Come to join BioE2E for a stimulating discussion of key strategies for the successful launch and build up of companies in today's environment. Speakers will discuss keypoints for venture investment and venture-backed companies, and how companies are successfully getting funded these days. Speakers include Nina Kjellson from Interwest Partners, Wendye Robbins from Limerick BioPharma, Michael O'Donnell from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, and Karl Handelsman from CMEA Ventures.

Panelists:

Nina Kjellson - General Partner of Interwest Partners

Nina Kjellson has been part of InterWest’s life science team since 2002, focusing primarily on investments in biopharmaceuticals. She is a board member of Alvine Pharmaceuticals, Eiger Biopharmaceuticals, Lycera, Primera Diagnostics, Sequel and Trius Therapeutics. Nina led InterWest’s investment in APT Pharmaceuticals and Nereus Pharmaceuticals where she is an observer on the board. Additionally, she is actively engaged with InterWest’s investments in AkaRx, Devax, Kanisa, and MacuSight.

Wendye Robbins, M.D. - President and Chief Executive Officer of Limerick BioPharma, Inc

Since 2006, Dr. Wendye Robbins has held the title of President and CEO of Limerick BioPharma, Inc. Previously, Dr. Robbins founded NeurogesX, Inc. (NASD:NGSX), a biopharmaceutical company developing pain management therapies. She also held the positions of President, Chief Medical Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board at NeurogesX. Dr. Robbins received her BS from the University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business and her MD from the Medical College of Pennsylvania. She completed post graduate training in internal medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She completed training in anesthesiology and pain medicine at the Johns Hopkins University Medical Institutions. Dr. Robbins is board certified in anesthesiology with added qualifications in pain. Dr. Robbins also holds an ongoing appointment as Clinical Assistant Professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Robbins is a frequent advisor and lecturer to pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and mentor to entrepreneurs.

Michael O'Donnell - Partner of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Michael O'Donnell is a partner specializing in corporate and securities law at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in Palo Alto, California. Mike has been providing general corporate representation to biopharmaceutical and other life sciences companies for more than 25 years, and offers particular expertise in venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances, public offerings, technology licensing, and corporate partnering transactions. He has represented several public as well as numerous private biopharmaceutical, medical device, and instrumentation companies.

Karl Handelsman – Managing Director of CMEA

Karl Handelsman joined CMEA Capital in 1999. Karl has been involved with numerous CMEA investments such as: Ambrx, Ensemble Discovery, Ilypsa, Intellikine, Kalypsys, Maxygen, Phenomix, Rigel, Syrrx, Tetraphase, and Xenoport. Prior to joining CMEA, Karl was one of the first employees of Tularik, Inc., a drug discovery company, where his business development role spanned corporate partnering, technology licensing, and operations. Karl was also one of the first employees of Whitehead Institute, a premier research organization within Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); and he worked in business development at Millennium Pharmaceuticals. Karl holds graduate degrees from both MIT and Harvard Medical School.

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