In-depth interview with BioFIT 2016 speaker Ron Newbold, VP External R&D Innovation at Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development (USA).
Ron, thank you for answering our questions. You have significant experience in external partnering in Life Sciences both in pharma (Merck, Pfizer) and in biotech (Sentigen Biosciences, Celldextherapeutics). You are now focusing on supporting research alliances at Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development. Based on this varied background, has your opinion of academic/industry collaborations changed over the years?
Definitely. Pharma has moved very aggressively to supporting collaborations with both smaller biotech companies and academic partners. We have moved from the old model of unrestricted funding to more targeted funding of specific collaborations and scientific programmes that align with our research interests.
Have you seen any new interesting developments in this area?
Yes, we are now quite active in supporting dozens of partnerships globally (we have funded well over 100 in the past 4 years) and are also making seed investments into new companies as they are spun out of universities. We have seen a tremendous advance in incubators that have engaged pharma partners and there are a number of large companies active in this much needed area of entrepreneurship.
What would be your advice to researchers who would like to initiate collaborations in the Life Sciences industry?
It is important to share as much data as you can (in a non-confidential way) and relate what is new about science that will appeal to industry scientists. We are very interested in novel targets, enabling methods and technologies that can facilitate or accelerate drug discovery and development. We have huge scientific teams which can help to progress our teams’ work.
On 30th November, you will speak during the BioFIT plenary session “Is Europe competitive enough in Life Sciences innovation?”. Why is Pfizer involved in an event such as BioFIT?
Pfizer is very active in seeking partnerships across Europe and has established numerous collaborations in many EU countries. Europe is very competitive globally in my opinion and it is important for us to attend meetings and conferences where we can meet academics and entrepreneurs. These actors could have innovative science that could form the basis for a collaboration with industrial partners like Pfizer.
Based on your overall experience, how do you think we could further promote a culture of European entrepreneurial scientists?
I would find it valuable to see regional or country-specific companies come together with key scientists from different fields. It would be useful for them to discuss the specific knowledge and though-leaders necessary to set-up a ‘cluster of expertise’ and the relevant company and academic background needed to achieve this. For example, have the academics studied in single or multiple locations and subsequently moved across Europe to continue to build upon their training?
It would also be helpful to hear from investors/VCs to speak about the latest trends and areas of investment activity, especially where they differ from those in the United States.
On a more personal note, what motivates you?
I get very inspired when I see highly-motivated and enthusiastic scientists talk about what they are doing and how it is going to help patients one day. Sadly, this in not often part of a company’s story, but I think that keeping a focus on the people who are suffering from disease and working to show how their lives may be improved is very motivating and inspiring.
IDEA Summit 30th November and 1st December
Organised by the Lund University Diabetes Center, Eurasanté and the NHL Cluster, and supported by Ascenion, AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi, the IDEA Summit is a unique European event entirely dedicated to collaborative research and technology transfer in the field of diabetes. The aim of this meeting is to be a platform for dialogue and strengthen links between academia and industry. We hope that exchanges and discussions at this event will stimulate collaborative research for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes and its complications.
At previous editions of the IDEA Summit’s, academia and industry made progress in understanding each other’s strengths and driving forces. However, there is still a great need to develop new ways of stimulating interaction and sharing knowledge and resources more effectively. We would like to go even further and involve patients, by creating sustainable links between academics and clinicians.
The 4th edition of the IDEA Summit is proposing:
On 30th November: A conference programme highlighting recent innovations and clinical achievements in the field of diabetes
On 1st December: One-to-one partnering sessions, during BioFIT, enabling pharma, biotech, diagnostics companies, research institutes, academia, TTOs and investors to explore licensing and collaborative opportunities.
29th November – 30th November
Organised by EGID, the European Genomic Institute for Diabetes, the 4th edition of EGID Symposium is hosted by BioFIT and organised in collaboration with IDEA Summit (www.idea-summit-diabetes.com). The committee and speakers – world leaders in their fields – will present the latest scientific advances in diabetes and related disorders. This symposium provides an opportunity for young researchers to present their work via poster presentation and to win the “Best Poster Award” of up to €1,000.
SIRIC ONCOLille Days 30th November and 1st December
Organised by the SIRIC ONCOLille, an Integrated Cancer research consortium in Lille, supporting clinicians and researchers in the field of oncology, ONCOLille Days features a programme of conferences and poster presentations around oncology. The translational research consortium ONCOLille is promoting a swift transfer between basic and clinical researches in the Lille area on two major issues of modern oncology: the tumor resistance to loco-regional treatments and the tumor dormancy (or resilience) after remission.
During the scientific symposium, the SIRIC ONCOLille Days, researchers will present their latest discoveries on the molecular mechanisms explaining the tumor cell resistance to treatment (MET receptors, MUC4-ErbB2 complexes, calcium canals involvement, immunosuppressive role of regulatory T cells…) or explaining cancer cell persistence after treatment (immune-evasion due to PD1-PDL1 interactions, tumor cell clonality…). Drug development strategies based on those finding will be discussed.
AFSSI Conference From 29th November to 1st December
Organised by AFSSI, the French Association of Outsourcing and Innovative Companies, the AFSSI Conference gathers over 100 French entrepreneurs in R&D Life Sciences, big company decision makers, academic research leaders, governmental regulators and investors to design the best relationships within the new landscape of industry R&D cooperation.
The focus of the conference: The growth of small and medium “technology” companies driven by the need of biopharma companies to improve research at a limited cost and by the need of academic organisations to advance research programmes to maturity.
Building on the previous symposia organised by AFSSI at BioFIT 2014 and 2015, the meeting concentrates on:
Highlighting AFSSI Members’ (Life Sciences R&D service providers) solid and complementary expertise (recognized as the leading French research centre)
Building sustainable relationships between industrial life science R&D stakeholders
Benchmarking similar European R&D provider networks
TechnoMarket 30th November and 1st December
Organised in partnership with the Licensing Opportunity Presentations at BioFIT, TechnoMarket is an event created by Réseau SATT (the the French TTOs association) to discover innovative technologies from public research. TechnoMarket offers a range of opportunities, including:
Detecting the most promising technologies and platforms,
Targeting needs and new industrial challenges,
Creating new exchange opportunities to enable companies to increase their development and meet the innovation network with decision makers and key partners of the industry sector.
There are three possibilities for discussion and exchange:
Thematic expert presentations to introduce new uses and think about the way to prepare for tomorrow’s challenges
Pitch presentations and poster exhibition to explain technologies
BtoB appointments to exchange about the issues addressed in more depth
TechnoMarket aims to match TTO’s needs for alliances and business development opportunities, centred on innovative projects related to human or animal health in the following categories:
Oncology,
Infectiology/Vaccines,
Cardiology and Neurology.
The technologies presented will be selected by an expert committee, with a call for applications issued to French and European transfer structures.
BioFIT team will be in Ghent to attend Knowledge for Growth
Knowledge for Growth is the Europe’s premier life sciences conference, the event will gather the most important actors of the life sciences community.
More than 1,100 high-level life sciences actors from over 450 companies and organizations are expected during this conference. Knowledge for Growth combines B to B meetings, an exhibition area, a poster area and an exciting conference program.
Take advantage of that perfect opening to get an extensive overview of BioFIT activities, or just have a chat with our team ?!
BioFIT team will be in Munich to attend BioVaria on 17th May
BioVaria, brings together European research institutions across national borders in order to improve the transfer of their research results into application. It presents an unmatched density of highly innovative technologies to potential investors, collaboration partners and licensees from the international biopharmaceutical industry.
Take advantage of that perfect opening to get an extensive overview of BioFITactivities, or just have a chat with our team ?!
BioFIT team will be in Copenhagen to attend BioEquity on 10-11 May.
BioEquity Europe is the leading gathering for public and private biotech investors throughout Europe.
It is the seminal industry event for financial dealmakers looking for investor-validated life science companies positioning themselves to attract capital, and for pharmaceutical licensing professionals to assess top prospects. BioEquity Europe has showcased more than 700 leading European companies to thousands of investment and pharma business development professionals.
Take advantage of that perfect opening to get an extensive overview of BioFIT activities, or just have a chat with our team ? !
BioFIT team will be in London to attend BioTrinity on 26-27 April.
As Europe’s leading investment and biopartnering conference, BioTrinity is the nexus of a booming life sciences innovation ecosystem and provides a unique platform for R&D, global pharma and investor companies across the life sciences industry to achieve their business objectives; to secure funding, seek acquisition and in-licensing deals and grow their network.
Take advantage of that perfect opening to get an extensive overview of BioFIT activities, or just have a chat with our team ? !
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AFSSI Conference
