The life science investment ecosystem is undergoing significant recalibration globally, with capital allocation strategies evolving in response to market pressures, scientific breakthroughs, and geopolitical shifts. This panel aims to examine the nuanced global investment landscape across major markets, highlighting divergent regional approaches and emerging opportunities for cross-border capital deployment.

• Analyzing the post-correction investment environment and how capital is being strategically deployed across early-stage innovation, clinical-stage assets, and commercial-ready portfolios
• Examining the evolving dynamics between Western investors and emerging biotech hubs, particularly the bidirectional investment patterns with China's maturing life science sector
• Mapping where global capital is concentrating across modalities, with particular attention to the investment case for advanced therapeutics

Speaker:

Laura Tadvalkar
Managing Director
RA Capital

Maha Radhakrishnan
Executive Partner
Sofinnova Investments

Sally Wang Liang
Managing Partner
Xpanse Venture

Mahesh Narayanan
CEO
MatchPlay

 Against the backdrop of capital market volatility, venture investors continue to demonstrate strategic conviction in biotechnology's transformative potential. This distinguished panel assembles preeminent life science investors to dissect the nuanced funding environment of 2025, offering forward-looking analysis on capital deployment strategies and therapeutic innovation trajectories. The discussion will illuminate the complex interplay between scientific advancement, regulatory frameworks, and capital formation that defines the contemporary biotechnology investment thesis.

• 2025 biotechnology investment trends and capital flow analysis
• Critical economic, regulatory and technological factors shaping the 12-24 month outlook
• Strategic balance between early-stage innovation and late-stage asset investment

Speaker:

Jessica Federer
Board Member
Angelini Ventures

Devin Rosenthal
Principal & Head of Due Diligence
NovaQuest Capital Management

Paresh Kumar
Vice President, Biotech Private Equity
Ally Bridge Group

Evan Caplan
Principal
OrbiMed 

As the biopharma industry navigates the final quarter of a transformative year, strategic dealmaking and investment patterns offer critical signals for what lies ahead. This exclusive thought leadership session provides senior executives with actionable intelligence at a pivotal moment in the industry calendar. Join Tim Opler, Managing Director at Stifel, as he delivers incisive market analysis through a dynamic fireside discussion. Drawing on his extensive experience in life sciences investment banking, Opler will decode Q4 activity patterns and translate them into strategic foresight for the coming year.

Session Highlights:

• Late-Year Deal Momentum: Uncover emerging patterns in Q4 partnering and M&A transactions that signal strategic priorities for industry leaders
• Capital Markets Pulse: Gain perspective on investor sentiment, valuation trends, and how financing conditions are reshaping deal structures
• Big Pharma's Strategic Pivot: Examine how portfolio gaps and pipeline evolution are driving new approaches to external innovation
• 2025 Dealmaking Calendar: Identify key inflection points and opportunities to watch as you plan your engagement strategy for BIO-Europe and beyond

Speaker:

Moderator: Tim Opler 
Managing Director
Stifel

Ed Saltzman
Senior Strategic Advisor
Lumanity

As biopharma adapts to a more selective and capital-conscious environment, traditional models of dealmaking are giving way to bold new approaches. From asset-centric spinouts and externalized R&D engines to venture-backed NewCos, pharma is exploring innovative ways to manage pipeline risk, unlock capital efficiency, and accelerate access to cutting-edge science.

This executive-level session brings together leaders from pharma, biotech, and investment to unpack how these evolving strategies are reshaping the partnering landscape. Whether you're structuring your next deal or positioning your company for strategic alignment, this discussion will offer critical insight into the emerging frameworks defining 2025 and beyond.

Session Takeaways:

• Inside Pharma’s NewCo Playbook: Why large companies are spinning out assets and co-creating new ventures—and what it means for the ecosystem
• Redefining Risk and Ownership: How new partnering models are reshaping capital flow, optionality, and value creation
• Execution in a High-Stakes Environment: What’s working in today’s market—and how to be deal-ready amid changing expectations
• Strategic Signals for 2025: Key trends and inflection points that

Speaker:

Nick Downing
Managing Director, Life Sciences
Bain Capital

Fiona MacLaughlin 
Sr. Director, Johnson & Johnson Innovation
JJDC Inc.

Between Neuroscience and Neurotechnology

Explore the groundbreaking intersection of neuroscience and neurotechnology in this forward-looking session. This expert presentation will examine recent scientific breakthroughs, discuss the transformative potential of neuromodulation therapies, and introduce Nu-V3's revolutionary approach to non-invasive treatment. Join us to understand how these innovations are reshaping patient care and opening new frontiers in neurological health management, and where we can go from here.

• Recent advancements in brain science, harnessing new insights into the biological mechanisms underlying neurological conditions.
• Understanding how neuromodulation techniques have evolved for treating neurological disorders
• How Nu-V3's miniaturized, wearable technology delivers non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical neuromodulation with no negative side effects.

Speaker:

Jim Robertson 
CEO
Nu-Life Solutions

Moving from scientific discovery to commercial success in biotech requires more than breakthrough products—it calls for a visionary and cohesive leadership team that can drive both scientific and commercial goals. This panel will bring together experienced biotech leaders to discuss strategies for building a biotech leadership team that can guide the company from lab to launch. Attendees will gain insights on selecting and developing leaders who can navigate the complexities of the biotech market and align teams around shared success.

Key topics will include:

• Identifying the leadership qualities essential for guiding a biotech team from research to revenue
• Strategies for leaders to ensure cohesive communication of scientific value and clinical benefits to key stakeholders
• Fostering an environment where scientific and commercial leaders collaborate effectively to achieve market success

Speakers:

Raven Lin
CEO
Pilatus Bio

Lihua Zheng
CEO
Z-Star Therapeutics

Rachel Ravens
CEO
42Genetics

Sohail Zaidi
CEO
Ananda Scientific Inc