pm PDT
Town & Country Ballroom B Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

PR & Communications

1:45pm PDT

China and BD&L 3.0: Navigating Innovation, Regulatory, and Culture for Global Success

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:45pm - 2:15pm PDT

Town & Country Ballroom A

As China emerges as a key player in the global biopharma ecosystem—driven by a surge in novel drug development, innovative technology platforms, and expanding global ambitions—BD&L strategies must evolve accordingly. Expanding into or partnering with China presents unique challenges alongside significant rewards. This session explores how to successfully engage with China by navigating its innovation landscape, regulatory environment, and cultural dynamics to unlock sustainable growth and maximize global impact.

Objectives

Identify key success factors for building effective strategy and synergistic partnership
Discuss regulatory frameworks, market access considerations, and cultural insights to guide localized, cross-border dealmaking
Learn from real-world examples of China-focused BD&L collaborations

Speakers

Yaming Wang, Ph.D.

Managing Director, Alphabet Consulting

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:45pm - 2:15pm PDT
Town & Country Ballroom A Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Business Development & Licensing

2:00pm PDT

THE AI-ENABLED AGENCY: How AI Enables an Agency to Drive Value Beyond Tactical Execution and Establish Strategic Partnerships with Medical Affairs Teams

Tuesday April 29, 2025 2:00pm - 2:30pm PDT

Town & Country Ballroom C

Examine how implementation of AI in agency workflows drives strategic value for Medical Affairs teams
Explore use cases and real-world examples that illustrate how agencies can unleash the power of AI within Medical Affairs
Discuss how agencies and Medical Affairs teams can harness AI to build long-term strategic partnerships that go beyond tactical execution

Speakers

Quentin O'Brien

Quentin O'Brien, VP, Scientific Strategy, Medical Communications & Innovation, Klick Health

A 2024 MM+M 40 Under 40 honoree with nearly a decade of experience in medical communications, O’Brien takes on a new role within Klick’s Medical Communications & Innovation team, leveraging both her in-house medical affairs expertise and agency background working across a wide... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 2:00pm - 2:30pm PDT
Town & Country Ballroom C Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Medical Affairs

2:00pm PDT

AI, Privacy, and the Future of DTC: Walking the Tightrope of Innovation

Tuesday April 29, 2025 2:00pm - 2:30pm PDT

Town & Country Ballroom D

Advances in AI are transforming direct-to-consumer (DTC) audience modeling, enabling more precise and effective engagement while navigating the complex landscape of data privacy. The FDA has long recognized the value of DTC advertising in informing consumer healthcare decisions, but emerging AI capabilities—paired with evolving privacy challenges—require new strategies for responsible audience creation. As AI-driven personalization grows more sophisticated, so do the risks associated with data reconstruction and re-identification. Practitioners and technologists will share how to leverage AI while maintaining trust, ensuring compliance, and adapting to an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

Speakers

David Reim

Senior Director, Product & Strategy, IQVIA Digital

David Reim leads the Audience Data group within IQVIA Digital. David draws from his extensive background in product development, client needs, and the U.S. legal and regulatory environment, to deliver data-driven solutions to healthcare clients which meet internal and external ex... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 2:00pm - 2:30pm PDT
Town & Country Ballroom D Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Pharma Marketing

2:00pm PDT

Building a Best-in-Class Internal Communications Strategy: Engaging Employees and Elevating Corporate Culture

Tuesday April 29, 2025 2:00pm - 2:30pm PDT

Town & Country Ballroom B

Hear how a strategic internal communications program can support company growth, strengthen culture, and drive employee engagement during times of transformation.
Learn how to develop a compelling editorial strategy, from launching an employee newsletter to creating an engaging intranet that serves as a dynamic daily news hub.
Discover innovative ways to enhance leadership communication, from interactive all-employee meetings to a structured m

Speakers

Michael Hromadik

Former Director, Corporate Affairs, Ionis Pharmaceuticals

Michael Hromadik is the principal of an employee and corporate communications consultancy. He is an imaginative professional with 25+ years of experience in public relations, marketing and internal communications, specializing in growing and emerging corporations and nonprofit organizations.Mr... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 2:00pm - 2:30pm PDT
Town & Country Ballroom B Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

PR & Communications

2:15pm PDT

Networking Break + One-to-One Partnering Meetings

Tuesday April 29, 2025 2:15pm - 4:15pm PDT

Golden State Ballroom

Tuesday April 29, 2025 2:15pm - 4:15pm PDT
Golden State Ballroom Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Business Development & Licensing

2:30pm PDT

Networking Break Medical Affairs

Tuesday April 29, 2025 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT

Golden State Ballroom

Tuesday April 29, 2025 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT
Golden State Ballroom Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Medical Affairs

2:30pm PDT

Caffeinated Conversations Sponsored by PatientPoint

Tuesday April 29, 2025 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT

Golden State Ballroom

Tuesday April 29, 2025 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT
Golden State Ballroom Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Pharma Marketing

2:30pm PDT

Networking Break PR & Communications

Tuesday April 29, 2025 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT

Golden State Ballroom

Tuesday April 29, 2025 2:30pm - 3:00pm PDT
Golden State Ballroom Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

PR & Communications

2:30pm PDT

1:1 Curated Meetings with Event Partners

Tuesday April 29, 2025 2:30pm - 3:45pm PDT

Golden State Ballroom

Tuesday April 29, 2025 2:30pm - 3:45pm PDT
Golden State Ballroom Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Medical Affairs

3:00pm PDT

Icebreaker Activity: Medical Affairs Bingo

Tuesday April 29, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT

Town & Country Ballroom C

Tuesday April 29, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Town & Country Ballroom C Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Medical Affairs

3:00pm PDT

Panel: Strategic Storytelling: Aligning Messages to Inspire and Connect

Tuesday April 29, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT

Town & Country Ballroom B

Storytelling has the power to shape cultures, inspire movements, and connect people to a shared purpose. In this dynamic panel, learn how to align storytelling efforts with your corporate narrative and develop a strategy that ensures consistent messaging across internal and external channels. Panelists will share insights into overcoming challenges, crafting authentic narratives, and leveraging storytelling as a transformative tool for humanizing organizations and driving meaningful change.

• Gain practical tips for co-creating stories that effectively amplify strategic messages.
• Discover innovative ways to evoke emotions, communicate priorities, and achieve organizational goals through storytelling.
• Hear real-world examples of how storytelling has been used to unite teams, engage audiences, and drive success

Moderators

Lynnea Olivarez

Founder & Community Manager, Ticket to Biotech

Lynnea Olivarez is a savvy life science communicator with experience spanning industry, agency and government. She recently founded the global biopharma communicator community Ticket to Biotech (T2B) after 15 years driving impactful communications across the drug development lifecycle... Read More →

Speakers

Sara Dunn

Head of Global Neurology Communications, Sanofi

Sara is a marketing, communications, advocacy and corporate strategy leader with 20+ years of experience in healthcare. With a passion for science and insight-driven communications, she has led successful initiatives across therapeutic areas with large pharmaceutical companies, professional... Read More →

Ilke Limoncu

Director, Global Communications and Public Affairs, Business Unit Oncology, AbbVie

Ilke Limoncu is a seasoned, strategic communications executive with more than 25 years of public relations and healthcare industry experience in the U.S. and international markets. Currently, she leads Public Affairs for AbbVie’s U.S. Oncology portfolio with responsibility for therapeutic... Read More →

Eamonn Nolan

Senior Director, Corporate Communications, Agios Pharmaceuticals

Eamonn Nolan is a seasoned corporate communications and investor relations leader with a strong track record in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and healthcare non-profit sectors. He specializes in advising C-suite executives, enhancing corporate reputation, articulating compelling value... Read More →

Madeleine Shin

EVP, US Health Media Lead, Weber Shandwick

Madeleine has a diverse, 15-year background in healthcare communications anduring which she has managed media, messaging and crisis response for powerprofessional associations and federal lawmakers. She currently serves as the USIPG, overseeing a team of 30 healthcare media specialists... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm PDT
Town & Country Ballroom B Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

PR & Communications

Qtag PR&CommsFeaturedSession

3:00pm PDT

1:1 Curated Meetings with Event Partners

Tuesday April 29, 2025 3:00pm - 4:15pm PDT

Golden State Ballroom

Tuesday April 29, 2025 3:00pm - 4:15pm PDT
Golden State Ballroom Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Pharma Marketing

3:45pm PDT

Achieving a Comprehensive View of Key Opinion Leader Engagement

Tuesday April 29, 2025 3:45pm - 4:15pm PDT

Town & Country Ballroom C

Understanding the holistic view of a KOL, including their external activities (publications, conferences, etc.) and internal engagements with your organization (interactions with reps, clinical trial involvement, advisory roles).
Challenges faced when lacking a comprehensive view, such as miscommunications, missed opportunities, and inconsistent KOL interactions.
The benefits of having up-to-date and centralized KOL data accessible through a single source, eliminating the need for manual updates and ensuring consistent information across the organization

Speakers

Stacey Rivkin

Senior Vice President of Commercial Strategy, H1

Stacey Rivkin is the Senior Vice President of Commercial Strategy at H1, where she ensures that what H1 builds delivers real value to clients—and that the commercial team can clearly articulate that value. Sitting at the intersection of product, data, and commercial strategy, she... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 3:45pm - 4:15pm PDT
Town & Country Ballroom C Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Medical Affairs

3:45pm PDT

Panel: Building a Well-Rounded Career in Life Sciences Communications

Tuesday April 29, 2025 3:45pm - 4:30pm PDT

Town & Country Ballroom B

This panel brings together leaders from diverse backgrounds and roles within the communications space to share their unique career stories. Panelists will discuss how they navigated nontraditional career moves, what skills proved most valuable, and how lateral or divergent shifts shaped their success in current leadership roles. With candid, authentic conversations, they’ll explore the breadth of opportunities in life sciences communications and provide actionable insights for those looking to diversify their own careers. Attendees will leave inspired, understanding that sometimes the most rewarding paths are not the most direct.

Moderators

Julie Ames

President, The Cambridge Group

Julie Ames is president and founder of The Cambridge Group, where she is engaged in solving communications, leadership and public policy problems for a range of organizations, including corporations, governments and non-profit organizations in the biotechnology, software, utility... Read More →

Speakers

Peggy Vorwald, Ph.D.

Senior Director Corporate Communications, Caribou Biosciences

Michael Levey

Director, Global Media Relations, Merck

Michael is a corporate communications leader with more than two decades of in-house and agency experience in the biopharmaceutical and medical device industries. He has a proven track record in leading integrated communications plans and media engagement strategies that drive measurable... Read More →

Carolyn Scofield, MPS

Asst. Director of Marketing & Communications, Tulane Medicine

Carolyn Scofield is the assistant director of marketing and communications at Tulane University School of Medicine. With over 20 years of experience in media and communications, she specializes in strategic planning and team leadership.Carolyn began her career as a television news... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 3:45pm - 4:30pm PDT
Town & Country Ballroom B Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

PR & Communications

Qtag PR&CommsFeaturedSession

4:15pm PDT

Panel: Building High-Impact Partnerships: Strategies for Success

Tuesday April 29, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm PDT

Town & Country Ballroom A

Partnerships are the cornerstone of innovation and growth in pharma and biotech. This session explores actionable strategies to identify, evaluate, and secure meaningful collaborations that align with organizational goals and deliver long-term value.

Learn how to align partnership opportunities with scientific, strategic, and financial objectives for maximum impact.
Explore practical approaches to assessing partner fit, including cultural compatibility, resource alignment, and shared goals.

Gain insights into navigating common challenges in partner selection, from early-stage collaboration to long-term execution.

Moderators

Jeannie Karl

Senior Director, Pharma Partnering Transactions, Genentech

Jeannie Karl Ph.D., J.D., is a Senior Director in the Partnering Transactions Group in Corporate Business Development at Genentech, Inc., a member of the Roche Group. She is responsible for structuring and negotiating deal structure and terms in collaboration or licensing deals with... Read More →

Speakers

Adria Carbo

Head, Business Development, Orca Bio

Ramlah Nehring

Global Head of Partnering - Strategy and Transactions, Roche

Dr. Ramlah Nehring is the Global Head of Partnerships and Transactions for Roche Diagnostics, based in San Diego, California. She leads a global business development team that spans APAC, North America, and Europe, supporting the entire partnering value chain for Roche Diagnostics... Read More →

Chi Sullivan

Vice President, Head of Alliance Management, GSK

Seth Lieblich

Principal, 8VC

Seth focuses on 8VC's Bio-IT investment area where he invests, builds and supports companies across areas such as therapeutics, tools, bio-infrastructures and broader applications of biology. He joined 8VC from Amgen’s Business Development technology group, where he was responsible... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm PDT
Town & Country Ballroom A Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Business Development & Licensing

4:15pm PDT

Panel: Building a Framework for Integrated Evidence Generation: From Strategy to Value Creation

Tuesday April 29, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm PDT

Town & Country Ballroom C

Examine the importance of integrated evidence generation that goes beyond publication planning, emphasizing collaboration across R&D, medical affairs, and commercial teams
Discuss the transition from tactical to value-centric approaches in aligning publication plans and evidence generation with corporate goals, emphasizing real-world evidence integration from early development and the importance of leadership in fostering strategic alignment through dedicated roles in Centers of Excellence
Identify key metrics and KPIs for measuring the success of integrated evidence generation, emphasizing patient outcomes and commercial impact. Discuss effective communication of this long-term value, including real-world data and patient-reported outcomes, while overcoming challenges in shifting from tactical data collection to demonstrating broader regulatory and promotional value
Explore how MSLs can leverage real-world evidence to provide critical insights that shape therapeutic decision-making and improve patient care
Highlight best practices for integrating RWE into field medical operations to align with patient-centric goals and demonstrate value to stakeholders

Moderators

Murali Gopal, MD

Vice President, Head – Medical Affairs, Phathom Pharmaceuticals

Speakers

Shuvayu Sen

Vice President & Head of Oncology, Center of Observations & Real World Evidence, Merck

Deepa Lalla, PhD

Vice President, Evidence Generation, Publications and Partnerships, AstraZeneca

Deepa Lalla is Vice President, Evidence Generation, Publications and Partnerships team in Oncology Global Medical Affairs at AstraZeneca. The team is responsible for articulating the value of the AZ Oncology Portfolio by generating and communication impactful evidence and developing... Read More →

Kathleen Villa

Executive Director, Medical Evidence Generation, Ionis Pharmaceuticals

Executive Director, Medical Evidence Generation, Ionis PharmaceuticalsKathleen is the Executive Director, Medical Evidence Generation at Ionis, where she ensures that healthcare professionals have the evidence they need to make well-informed treatment decisions. She has over 20 years... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm PDT
Town & Country Ballroom C Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Medical Affairs

4:15pm PDT

Panel: Reimagining Pharma Marketing: Driving Personalization and Engagement in a Changing Commercial Landscape

Tuesday April 29, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm PDT

Town & Country Ballroom D

How to structure teams and processes to enhance customer engagement and align with broader organizational goals, emphasizing the need for collaboration across departments
How the varying definition of omni-channel marketing impact decision making -- identifying key indicators of a mature strategy, and the challenges faced by pharma companies in achieving this maturity
How real-time data informs decision-making, the data sources used for insights, and strategies for segmenting audiences for personalized campaigns

Moderators

Alison Tapia

Former Senior Director, Performance Marketing & Digital Innovation, Dermavant

With over 20+ years of industry experience, Alison has become an expert in launch excellence and digital transformation. She has played a pivotal role in the success of 20+ Rx product launches and has a proven track record of establishing enterprise-wide approved solutions to maximize... Read More →

Speakers

Gozde Dinc

Director, Strategic Partnerships & Innovation, Genentech

Gozde is a quantitative marketing leader who excels at innovating at the intersection of customer, business, and technology. In her current role, she leads the design and execution of cutting-edge digital marketing initiatives while building strategic partnerships that drive meaningful... Read More →

Emily Martin

Associate Director of US HCP/Digital Marketing, argenx

Emily Martin is an Associate Director of US HCP/Digital Marketing at argenx. Emily leads efforts for digital analytics and measurement across all indications and campaigns. She ensures seamless experience for HCPs by driving ecosystem management, creating business rules, ensuring... Read More →

Michael Reynolds

Head of Omnichannel, US BBU, AstraZeneca

Recognized as one of MM+M’s 2025 40 Under 40 Honorees, Michael Reynolds is a dynamic leader at AstraZeneca, spearheading the US Biopharmaceuticals Business’s Omnichannel strategy within the Innovation & Business Excellence (IBEX) team. With a unique background that bridges consumer-packaged... Read More →

Kevin Ryan

Director, Integrated Experience Planning - Immunology, Novartis

Kevin brings a wealth of experience spanning 25 years in the pharmaceutical industry, encompassing a broad range of sales and marketing roles. His journey began with Glaxosmithkline in New York City, where he excelled in various general pharmaceutical sales positions before transitioning... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 4:15pm - 5:00pm PDT
Town & Country Ballroom D Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Pharma Marketing

Qtag FPE-Marketing

4:30pm PDT

Keynote- Breaking Barriers, Building Access: Communicating Bold Moves in Women’s Health Innovation

Tuesday April 29, 2025 4:30pm - 5:00pm PDT

Town & Country Ballroom B

Hear the story of how Daré cut through the noise to address the increasing demand for treatments designed for women, utilizing all eligible pathways to get evidence-based options into the hands of women and not lost in bureaucracy, and the tactics to communicate this innovative dual-path approach (compounding and seeking FDA approval) to multiple stakeholders (women, healthcare providers, and investors)

Explore how bold messaging and clear narrative can power a mission-driven brand to break through healthcare silos and elevate underserved patient populations
Learn how to strategically communicate a dual-path commercialization approach to diverse audiences—patients, providers, and investors—while maintaining credibility and trust.
Understand the importance of balancing urgency and scientific rigor in public-facing commu

Speakers

Sabrina Martucci Johnson

Founder and CEO, Daré Bioscience

Sabrina Martucci Johnson is the Founder and CEO of Daré Bioscience (NASDAQ:DARE), a biopharmaceutical company driven by a mission to challenge the status quo, making women's health a priority. Daré’s goal is to bring to market as soon as practicable innovative evidence-based... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 4:30pm - 5:00pm PDT
Town & Country Ballroom B Town & Country Resort, 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

PR & Communications