Program – Biotech CEO Summit

2026 Agenda

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Monday, July 13

2:00 pm

REGISTRATION OPENS: Commons Lobby Bar

3:30 pm

WELCOME NETWORKING EVENT: Village Lawn

5:30 pm

OPENING REMARKS: Village Lawn

Sara Jane Demy, Founder & CEO, Demy-Colton

5:45 pm

CEO SUMMIT PARTICIPANT INTRODUCTIONS

Self-introductions by all participants

6:30 pm

FIRESIDE CHAT SERIES: THE PURPOSEFUL CEO – FULFILLING THE PROMISE

Interviewer:

Harris Kaplan, Managing Partner, Litmys, LLC

Fireside Chat CEO:

Robert Blum, CEO & President, Cytokinetics, Inc.

7:15 pm

NETWORKING DINNER: Vintner’s Room

Tuesday, July 14

7:15 am

PRIVATE NETWORKING BREAKFAST: Oakville Terrace

8:15 am

SUMMIT OVERVIEW & RULES OF ENGAGEMENT: Carneros Salons

Sara Jane Demy, Founder & CEO, Demy-Colton

8:20 am

MID-YEAR FINANCIAL PULSE: BIOPHARMA SECTOR OUTLOOK

A strategic, data-driven review of the biopharma sector’s financial outlook. A look at capital markets activity, venture financing, M&A dynamics, partnering deal flow, and shifts in public and private valuations.

Discussant Leaders:

Jonathan Norris, Managing Director, HSBC Innovation Banking
Kate Walsh, Managing Director, Life Science & Healthcare, HSBC Innovation Banking

9:00 am

RAISING MONEY: IT'S NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE

The biotech sector has been through droughts before and arguably emerged stronger every time. This time it is different. Funding is coming back, but it is uneven. Deals have returned in force, but who is getting financings done?

Discussant Leader:

Ian Edvalson, Partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Discussants:

Jeffrey Cleland, CEO, President & Chairman, Programmable Medicine
Kevin Eisele, Managing Director, Equity Capital Markets, William Blair
Michael Meyers, Vice Chairman, M&A, Credit & Royalties, H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC
Liz Scott, CEO, Renovare Therapeutics
Tim Scott, President & CEO, Biocom

10:00 am

FUNDING: CUTTING THROUGH THE NOISE

Investors’ view of risks are changing—and funding is following conviction more. What gets a deal done? Is it compelling data, a credible path to value inflection, proven leadership? Bankers who are in the trenches will discuss how runway, partnerships, leadership and commercial potential help a company stand out and get funded.

Discussant Leader:

Danielle Naftulin, Partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Discussants:

Kevin Eisele, Managing Director, Equity Capital Markets, William Blair
Elizabeth Jeffords, CEO, Iolyx Therapeutics
Gene Mack, CEO, Gain Therapeutics
Michael Meyers, Vice Chairman, M&A, Credit & Royalties, H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC
Arun Swaminathan, CEO, Coya Therapeutics

11:00 am

NETWORKING BREAK: Carneros Pre-Function

11:30 am

SAIL TRIM: ADJUSTING TO CATCH THE WIND BEHIND FINANCING

Biotech CEOs are always in fundraising mode. This means supporting liquidity if a company is public or getting your name in front of interested parties if you are private. New tactics are emerging to support this process.

Discussant Leader:

Ignacio Guerrero-Ros, SVP, Russo Partners

Discussants:

Tip Fleming, Managing Partner, Brand Equities
Jeffrey Meckler, Board Member, Travere Inc./Former CEO, Indaptus Therapeutics

12:00 pm

PARTNERING, DEAL MAKING, COLLABORATIONS: DRIVING LIFE SCIENCES FORWARD

The life sciences sector has always been driven forward through collaboration. And collaboration is particularly important during challenging financial times.

Discussant Leaders:

Ted Haack, VP, LatticePoint
Elizabeth Jeffords, CEO, Iolyx Therapeutics
Ravi Kiron, Managing Director, BioPharm Strategy

12:30 pm

NETWORKING LUNCH: Oakville Terrace

1:30 pm

ADAPTING TO THE RESET: REGULATORY EVOLUTION

Shifts in regulatory and policy landscapes, with changing processes, leadership, at the FDA, and broader healthcare policies reshaping access, companies must become agile. The discussion will explore the effects shaping strategic decisions, and how leaders navigate regulatory change while sustaining innovation and advancing programs to patients.

Discussant Leader:

Lisa Jenkins VanLuvanee, Co-Founder & Chief Values Officer, Facet Life Sciences

Discussants:

Cartier Esham, CEO, Esham Strategies LLC
Tim Scott, President & CEO, Biocom

2:15 pm

THE 10% PROBLEM: MAKING BIOTECH DECISIONS COUNT

Fewer than 10% of drugs entering Phase I reach approval. Big pharma can absorb these misses; but biotechs cannot. While biology and translation risks are real, much value loss is decisional, concentrated in a handful of critical choices that shape capital use, risk, and evidence quality. How does a CEO get those critical decisions right across five key inflection points?

Discussant Leaders:

Tara Austraat-Churik, Partner, Blue Matter

Discussants:

Mayank Gandhi, CEO, NEOK Bio
Raymond Houck, CEO, Aclipse Therapeutics
Harris Kaplan, Managing Partner, Litmys, LLC

3:00 pm

NETWORKING BREAK: Carneros Pre-Function

3:15 pm

GO PUBLIC OR STAY PRIVATE: WHAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU

Going public or remaining private is a pivotal decision for a biotech company. High R&D costs and long development timelines make large capital raises essential, but IPOs will introduce new pressures. Venture funding offers flexibility, but it has constraints on scale and there are exit expectations. This CEO-led discussion explores the trade-offs between public and private pathways.

Discussant Leader:

Shalabh Gupta, CEO, Unicycive Therapeutics, Inc.

Discussants:

Tip Fleming, Managing Partner, Brand Equities
Jeffrey Meckler, Board Member, Travere Inc./Former CEO, Indaptus Therapeutics
Lisa Ricciardi, CEO, Cognition Therapeutics

4:00 pm

OPEN ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION

Sara Jane Demy, Founder & CEO, Demy-Colton

5:00 pm

DAY 1 WRAP-UP & INSTRUCTIONS FOR CEO SUMMIT GAMES

Sara Jane Demy, Founder & CEO, Demy-Colton
Sara Pinto, Senior Managing Director, Programs & Content, Demy-Colton

5:20 pm

BIOTECH CEO SUMMIT GAMES: Vineyard Deck

(Please wear comfortable shoes and clothes)

7:15 pm

TAKE A BREATHER (Relax, change for dinner, make some calls)

7:45 pm

GALA RECEPTION: Estate Wine Cave

8:30 pm

BIOTECH CEO SUMMIT GALA DINNER & AWARDS: Estate Wine Cave

Wednesday July 15

7:30 am

PRIVATE NETWORKING BREAKFAST: Oakville Terrace

8:45 am

WELCOME BACK & DAY 2 COMMENCES: Carneros Salons

Sara Jane Demy, Founder & CEO, Demy-Colton

9:00 am

GOING GLOBAL: CEOS NAVIGATING INTERNATIONAL DEALS

How are biotech CEOs approaching cross-border deals, navigating regulatory differences, executing clinical trials and if they have an approved therapeutic, how are they marketing it in new markets?

Discussant Leader:

Ravi Kiron, Managing Director, BioPharm Strategy

Discussants:

Robert Blum, CEO, Cytokinetics, Inc.
Ian Edvalson, Partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Cheryl Maley, CEO, Starpharma
Steve Yang, CEO, WuXi AppTec

9:45 am

AI IN BIOTECH: FROM HYPE TO IMPACT

Technology is no longer just a support function, it’s redefining how targets get discovered, developed, and delivered. This conversation will cover how AI platforms are accelerating discovery, optimizing trial design, and streamlining development timelines.

Discussant Leader:

Erwin Estigarribia, CEO, Headlamp Health

Discussants:

Ted Haack, VP, LatticePoint
Lisa Jenkins VanLuvanee, Co-Founder & Chief Values Officer, Facet Life Sciences
Beth Rogozinski, CEO, Oncoustics
David Suendermann-Oeft, CEO, Modality.AI, Inc.

10:30 am

NETWORKING BREAK: Carneros Pre-Function

11:00 am

THE CEO PLAYBOOK: LEADING THROUGH THE CRUCIBLE

Running a biotech company isn’t just about science and strategy, it’s about people, pressure, and perception. This talk will explore the soft skills that make-or-break leadership: managing stress, navigating high-stakes negotiations, handling co-founder or C-suite transitions, and maintaining strong investor relationships.

Discussant Leader:

David Schull, President, Russo Partners LLC

Discussants:

Kevin Caldwell, CEO, Co-Founder & President, Ossium Health
Beth Hoffman, CEO, Origami Therapeutics, Inc.
David Suendermann-Oeft, CEO, Modality.AI, Inc.
Ken VanLuvanee, CEO & Chairman, Facet Life Sciences

11:45 am

THE ART OF NEGOTIATION IN BUSINESS

Leigh Steinberg, pioneering sports agent, entrepreneur, and best-selling author, is widely regarded as one of the most influential agents in sports history and the real-life inspiration for Jerry Maguire. Leigh has represented more than 300 professional athletes over a five-decade career. His unparalleled record includes negotiating over $4B in contracts, representing eight No. 1 overall NFL Draft picks, 64 first-round selections, and 12 Hall of Famers. Leigh will discuss how to negotiate in business. This will be followed by a book signing of his most recent book, The Comeback, during lunch.

12:30 pm

LEIGH STEINBERG BOOK SIGNING & NETWORKING LUNCH: Oakville Terrace

1:30 pm

BUILDING A HIGH-PERFORMANCE TEAM WHICH INCLUDES YOUR BOARD

In this candid conversation, discussants will share how to build and sustain high-performing teams, engage the board as a true strategic partner, keep culture strong, and retain mission-critical talent—even when hiring slows and budgets tighten.

Discussant Leader:

Ken VanLuvanee, CEO & Chairman, Facet Life Sciences

Discussants:

Robert Blum, CEO, Cytokinetics, Inc.
Danielle Naftulin, Partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Arun Swaminathan, CEO, Coya Therapeutics

2:10 pm

BEING A VISIONARY BIOTECH LEADER

Join a candid conversation with fellow CEOs on how to spot opportunities, tell a compelling story, and build coalitions that advance the company—even when risks are high and timelines are tight. Practical lessons, hard-won strategies, and peer insights for leading at the frontier of science.

Discussant Leader:

Ignacio Guerrero-Ros, SVP, Russo Partners

Discussants:

Joe Betts-LaCroix, CEO, Retro Biosciences
Kevin Caldwell, CEO, Co-Founder & President, Ossium Health
Shalabh Gupta, CEO, Unicycive Therapeutics, Inc.

2:50 pm

AN UNGUARDED CONVERSATION AMONG FRIENDS

For the last few minutes of the Summit, we’re going unﬁltered and giving participants space to share what’s really on their minds: the emotional, strategic and cultural weight of biotech leadership.

Sara Jane Demy, Founder & CEO, Demy-Colton

3:15 pm

CLOSING RECEPTION: Carneros Pre-Function

Discussants

Mahnaz Arjomand, VP, Business Development, WuXi AppTec
Tara Austraat-Churik, Partner, R&D Strategy & Transformation, Blue Matter
Robert Blum, CEO, Cytokinetics, Inc.
Jeffrey Cleland, Chairman, CEO & President, Programmable Medicine
Ian Edvalson, Partner, Technology Transactions, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Kevin Eisele, Managing Director, ECM, William Blair
Cartier Esham, CEO, Esham Strategies LLC
Jesse Essaff, Director, Life Science & Healthcare, Commercial Banking, HSBC Innovation Banking
Ignacio Guerrero-Ros, VP, Russo Partners LLC
Shalabh Gupta, CEO, Unicycive Therapeutics, Inc.
Ted Haack, VP, LatticePoint
Elizabeth Jeffords, CEO, Iolyx Therapeutics
Lisa Jenkins VanLuvanee, Chief Values Officer, Facet Life Sciences
Harris Kaplan, Managing Partner, Litmys LLC
Ravi Kiron, Managing Director, BioPharm Strategy
Jeffrey Meckler, Former CEO Indapus Therapeutics, Board Member, Travere Inc.
Michael Meyers, Vice Chairman, M&A, Credit & Royalties, H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC
Danielle Naftulin, Partner, Corporate, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Jonathan Norris, Managing Director, HSBC Innovation Banking
Ryan Roller, Managing Director, Life Science & Healthcare, HSBC Innovation Banking
David Schull, President, Russo Partners LLC
Tim Scott, President & CEO, Biocom
Thijs Spoor, CEO, Perspective Therapeutics
Kenneth VanLuvanee, CEO, Facet Life Sciences
Kate Walsh, Managing Director, Life Science & Healthcare, HSBC Innovation Banking
Steve Yang, CEO, WuXi AppTec