For Biotech and Pharma Companies

About the event

As if a turbulent stockmarket were not enough, along comes a credit crunch. In the middle of this perfect storm, Biotech and Pharma companies are trying to carry on business as normal, with many needing additional funding to take the company forward. Some others want to take advantage of the undervaluation of biotech companies and go on the acquisition trail.

However, the lack of funding for Biotech and Pharma companies seems to be getting even more intense, with several funds now scaling back or even stopping investing in the UK. With funding drying up, where can Biotechs and smaller pharmaceutical companies now go and how can they demonstrate that theirs is one of the companies likely to make a profit?

Biotechnology and Pharma companies - characterised by their high risk and cash burn - are struggling more than most other companies due to challenging financing conditions, plunging share prices, dwindling cash reserves and investor scepticism. This networking evening will look at the different options available to them.

In particular, the following issues will be addressed:

• Raising capital with an under-valued share price
• Does the lack of additional funding mean that it is now in the best interest of stakeholders to sell up?
• Other alternatives: selling the company, slimming down or merging
• When (and if) will the financing tide turn and is it worth holding out until then?
• Getting investors on board who are there for the long-haul and have expectations in line with reality
• Why is there an ice-cold attitude of investors to biotech stocks in the UK and is there anything that can be done to counter this?
• Are there now companies which can be acquired cheaply?
• Will the IPO market dry up completely and are there any alternatives to it?
• An analysis of the different financing available - how much it has now shrunk and what is still available:
  • VC Funding
  • Mezzanine Finance
  • Business Angels
  • Banks
  • Other sources of finance
• Do companies' risk profiles need to be changed in the face of the Credit Crunch?

Networking evening

One of the main reasons to attend this event is the opportunity to meet other key players within the industry, whether they be CEOs, Finance Directors, other key Directors, Consultants, Lawyers etc.

Due to the nature of this event NSEP will be particularly targeting the investors, including venture capitalists, banks, fund managers and corporate financial advisors.

The cocktail party immediately following the event (it is almost worth coming for the famous Four Seasons canapés themselves!) is the ideal place to discuss matters in a less formal environment, whether this discussion is directly related to the event topic or not.
 

Excellent speaker panel

Hakan Goker - Analyst   Atlas Venture Hakan Goker is an Analyst in the life sciences group, and joined Atlas Venture in 2006. Previously, he worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute of Cancer Research / Royal Marsden Hospital and the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Centre in the fields of cancer and development. Hakan holds a Bsc (Hons) in Human Genetics from University College London. He obtained a PhD for his work in the area of molecular cytogenetic analysis of testicular germ cell tumours at the University of London's Institute of Cancer Research. Hakan has authored and co-authored publications in leading scientific journals, including Oncogene and the British Journal of Cancer."

Penny Attridge - Investment Director   Spark Ventures Penny is an Investment Director at SPARK. She works closely with the Universities associated with the Lachesis Seed Fund, helping to identify and develop commercially-valuable IP. She also works with SPARK’s Series A investments to ensure the right strategy is in place to protect and exploit their IP. Penny originally joined Quester in 2005 and prior to that was with BTG plc working in client development, identifying and acquiring early stage inventions from academia and SMEs in the UK, which were then developed and commercialised by BTG. She also spent many years with the Public Health Laboratory Service, and had a notable academic career with over 100 peer-reviewed publications in the field of applied medical microbiology. In addition, Penny is a Founder and Director of Id-Tech Ltd., a company that has successfully exploited her inventions to prevent needlestick injuries

Hamish Cameron - Venture Partner   SV Life Sciences Dr Hamish Cameron joined SVLS in 2008 as a Venture Partner. Before joining SVLS, Dr Cameron was CEO of Cambridge Antibody Technology (“CAT”). Prior to that, he held a series of senior R&D positions at AstraZeneca/Zeneca including Head of the Cardiovascular Therapy Area, Senior Vice-President Medical Research and was a member of the R&D Leadership Team. Dr Cameron started his industry career with Janssen, after working in clinical practice and research in the UK. Hamish was trained as a physician and holds MBBS and BSc (Hons) Pharmacology degrees from the University of London. He is a member of the UK Royal College of Physicians and a Fellow and past Board member of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine.

Who will attend?

Expected breakdown of job titles

 

Expected breakdown by audience sector

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