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Outsourcing Chemical Synthesis in the Drug Discovery Process
Gunter Festel, Co Founder, Autodisplay Biotech, Switzerland

The positive effects of outsourcing chemical synthesis are enhanced if the provider offers, as the strategic partner, unique expertise and complements the existing internal competencies of pharmaceutical companies. The emerging cooperation model of leased competence offers additional access to high-level specialist knowledge: external service providers are temporarily integrated into internal R&D teams and can support R&D projects flexibly and quickly. Practice examples show that this cooperation model supports the efficient realization of milestones and, in the long-term, helps to build up a high internal competence level, especially in small pharmaceutical companies.

Targeted Small Molecule Lead Discovery, Optimisation and Development in a Semi-Virtual R&D Environment
Stephen Shuttleworth, CSO, Karus Therapeutics, United Kingdom

Creating a unique scientific angle; building the right internal team of experimentalists; establishing a network of CROs with the requisite experimental capabilities in preclinical research, and in clinical development; case histories outlining the design of novel therapeutics for treating immune-inflammatory diseases and cancer.

Coffee Break & Networking in Exhibition Hall

Outsourcing: A Marriage Made in Heaven?
Claire Willsher, Outsourcing Manager, Lundbeck, Denmark

This presentation looks at how we identify the right partner for our outsourcing needs. It also looks into how to create and maintain a mutually beneficial relationship between the parties to ensure a smooth collaboration.

Outsourcing in Discovery Chemistry: Strategy, Selection, Success
Hansjoerg Lehmann, Lab Head, Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Limited, Switzerland

Within Novartis Research, the GDC Preparation Laboratories support medicinal chemistry by providing intermediates, building blocks and other compounds on larger scale. Increased demand for fast scale-up and limited internal capacity have encouraged us to work together with external partners and to outsource some of our projects. The presentation will highlight how we developed a strategy for this outsourcing process and how we evaluated and selected a number of companies which fulfilled our requirements. Some key success determinants, which are used to monitor the outsourcing process, will be discussed. Finally, some case studies will be shown in order to illustrate what we consider a successful outsourcing project.

Lunch & Networking in Exhibition Hall

Poster Viewing Session

U.S. Patent Law of 2011: The Good, The Bad, and The Expensive
Thomas Saunders, Of Counsel, Rissman Hendricks & Oliverio, United States of America

In September of 2011, a significantly revised U.S. patent law was enacted. The new law includes the U.S. becoming a “first-to-file” country in 2013. A patent opposition system is also included in the new law. Highlights and costs of this new landscape will be examined along with new strategies.

Protecting IP in Chemistry Outsourcing
Hiroshi Sheraton, Partner, McDermott Will & Emery, United Kingdom

The talk will outline some common IP issues seen when conducting chemistry outsourcing, whether for process or drug-discovery purposes and provide practical guidance on how to optimise IP protection.

Coffee Break & Networking in Exhibition Hall

Outsourcing Discovery Services: Obstacles and Opportunities
Duncan Judd, Consultant, Awridian, United Kingdom

The presentation will discuss various models of early phase drug discovery outsourcing, highlighting different demographics and factors to consider when selecting a partner. Furthermore, it will underline the importance of relationship management.

Networked Chemistry Outsourcing
Andy McElroy, CEO, The Research Network Ltd, United Kingdom

Discussion of a flexible networked approach to Chemistry sourcing and how this can help overcome some of the challenges and inefficiencies of distributed research.

Pharma Externalization Strategy: Flexibility and Other Benefits
Thomas Rudolph, Partner, McKinsey & Company, Germany

While the trend towards externalization of R&D tasks in pharma is unbroken, the cited reasons are many: flexibility, cost base, access to capabilities, and many others. During this session we will discuss key strategic trends and will explore different types of flexibility achieved with different partnership models.

Drinks Reception

Incorporating External Sources into a Global Discovery Strategy
Jorge Beleta, Director, Almirall R&D, Spain

Medium sized pharma companies have to rely on external sources to complement their internal capabilities. In Almirall we have been outsourcing specific Drug Discovery activities for more than 15 years. Lately we have been moving from the initial tactical approach, based on isolated collaborations, towards a more integrated strategy. We want to obtain more value from our collaborations by increasing the involvement of our partners. Specific approaches to achieve this are: Looking for contribution on the Medicinal Chemistry field, rather that on pure Organic/Synthetic Chemistry. Include chemistry as a part of more global Drug Discovery collaborations involving other disciplines. Sharing the Drug Discovery risk with our partners, by either rewarding the achievement of specific milestones or by sharing the property of the assets generated.

New Trends in Outsourcing: The Emerging Role of CROs as Virtual Innovation-Centres
Alain Vertes, Director, Bio Duro, Switzerland

Large pharmaceutical and biotech companies are increasingly looking outward to gain access to innovation, translating in the rise of CROs as virtual innovation centers. The new innovation trend is exemplified by Beijing-based BioDuro developing unique technology platforms in service business models where all IP rights are retained by client companies.

Coffee Break & Networking in Exhibition Hall

One Step Beyond, Ever More Sophisticated Outsourcing Solutions
Arthur Oubrie, Chief Scientific Officer, Lead Pharma, Netherlands

With big Pharma outsourcing more and more aspects of drug discovery, the services provided by CROs are advancing with equal pace. Some new outsourcing opportunities will be discussed.

Beyond Outsourcing, Insourcing?
Stephan Jenn, President, Novalix, France

A new tool to be considered when streamlining pharmaceutical research operations : insourcing. A collaboration model by which, research teams of pharmaceutical companies and supporting CROs, literally work side by side to progress discovery programs.

Lunch & Networking in Exhibition Hall

Poster Viewing Session

A New Landscape of Innovative Drug Discovery Partnerships.
Richard Morphy, Senior Research Advisor, Eli Lily/Schering Plough Corporation, United Kingdom

Drug discovery partnerships form an increasingly important cornerstone of modern drug discovery programmes. Identifying the right partner to facilitate a successful outcome is key. Open innovation-based partnering can be an important component.

Building an Open Innovation Ecosystem for Drug Discovery and Development
Michael Barnes, Co Founder, OI Pharma Partners Ltd, United Kingdom

The concept of Open Innovation (OI) in pharma R&D will be explored, drawing on successful case studies from the Bioscience and IT sectors.

Coffee Break & Networking in Exhibition Hall

Emerging Outsourcing Destinations
Jim Zhang, President, JZMed, United States of America

The presentation will discuss both in depth and in detail a series of new outsourcing strategies currently implemented by global drug companies in the emerging markets and the strengths and weakness of the service providers in these countries.

From Lingerie to Lipinski
Sunil Shah, Director, Piramal Discovery Solutions (Formerly O2h), United Kingdom

Sunil describes his entrepreneurial journey over the last 10 years which led to the creation and development of O2h, a medicinal chemistry business with sites in Cambridge, UK and Ahmedabad, India.

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