Now more than ever, innovation comes from the small and emerging biotechs that go big on their science and take on the most difficult challenges facing patients worldwide. MassBio’s Partnering Week connects these innovative companies developing breakthrough technologies with major biopharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic, digital health organizations, and industry-leading experts to help grow their businesses. This week-long event, happening September 19 – 22, is a cornerstone of MassBio’s efforts to strengthen the life sciences innovation ecosystem, bringing together hundreds of emerging biopharma leaders eager to advance their discoveries and reach patients in need.
“External innovation drives new breakthroughs for patients, and MassBio excels at providing the networks and building the relationships that result in pairing disruptive technologies with established life sciences companies and investors,” says MassBio CEO Joe Boncore. “Our overarching goal is to support our member companies and the greatest life sciences ecosystem in the world to move risky, cutting-edge science from the lab bench to patient bedsides to address unmet medical needs.”
A hybrid event, Partnering Week 2022 will feature EMD Serono (September 19), Takeda (September 20), and AstraZeneca (September 21). Each partner’s day will begin with an open information session featuring organizational leaders providing an overview of their research and development strategy, partnering approaches, therapeutic focus areas, and 2023 outlook. The open information session will then be followed by one-on-one meetings with select early-stage companies, academic institutions, and principal investigators. If you are an emerging company developing a revolutionary technology, apply to meet 1:1 with sponsors to discuss partnering opportunities. There will also be an in-person networking event on September 20 from 5:00 – 7:00PM at the MassBioHub – this event is open to the ecosystem, RSVP here.
“MassBio is proud of the more than 1,000 connections between emerging entrepreneurs and established biopharmaceutical companies that we have been able to facilitate through our partnering programs,” says Kendalle Burlin O’Connell, President & COO, MassBio, adding that this year’s Partnering Week is part of the organization’s continued efforts “to provide companies with the resources, mentorship, and expertise they need to take their businesses to the next level.”
MassBio Partnering Week sponsors are dedicated to researching and developing therapies for patients, along with supporting innovation among the startup community in Massachusetts and beyond. Learn more about our sponsors’ key therapeutic areas of interest and request a one-on-one meeting today. We also encourage life sciences professionals and industry thought leaders to attend each sponsor organization’s plenary session, which you can register for here.
“At EMD Serono we are focused on our growth as a global specialty innovator in oncology, neurology and immunology, fertility, cardiovascular disease and endocrinology. With approximately 1,500 team members working in the Boston area, we are proud contributors to this local scientific ecosystem,” said Chris Round, President EMD Serono, the healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in the U.S. and Canada. “MassBio’s Partnering week provides us the perfect opportunity to connect with Massachusetts-based companies to explore new partnerships that accelerate the discovery, development and access to innovative therapies, and support our purpose to help create, improve and prolong life — as one for patients.”
“Partnerships are central to our R&D model at Takeda where we seek to translate cutting-edge science into transformative benefits for patients,” said Nenad Grmusa, Head, R&D Strategy and External Innovation at Takeda. “Massachusetts is the epicenter for the life sciences and MassBio’s Partnering Week helps foster a collaborative ecosystem by bringing together industry leaders with a shared purpose to deliver medicines to patients faster.”
“At AstraZeneca, we believe that collaboration is central to our success in pushing the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines,” said Stephen Fawell, VP Head of Oncology Discovery, AstraZeneca. “From the growth of our Boston BioHub in Waltham, to our exciting plans to relocate to Kendall Square in 2026, research thrives and patients benefit when we engage in the flourishing Massachusetts life-sciences ecosystem. We look forward to connecting with potential collaborators during MassBio’s Partnering Week this fall.”
MassBio’s Partnering Weeks and Pharma Days® present a tapestry of opportunities for anyone seeking a pharma/ biotech partnership. If you are a biotech or pharma company and would like to learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact the MassBio Innovation team.
About EMD Serono, Inc.
EMD Serono – the healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in the U.S. and Canada -aspires to create, improve and prolong life for people living with difficult-to-treat conditions like infertility, multiple sclerosis and cancer. The business is imagining the future of healthcare by working to translate the discovery of molecules into potentially meaningful outcomes for people with serious unmet medical needs. EMD Serono’s global roots go back more than 350 years with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. Today, the business has approximately 1,500 employees around the country with commercial, clinical and research operations in Massachusetts. www.emdserono.com
About Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science and electronics. over 60,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people’s lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere. In 2020, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, generated sales of €19.7Bn billion in 66 countries. The company holds the global rights to the name and trademark “Merck” internationally. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science, and EMD Electronics. Since its founding in 1668, scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to the company’s technological and scientific advances. To this day, the founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company.
About Takeda
Takeda is a global, values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan with a global U.S. headquarters hub located in Massachusetts. Takeda is committed to discover and deliver life-transforming treatments, guided by our commitment to patients, our people and the planet. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on four therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Genetics and Hematology, Neuroscience, and Gastroenterology (GI). We also make targeted R&D investments in Plasma-Derived Therapies and Vaccines. We aim to accelerate the development of breakthrough science by combining the innovation and cutting-edge discoveries of our partners and groups with Takeda R&D’s deep therapeutic area expertise, strong translational capabilities and asset development strategy. At Takeda R&D’s Center for External Innovation, our unique model supports diverse and flexible partnerships to harness innovation across the discovery and development lifecycle. Learn more at www.takeda.com.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries, and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information, please visit www.astrazeneca-us.com