WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announces plenary sessions for the BIO Investor Forum, an international biotech investor conference focused on investment strategies for early stage and established private companies as well as emerging public companies. Hosted by BIO, the 11th annual event will take place at the Palace Hotel on October 9-10 in San Francisco, Calif.

Our plenary sessions feature an esteemed group of industry analysts and investors that speak to the pressing business issues directly affecting investment in biotech, said Alan Eisenberg, executive vice president, Emerging Companies & Business Developmentat BIO. Attendees have come to expect stimulating dialogue which will offer insight and guidance on how to best approach the challenges facing the industry.

Plenary Sessions include:

Opening Plenary Session It Takes a Village: The New Pharma-VC Model for Biotech Investing Tuesday, October 9, 12:00 p.m. 1:35 p.m. High-profile funding collaborations between pharmaceutical companies and traditional venture capital funds have made headlines in recent months, pooling resources and expertise in an attempt to source and develop the most successful drugs. This panel will examine what factors are driving this new model of biotech investing from both the VC and pharma standpoints and how these deals are structured. Moderator: Alan F. Eisenberg, EVP, Emerging Companies & Business Development, Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Panelists: Francesco De Rubertis, Partner, Index Ventures; Jonathan MacQuitty, PhD, Partner, Abingworth, LPand Brian McVeigh, CPA, CMA, CLP, MBA, Vice President, WWBD Transactions & Investment Management, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals

Lunch Plenary Session Tried & True or Something New? Dissecting the New Corporate VC Model Wednesday, October 10, 12:30 p.m. 1:25 p.m. Funded by deep pharma pockets and an investment strategy often focused on early stage, corporate venture capital (CVC) has been a much-needed funding source for companies struggling to keep their development programs moving. The CVC model has been around since the early 1970s, but a new crop of CVCs has sprouted in recent years. A panel of leading CVCs will explore how the CVC model has changed over time and whether these changes measure up to the tried and true models. Moderator: Joseph S. Dillon, CLP, Managing Director, Investor Relations & Business Development, Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Panelists: Jeff Calcagno, MD, Senior Director, Emerging Technologies, California Innovation Center, Johnson & Johnson: Lauren Silverman, PhD, Managing Director, Novartis Option Fund; Ron Laufer, MD, MPH, Senior Managing Director, MedImmune Ventures and Geeta Vemuri, PhD, Senior Managing Director, Baxter Ventures

Closing Plenary Session Forecasting 2013: Trick or Treat? Wednesday, October 10, 4:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Seasoned biotech investors engage in a candid and insightful discussion on what the industry can expect in 2013. Topics to be covered include: IPO markets; big pharma acquisitions and their effect on the biotech pipeline and early-stage funding sources. Moderator: Joel Sendek, Managing Director, Head Healthcare Equity Research, Stifel Nicolaus Panelists: Srini Akkaraju, PhD, MD, Managing Director, New Leaf Venture Partners; Evan McColloch, Portfolio Manager, Franklin Templeton Investments; Bryan Roberts, PhD, Partner, Venrock and Asish Xavier, PhD, Vice President, Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation

In addition to Plenary Sessions, the Investor Forum will feature Business Roundtables which will take a closer look at both early stage financing and late stage exit strategies for private companies.

Business Roundtables include:

The New Kids on the Biotech Block: Trends in Early Stage Financing Tuesday, October 9th, 9:00 a.m. 9:55 a.m. Although venture capital financing continues to decrease in the life sciences, the dearth in capital has spawned a new team of funders that are stepping up to the plate to fill the gap. Panelists will discuss what unique experiences these new players bring and how they will impact and improve the drug development process. Moderator: Jeron Eaves, Senior Practice Executive, Campbell Alliance Panelists: Lindy Fishburne, Executive Director, Breakout Labs, Thiel Foundation; Mark Goldsmith, MD, PhD, Venture Partners, Third Rock Ventures; Walter C. Ogier, President & CEO, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals, Inc and Robert Sarisky, PhD, Chief Business Officer, Forma Therapeutics, Inc.

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BIO Announces Plenary Sessions for 11th Annual BIO Investor Forum