• HOME
• ABOUT MaRS
• THE MaRS CENTRE
• MaRS SERVICES
• EVENTS
• NEWS
• RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

• MaRS Event Series
• Reserve Meeting & Event Space

EXTRACTING THE FULL VALUE OF YOUR BASIC RESEARCH The genome revolution is driving rapid discovery of novel molecular mechanisms for therapeutic intervention, while advances in engineering and chemistry are yielding new tools and solutions to unmet medical needs. These scientific and technological breakthroughs are creating a keen interest in drug discovery.

DATE | TIME | LOCATION

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

This seminar is intended to give a broad overview of the first steps in drug development after initial discovery.

In this seminar, industry experts will:

• Outline the general concepts in pre-clinical drug development.
• Identify the strategies to consider in obtaining Investigational New Drug (IND) status in an effective manner in order to move into clinical trials as soon as possible.
• Determine what pre-clinical data is needed to attract VC money.
• Determine what pre-clinical data a biotech looks for before considering in-licensing your technology.
• Explain how to take a novel drug idea from a research institution bench top and turn it into a start-up biotech.

Industry experts will address these topics during the morning session, with time allotted to address questions.

Intended as an introduction survey to pre-clinical drug development, this seminar is designed to be followed by more in depth courses on drug development depending upon demand.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

The seminar is primarily targeted at faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and advanced graduate students in basic science, engineering and clinical departments who may be involved in innovative drug development projects.

PROGRAM OUTLINE

9:00 – Introductions

9:10 – Overview of pre-clinical concepts and strategies: Wendy Hill, Principal Gap Strategies and Dr Isobel Ralston, President Torealis

10::30 – Coffee break

10:45 – What VCs are looking for in Pre-Clinical data before they will invest: Dr Luc Marengere, Managing General Partner, Vengrowth

11:15 – What Pharma is looking for in Pre-Clinical data before they will partner or in-license: Susan Grant, Manager of Business Development for Merck Frosst

11:45 – Trillium Therapeutics: examples of a successful launch from a research bench: Dr Niclas Striernholm, CEO Trillium Therapeutics

12:15 – Q&A

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Wendy Hill, Principal Gap Strategies, Advisor, Clinical Development

Wendy Hill has approximately 20 years experience in drug development. She has held senior management positions in established pharmaceutical and biotech companies, including director of research at Knoll Canada Inc., senior director of clinical research at GLYCODesign Inc. and R&D director, inflammation and neurology, Amgen Canada Inc. Over the years, Wendy has been responsible for preclinical proof of concept and clinical development research, regulatory and government affairs efforts, quality assurance, medical information and drug safety, formulation development, the development of strategic marketing plans, and partnering and licensing activities. In the spring of 2004, Wendy established her company Gap Strategies—a consulting businesses that focuses on strategic planning assistance for Canadian and U.S. early- and later-stage biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Wendy holds a MSc in epidemiology from Queen’s University.

Isobel M. Ralston, Ph.D., President Torealis

Dr. Ralston has over 20 years of experience in global drug development. She has held senior management positions in established pharmaceutical companies, including Director of Scientific Affairs at Solvay Pharma Inc., where she led clinical research, regulatory and government affairs, quality assurance, medical information and drug safety. More recently, Dr. Ralston has consulted to the emerging pharmaceutical and biotech sectors in regulatory affairs, pre-clinical and clinical development. She has expertise in overall strategic planning and international project management of novel pharmaceutical products from proof of concept, through drug substance processing, formulation, manufacturing, pre-clinical studies, regulatory, and clinical research. Dr. Ralston is a frequent speaker on the Drug Development Research process and has also provided expert assessment to venture capital groups on early stage development. Earlier in her career Dr. Ralston held scientific and/or management positions at DuPont Canada Inc. and Ortho Pharmaceutical (Canada) Inc. She holds a Ph.D. degree from the University of Alberta, Canada.

Luc Marengère, PhD, Managing General Partner, Vengrowth

Dr. Marengère joined VenGrowth Private Equity Partners Inc. in 2001, and has successfully led the management and growth of the VenGrowth Advanced Life Sciences Fund to more than $200 Million in assets, the recruitment of an accomplished investment team, a blue-ribbon advisory board and the implementation of a conservative investment strategy. He brings a comprehensive knowledge of many therapeutic areas, as well as breadth of strategic expertise in operations, research and development within the biotechnology industry. Over the last nine years, he has worked with a broad range of companies and was involved in positioning many of those investments towards financial exits. Luc possesses extensive sector-specific transactional experience and is experienced at providing companies with strategic input on product development, financing and partnerships.

Prior to joining VenGrowth, he was Partner at CDP Capital - Technology Ventures. Luc has also worked for venture capital firms University Medical Discoveries Inc. and MedTech Partners and held the position of Investment Manager at MDS Capital Corp prior to joining CDP. He has served as a Director on the Board of multiple US and Canadian-based life sciences companies. Luc has also conducted commercially-oriented research in the fields of oncology and immunology at Amgen.

Luc is an active board member with Z-Tech (Canada) Inc., Aegera Therapeutics, Trillium Therapeutics Inc., Cytochroma Inc. and Lymphosign Inc.

Luc holds a Ph.D. in Medical Biophysics and Molecular Genetics from the University of Toronto. He has had numerous articles published in prominent industry journals, including: Science, Nature, and Immunity.

Susan Grant, Manager of Business Development, Merck Frosst

Susan Grant is Manager of Business Development for Merck Frosst, focused on licensing opportunities in Canada. She graduated with a BSc (Pharm) from the University of British Columbia in 1983 and practiced professionally for a number of years as pharmacist and drug information specialist before completing a PhD in Pharmacology at McGill University and an MBA at the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.

Susan joined Merck Frosst in 2000 as a member of the Corporate Affairs Policy Planning department. Prior to her move to Business Development in May of 2004, Susan had been a member of the Central Region Corporate Affairs team where she has worked with external customers in health and industrial policy. Her current role is to facilitate exposure of Merck’s review and licensing committees to Canadian technologies of potential interest for Merck’s pipeline and internal research efforts. She is an advocate of Canada’s biopharma sector within her company and of Merck’s strength as a development partner to companies in Canada with promising health technologies.

Niclas Stiernholm, PhD Chief Executive Officer, Trillium Therapeutics

Dr. Stiernholm's primary responsibilities at TTI include overseeing the company's strategic direction, executing business development plans and ensuring that the company's scientific programs continue to advance in good time. Dr. Stiernholm joined TTI from YM BioSciences where he acted as Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer. While there, he played a significant role in the success of their Initial Public Offering (IPO) in 2002. Dr. Stiernholm was also a member of Allelix Biopharmaceuticals' business development office. He received his Ph.D. in immunology from the University of Toronto, where he also completed his postdoctoral training.

• Email Page
• Print Page
• Increase Font
• Decrease Font

MaRS PICKS

Read more

See more picks

See more picks

• MaRS Centre, South Tower, 101 College Street, Suite 100
• Toronto, ON Canada M5G 1L7
• T 416.673.8100F 416.673.8181E marsdiscoverydistrict@marsdd.com

• Copyright 2007 MaRS Discovery District. All rights reserved.


• Contact MaRS
• Site Map
• Privacy Policy
• Terms and Conditions