SPEAKERS
DENNIS PURCELL
Founder, Aisling Capital
Former Managing Director of Life Science Investment Banking, JPM / H&Q
Mr. Purcell is the Founder of Aisling Capital LLC. Previously, he served as the Senior Managing Partner. Prior to Aisling Capital, Mr. Purcell served as Managing Director of the Life Sciences Investment Banking Group at Chase H&Q (formerly Hambrecht & Quist, “H&Q”) for over five years. While at H&Q, he was directly involved with over two hundred completed transactions and supervised over $10 billion of financing and advisory assignments in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical products industries. During his tenure, BioWorld and other industry publications cited H&Q as the leading underwriter of life sciences securities. Prior to joining H&Q, Mr. Purcell was a Managing Director in the Healthcare Group at PaineWebber, Inc.
Mr. Purcell is a frequent commentator on the industry and has been honored in the “Biotech Hall of Fame” by Genetic Engineering News, named to the Biotechnology All-Stars list by Forbes ASAP, honored as one of the top 50 Irish-American businessmen and cited as one of the top 100 contributors to the biotechnology industry.
Mr. Purcell has served as a director of Aton Pharma (acquired by Merck), Bridge Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Pharmaron), Cengent Therapeutics, Dynova Laboratories, Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Valentis and Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Purcell also has served as a member of the Section Governing Board at BIO (“Biotechology Innovation Organization”), the Irvington Institute and on the Board of L.E.K. Consulting. He currently sits on the Boards of Real Endpoints, Summus Global, Inc., BioScience Managers, and Ichnos Sciences. He sits on the Editorial Advisory Board at Life Science Leader Magazine; Member of the Board at NYBIO Association; Board Member at The University of Delaware Investment Visiting Committee as well as a member of the Biopharmaceutical Innovation Board at the University of Delaware.
Mr. Purcell received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and his B.S. in Accounting from the University of Delaware.
GREG SIMON
Former President, Biden Cancer Initiative
Former SVP for Worldwide Policy and Patient Engagement, Pfizer
Mr. Simon has held senior positions in both chambers of Congress, served in two Presidential administrations, was a senior strategy consultant to a variety of international technology CEO's, co-founded with Michael Milken, and led, FasterCures, co-founded and led the Melanoma Research Alliance, was the Senior Vice President at Pfizer for Worldwide Policy and Patient Engagement, and was the CEO of Poliwogg, a financial services company creating unique capital market opportunities and indexes in healthcare and life sciences. He has developed a reputation as a visionary strategist, a dynamic public speaker and writer, and as an expert analyst of emerging trends in healthcare, information technology, innovative drug research and development, and patient advocacy. Most recently, Greg was the President of the Biden Cancer Initiative, a nonprofit formed by Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden to continue the work of the White House Cancer Moonshot to double the rate of progress in preventing, detecting, diagnosing, treating, and surviving cancer. He came to that position after serving as the Executive Director of the White House Cancer Moonshot Task Force established by President Barack Obama and led by Vice President Biden.
MICHAEL BARAN, MBA, PHD
Partner, Pfizer Ventures
Executive Director, Worldwide Business Development, Pfizer
Michael Baran, MBA, PHD is a Partner at Pfizer Ventures and Executive Director, Worldwide Business Development. Mike is responsible for identifying, evaluating, making and managing equity investments aligned with the future directions of Pfizer. He currently has responsibility for Pfizer’s investments in Anjarium Biosciences, Autobahn Therapeutics, Capstan Therapeutics, Interius BioTherapeutics, ImCheck Therapeutics, ImmunOs Therapeutics, Mediar Therapeutics, Incendia Therapeutics, TRex Bio, and VitaDAO. His prior investment responsibilities include Accelerator Life Science Partners, Bluelight Therapeutics, AnTolRx, and Netvation DL. Mike is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Stony Brook University and plays an active role in the NY/NJ early life science ecosystem as a Mentor in Residence for Rutgers University, a Venture Advisor for Venture Forward, and a Venture Advisor for eLabNYC.
Prior to his current role, Mike held responsibilities in R&D portfolio strategy as well as managing scientific affairs for the R&D President’s office at Pfizer. Mike joined Pfizer from Nexomics Biosciences, a structural biology biotech company which he co-founded in 2006. Prior to his involvement at Nexomics he worked within the NIH Protein Structure Initiative’s Northeast Structural Genomics Consortium coordinating protein structure production efforts, including bioinformatics, protein expression/purification and 3D protein structure determination.
Mike received his BA in Biochemistry from Syracuse University, holds an MBA from Rutgers Business School, and a PhD in Biochemistry from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School / Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.
ARIO ARABI
Executive Director of Global BD, Licensing Transaction, Novartis
Ario Arabi is a BD&L Transactions Executive Director at Novartis since June 2021. He has a wealth of transactional expertise with his most recently announced deal at Novartis being the collaboration and license with Ionis for discovery, development and commercialization of next generation program targeting Lp(a). Prior to his role at Novartis, he was Director of Corporate Development at Merck where he focused on oncology M&A.
Ario also brings 8 years of capital markets experience, as an investment banker at renowned firms such as Cowen and Stifel. Here, he supported numerous life sciences companies with financial advisory and capital raising services, including buy side/sell side processes as well as, equity and debt offerings. During the early part of his professional career, Ario worked in equity research in the biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices sectors at various firms including Leerink and Citigroup. Ario holds a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University with a Double Major in Applied Economics & Management and Biological Sciences.
DR. ALFRED SLANETZ
Chairman, National Foundation for Cancer Research
CEO, Geneius Biotechnology
Former CEO, Bluebird Bio
Former Head of Product Development, Genetech
Dr. Slanetz is the founder of Geneius Biotechnology and has been President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company full time since its inception. Prior to co-founding the Company, he served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Bluebird Bio.
Dr. Slanetz also served as Vice President, Business Development of TRANSGENE in May 1996. From 1994 to 1996, he served as Manager, New Product Planning and Development at Genentech Inc. Prior to that, Dr. Slanetz was a Management Consultant for Arthur D. Little.
He received his Ph.D. in Molecular and Immunobiology from Yale University, as well as a Masters from Brown University.
DR. MICHAEL SALGALLER
Director of Technology Transfer, National Cancer Institute
Dr. Michael Salgaller leads the Invention Development and Marketing Unit within the National Cancer Institute’s Technology Transfer Center, where he leverages over 20 years of business, scientific, and investment experience in various life science sectors to support technology development and commercialization. Previously, he provided technical and strategic expertise to The Conafay Group, a DC-based government affairs firm – leading efforts on non-dilutive funding and alliance development. Previously, he was a key member of the business development team for the healthcare practice at SAIC, a Fortune-500 government contractor. He helped lead and deepen relationships with the Department of Health and Human Services – especially NIH and FDA – as well as foundations and patient advocacy groups. Before SAIC, he was a long-time industry executive who has held various positions in early-stage biotechnology and boutique professional service firms. In addition, Dr. Salgaller was on the investment team of Toucan Capital, a $120M early-stage venture firm dedicated to the life sciences, where he guided company formation and helped raise follow-on financing. He began his career as a Senior Staff Scientist with Dr. Steve Rosenberg at the National Cancer Institute, where he oversaw a lab developing immunotherapies for patients with terminal cancer.
Dr. Salgaller serves on the Life Sciences Advisory Board of the Maryland-Israel Development Center, as well as NCI liaison to the Maryland Technology Council. He is an advisor to DC ArchAngels and the Cooperative Angel Alumni Group. He is the author of “Biotechnology Entrepreneurship,” which is used as a reference text for courses at NIH and Catholic University, among others. He is the author of over 100 articles, presentations, and book chapters, and is on the editorial boards of several journals. Dr. Salgaller received his PhD in Pathology from The Ohio State University.
STEVEN FERGUSON
Deputy Director, Licensing and Entrepreneurship, NIH
Steven M. Ferguson currently serves as the Deputy Director, Licensing and Entrepreneurship. Prior to joining NIH Office of Technology Transfer in 1990, Mr. Ferguson served in marketing and management positions in biomedical firms subsequent to being a scientist at the National Cancer Institute. His healthcare experience has also included work as Director of Marketing and Public Relations for a rural 70-bed hospital. Registered to practice before the USPTO and a Certified Licensing Professional (CLP), Mr. Ferguson also holds Master's Degrees in Business Administration (George Washington University) and Chemistry (University of Cincinnati) as well as Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry (Case Western Reserve University). Mr. Ferguson has been an economic reviewer for Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) as well as the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) grant programs and is an instructor for both the USDA Graduate School and the NIH FAES Graduate School where he is also the department chair for the new Certificate in Technology Transfer Program. Mr. Ferguson was also the Susan T. and Charles E. Harris Visiting Lecturer at the Watson School of Biological Sciences at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and has published articles on licensing and technology transfer issues.
DAVID DANAR
Investment Committee, Catalytic Impact Foundation
Steven M. Ferguson currently serves as the Deputy Director, Licensing and Entrepreneurship. Prior to joining NIH Office of Technology Transfer in 1990, Mr. Ferguson served in marketing and management positions in biomedical firms subsequent to being a scientist at the National Cancer Institute. His healthcare experience has also included work as Director of Marketing and Public Relations for a rural 70-bed hospital. Registered to practice before the USPTO and a Certified Licensing Professional (CLP), Mr. Ferguson also holds Master's Degrees in Business Administration (George Washington University) and Chemistry (University of Cincinnati) as well as Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry (Case Western Reserve University). Mr. Ferguson has been an economic reviewer for Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) as well as the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) grant programs and is an instructor for both the USDA Graduate School and the NIH FAES Graduate School where he is also the department chair for the new Certificate in Technology Transfer Program. Mr. Ferguson was also the Susan T. and Charles E. Harris Visiting Lecturer at the Watson School of Biological Sciences at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and has published articles on licensing and technology transfer issues.
NATE GALLON
Partner, O'Melveny
Nate Gallon has spent his entire legal career in Silicon Valley working within the technology community, representing entrepreneurs, start-ups, emerging growth companies, major corporations, and the entire ecosystem of the investor community that funds and supports these innovators.
Nate works with his clients to understand their needs and business objectives and develops practical solutions to help them achieve their goals. He counsels his clients on corporate and securities law and also acts more generally as a trusted business advisor in connection with a wide range of transactions that technology companies typically undertake throughout their life cycle – entity formation, debt and equity financings, recapitalizations, joint ventures, spin-offs, and growth stage through to a liquidity event.
During his time in Silicon Valley, Nate has developed a network of entrepreneurs, investors, and advisors that allows him to stay current on the latest technology trends and priorities for venture capital firms, angels, and other investors as well as acquirers of technology companies. He has represented hundreds of start-ups and entrepreneurs in connection with equity financings and general corporate matters, worked on numerous M&A transactions (including buy- and sell-side mergers, asset sales, and stock purchase transactions), joint ventures and advised a number of public company clients on corporate finance and capital raising transactions.
DR. GEOFF KUZIEMKO
Partner, O'Melveny
Dr. Geoff Kuziemko focuses his practice on assisting clients, primarily in the life sciences sector, with intellectual property and technology-intense transactions. His work runs the gamut of complex transactions, from out-bound license and in-bound license, development, commercialization, strategic alliance and joint venture, collaboration, and profit sharing agreements to commercial agreements for distribution, manufacture, and supply, as well as intellectual property due diligence for strategic acquisitions and financings involving life sciences businesses, products, and patents.
Geoff was previously the Vice President of Legal Services at a multi-billion, NASDAQ-listed genomics company, Exelixis, Inc., based in Northern California.
DAVID J. RIBNER
Partner, O'Melveny
David J. Ribner’s practice focuses on counseling US and non-US clients on international trade and investment regulatory matters, including trade and anticorruption compliance. His clients span a variety of industries, with a focus on companies operating in the technology and energy sectors.
David has extensive experience securing national security clearance by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), having served as CFIUS counsel in transactions with investors spanning the globe and myriad industries.
David also counsels clients on compliance with US economic sanctions, export controls, customs laws, and antiboycott regulations, as well as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and advises on the development and implementation of related corporate compliance programs. When potential violations of such laws arise, he conducts internal investigations and assists with responding to subpoenas and other information requests from the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commerce Department’s Office of Export Enforcement, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
David is consistently recognized by Chambers USA with a ranking as a CFIUS expert and by Chambers Global as an “Up-and-Coming” CFIUS expert. He has also been recommended as a Rising Star for International Trade: CFIUS by The Legal 500 US and named to Global Competition Review, Foreign Investment Control’s “40 Under 40,” which recognizes the world’s top foreign investment lawyers under age 40. David frequently speaks and publishes on topics related to international trade.