Editor’s note: Joan Siefert Rose is CEO of LaunchBio, which is based in Durham and has a growing number of offices around the country.
DURHAM – There’s no question about it: biotech entrepreneurship is booming and we’re proud to be a part of the movement. It’s just two months into the new year and already we’ve seen sold-out Larger Than Life Science monthly programs from coast to coast. We’re keeping up with the demand by adding another major life science hub to our roster. Welcome, Philly!
First Things First
Preclinical studies are an inevitable part of drug discovery. Our February 19 program in Cambridge will guide you through this critical phase with lessons learned from an entrepreneur’s perspective and best practices from a CRO perspective. Whether you’re an established biotech company or a startup, this is a great opportunity to learn about the drug development process from the experts at Charles River Labs.
Money in the Bank
There’s more than one path to commercialization — but you’ll need financing no matter what. We’ll explore non-dilutive funding in San Diego February 25th as a means to grow without giving up ownership of the company. SBIR and STTR grants are important sources of cash, but they’re certainly not “free” and you’ll want to understand some unintended consequences and costs. CSC Leasing rounds out the program with tips and tricks for debt financing that will alleviate the pressure of scaling.
A Really Big Deal
One of BioLabs’ biggest stories of 2019 comes from StrideBio and its $48M licensing deal with rare disease drugmaker Sarepta Therapeutics. Our March 5 program in Durham will offer the first public discussion of the deal and Sarepta’s expanding efforts in the gene therapy field. You won’t want to miss this one, so sign up now to secure your seat. The Durham program also features investment perspectives from JP Morgan Healthcare Conference and insight into competitive grants, loans, debt financing.
Philly, Here We Come
In our first-ever Larger Than Life Science program at Quorum at the University City Science Center in Philadelphia on March 10, we’re investigating “Pathways for Pioneers”, including advances in gene editing techniques and cell and gene therapy-related drug development. The sessions highlight scientist-entrepreneurs on the front lines of research and discovery and should offer inspiration to all who attend.
Stay Tuned
We’ll soon be posting details on our upcoming program on the convergence of big data and science at BioLabs@NYULangone March 4. Check the website for details. We hope to see you soon — and tell your friends, too.
