2026 Agenda
Tuesday, October 27
Time
Event
7:30 am – Lobby Level
Registration Opens
7:30-8:45 am – 2nd Floor
Breakfast
7:45-12:00 pm – 2nd Floor
One-to-One Meetings
8:45-9:00 am – Roof
Welcome Remarks
Sara Jane Demy, Founder & CEO, Demy-Colton
9:00-9:55 am – Roof
Opening “Big Think" Plenary Session
Health as a Right vs. Health as a Business: Can Biopharma Do Both?
America needs a new and compelling vision if it is to continue its leadership in medical innovation—and biopharma must help shape that vision. The industry must confront the dynamic tension between health as a right and health as a business. Without shifting that narrative, we will continue to lose ground in both public opinion and the legislative debate.
Moderator:
- Dennis Purcell, Founder & Senior Advisor, Aisling Capital
Panel:
- Paul Hastings, President & CEO, Nkarta
- Alanna Temme, President, Midsized Biotech Alliance of America (MBAA)
10:00-10:55 am – 12th Floor
Spotlight Panel 1A
BioFuture Now: Breakthroughs Shaping the Next Era of Biopharma Trailblazers
From the newest in molecular medicines and AI native discovery engines to connected medtech and platform companies— discuss what will be next across the life sciences. This group will highlight technologies that cut across oncology, CNS, metabolic disease, diagnostics, and beyond.
Moderator:
- TBA
Panelists:
- Andrew Altschuler, CEO, GOA Therapeutics
- Laurent Audoly, CEO & Co-Founder, Privebio, Inc.
- Guido Gualdoni, CEO, Epitome Therapeutics FlexCo
- Jamie Oliver, CMO, Starton Therapeutics
- Kat Schmolly, Physician/CEO, zebraMD
10:00-10:55 am – Roof
Spotlight Panel 1B
Immunity Unleashed: Next-Gen Therapies & Immune Engineering
The immune companies to watch. Leaders in next-gen cell therapy, immune engineering, and precision immunomodulation reveal how they’re creating safer, scalable, and differentiated therapies—and where the biggest opportunities lie for investors and pharma.
Moderator:
- Michael King Jr., Director, Research & Senior Biotechnology Analyst, Rodman & Renshaw
11:00-11:55 am– 12th Floor
Spotlight Panel 2A
Molecules & Machine Learning: The AI Drug Discovery Frontier
Hear from CEOs building AI-first platforms for target discovery, molecule design, and smarter R&D. Learn how AI is accelerating drug development, improving portfolio decisions, and creating the next generation of biotech value.
Moderator:
- Kyle Mikson, Managing Director, Senior Research Analyst, Canaccord Genuity
Panelists:
- Akhila Kosaraju, CEO and Co-Founder, Phare Bio
11:00-11:55 am – Roof
Spotlight Panel 2B
Healthspan Horizons: Advancing Longevity Therapeutics
Companies reimagining what it means to extend healthy human life, highlighting breakthrough platforms in cellular rejuvenation, metabolic optimization, and age‑related disease prevention, with a focus on improving outcomes and prognosis for diseases of aging.
Moderator:
- TBA
Panelists:
- Hans Keirstead, Chairman, Immunis, Inc.
- Simon Mifsud, CEO & Co-Founder, Garland Surgical Ltd
12:00-1:00 pm – 2nd Floor
Networking Lunch
1:00 pm – 2nd Floor
One-to-One Meetings
1:00-1:55 pm – Roof
“Big Think" Plenary Session
Next Wave of Innovation: Navigating Policy and Regulatory Headwinds
Biopharma innovation is not slowing down—but the rules governing what it takes to bring a breakthrough to market are changing. Washington and the regulatory environment are increasingly important drivers of biotech value. What policy shifts could accelerate, or derail, the next generation of innovation?
Panel:
- Cartier Esham, CEO, Esham Strategies, LLC
- Blake Wilson, Partner, Global Regulatory, Hogan Lovells Cadwalader
- Susan Winckler, CEO, Reagan-Udall Foundation
2:00-2:55 pm – 12th Floor
Spotlight Panel 3A
Beyond the Cure: The Brave New World of Revolutionary Cancer Therapeutics
Biotech CEOs redefining oncology on multiple frontiers will explore next generation cell therapies, AI enabled cancer drug discovery, and highly personalized oncology approaches powered by precision medicines and advanced platforms.
Moderator:
- Edward Tenthoff, Senior Research Analyst, Piper Sandler
Panelists
- Robert Arch, President, Immunophotonics, Inc.
- Dori Thomas-Karyat, CEO, Synthis Therapeutics, Inc
2:00-2:55 pm – Roof
Spotlight Panel 3B
Where Technology & Code Meet Cells: Forging the MedTech & TechBio Future
Companies building at the live interface of hardware, software, and biology will explore AI powered diagnostics, connected and implantable devices, programmable biology, and data driven care platforms that are redefining how we detect, treat, and optimize health.
3:00-3:55 pm – Roof
“Big Think" Plenary Session
Enhancing the US Infrastructure for Drug Development
The USA has the science, talent, and capital to lead the next era of biopharma innovation. How can we strengthen clinical trials, data, manufacturing, and regulatory infrastructure to accelerate breakthroughs, attract investment, and keep the USA at the forefront of drug development?
4:00-4:55 pm – Roof
End of Day “Big Think" Plenary Session
Funding Is Coming Back: But Has It?
Biotech financing has entered a new era. While capital is slowly returning to the sector, it is flowing selectively. This session will explore how today’s biotech leaders are navigating a more disciplined investment environment and what it takes to secure funding in the current market.
Moderator:
- William Kridel, Jr, Managing Director, Ferghana Partners
Panel:
- Dennis Purcell, Founder & Senior Advisor, Aisling Capital