May 10, 2021 (CAMBRIDGE, MA) – Today, the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MassBio®) kicked off its second partnering week of 2021, the State of Partnering, to connect early-stage companies developing breakthrough technologies with major biopharmaceutical organizations and industry-leading experts to help grow their businesses. More than 500 emerging biopharma leaders are set to attend this week-long event, which is a cornerstone of MassBio’s efforts to strengthen the life sciences innovation ecosystem. The State of Partnering builds on the success of MassBio’s Pharma Days® which have enabled precision partnering opportunities between major life sciences organizations and early-stage targets since 2010.
“The Massachusetts life sciences cluster is largely comprised of small and emerging biotechs that are making big bets on complicated, breakthrough science,” said Kendalle Burlin O’Connell, President & COO, MassBio. “Through events like the State of Partnering Week we can work to ensure these companies have the resources, mentorship, and expertise they need to take their innovation through commercialization and achieve their goal of improving patient lives.”
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will begin with an open informational session led by Bayer, Ipsen, and Takeda, respectively; leaders from these companies will provide an overview of their research and development strategy, partnering approaches, therapeutic focus areas, and 2021 outlook. The day’s partner will then host one-on-one meetings with select early-stage companies, academic institutions, and principal investigators. The State of Partnering week will close out with a two-day innovator bootcamp, where industry experts from Bayer, KPMG, Marsh & McLennan, Morgan Stanley, and Rothwell Figg will provide hands-on training and advice to participating startups.
“MassBio Partnering Week fosters an atmosphere of learning and collaboration that are both essential to bringing innovations and solutions faster to patients who need them,” said Marianne De Backer, MBA, PhD, Head of Strategy, Business Development and Licensing and Member of the Pharmaceuticals Executive Committee, Bayer. “Bayer is committed to transforming patient health and we look forward to building and strengthening connections within the innovative and dynamic biotech ecosystem in Massachusetts.”
Philippe Lopes-Fernandes, EVP Chief Business Officer at Ipsen said, “Ipsen is proud to contribute to the innovation and clinical progress driven by the Massachusetts community, translating science into impactful medicines for patients. At Ipsen we believe great partnerships create great possibilities, which is why Boston is home to one of Ipsen’s three Global Hubs and why we are proactive in creating opportunities for collaboration and acceleration, for example through the Ipsen Innovation Center BioLabs. We look forward to meeting more of the like-minded biotech community during the MassBio Partnering Week.”
“Global health care transformation can only succeed when everyone involved in shaping the patient journey embraces trust, collaboration and the exchange of insights and ideas,” said Caroline Schmitt, Head of Enterprise Digital, Global IT, Takeda. “MassBio’s Partnering Week is a great way to open the doors to new partnerships, and to together participate in shaping the future of health care.”
To learn more about MassBio’s State of Partnering 2021, please visit the MassBio website or contact Steve Powell, Director of Edge Business Development, MassBio.