Next Phase Newsletter

By Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO of Life Science Nation

Life Science Nation is proud to announce the upcoming Global Family Office BioForum, which will take place on Wednesday, September 25th, at the Westin Copley Place in Back Bay, Boston, as part of the renowned RESI program. This unique event will feature an open-to-the-public Family Office Panel and an exclusive invitation-only Global Family Office BioForum (GFOB) luncheon, where key figures from prominent family offices will discuss critical insights into the life sciences investment landscape.

The luncheon keynote session will spotlight three influential leaders:

Michael Langer Co-founder & Managing Partner at T.Rx Capital

Sunil Shah Co-founder of the o2h Group and CEO of o2h Ventures

John Parker Family Member and Trustee of the Charles Hood Foundation and Founder of Springhood Ventures

Together, they will delve into the theme of “Leveraging Life Science Domain Expertise, Family Office Networks, to Impact Early-Stage Companies,” highlighting their current initiatives and strategies within the life science sector.

The demand for early-stage capital is increasingly critical as the life sciences field continues flourishing with innovative discoveries and cutting-edge technologies. The Global Family Office BioForum (GFOB) is a key platform where family offices can identify promising startups and collaborate with other like-minded investors.

The Power of Syndication

Syndication is a vital investment strategy that benefits family offices and entrepreneurs. By collaborating with other investors, family offices can diversify their risk, streamline due diligence processes, access a more comprehensive array of investment opportunities, and leverage combined expertise. For entrepreneurs, the advantages are equally substantial; they gain access to a syndicate’s collective knowledge and resources, significantly enhancing their fundraising efforts and increasing their chances of securing the essential funds needed for growth.

 The Family Office Factor

Family offices are distinguished by their long-term investment horizons and dedication to generating meaningful impact. With a mission to preserve and grow wealth for future generations, these entities are uniquely suited to contribute to the life sciences sector. Their involvement transcends mere financial support, offering mentorship, guidance, and a genuine commitment to the success of the ventures they back. The Global Family Office BioForum (GFOB) recognizes and amplifies this unique role, creating an environment where family offices can forge connections with like-minded syndicate partners and explore transformative investment opportunities.

By Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO of Life Science Nation

Boston MA and London UK, 31 July 2024 - One Nucleus and Life Science Nation (LSN) are pleased to announce the co-location of their renowned Genesis 2024 and Redefining Early Stage Investments (RESI) conferences, scheduled to take place on 4 December 2024, in London. The Genesis Conference programme will be at 1 Wimpole Street, and RESI will be at 11 Cavendish Square, allowing attendees to participate in either or both events just a few steps away from each other. This unprecedented collaboration aims to connect early-stage life science companies to LSN’s global network of capital investors and licensing partners under the theme of “Maximising Returns from Life Science Innovation.”

For over two decades, the Genesis Conference has been a cornerstone event, bringing together top opinion leaders and stakeholders in life sciences to discuss critical trends, catalyse partnerships, and shape the industry’s future landscape. With its rich history of fostering innovation and facilitating meaningful connections, Genesis has consistently delivered high-value content through keynote presentations, panels, and networking opportunities.

LSN’s RESI conference series is known for being able to match up startup companies seeking seed funds up to 2 million, series A and series B, with global partners. RESI complements Genesis by focusing on early-stage companies and their interaction with investors and partners across the “4 Ds” of Drugs, Devices, Diagnostics, and Digital Health. Integrating RESI’s expertise in matchmaking and Genesis’s comprehensive content programme, the co-located events promise an unparalleled experience for UK delegates and RESI international investors interested in the early-stage assets coming out of locations including Cambridge, London and Oxford.

Key highlights of the co-located conferences include:

• A diverse mix of high-content keynote presentations and expert panels addressing cutting-edge industry topics.
• A dedicated RESI interactive partnering, offering both in-person and virtual days that match startups based on the stage of development and product with investors and licensing partners that are the right fit.
• A dedicated Genesis 2024 Conference App where information is shared, connections are made and is the route to access 1-2-1 Genesis partnering, programme, sponsor, and exhibitor details.
• Extensive networking opportunities with over 500 industry delegates expected to attend these events, making this one of Europe’s largest life science investor meetings in 2024.
• Genesis Fringe events offer deeper technical and business insights and enhanced in-person networking.
• An Exhibition providing a dynamic forum for dialogue and visibility among partners and customers.
• 20 Innovator’s Pitch Challenge (IPC) slots available. The IPC allows early-stage life science and healthcare companies to engage more with conference attendees and pitch directly to a panel of active investors and industry experts. Applications to apply are open until Friday 25 October.

“We are thrilled to bring together the RESI global investor network with Genesis, a One Nucleus flagship UK event which will add some excitement and facilitate some foreign investment into the life science ecosystem,” said Dennis Ford, CEO of Life Science Nation. “The co-location of  the two conferences represents a significant milestone in fostering collaboration and innovation across the life sciences sector, enabling us to amplify our impact on early-stage companies and investors globally.”

Tony Jones, CEO of One Nucleus, added, “Genesis has always been about shaping the future of life sciences through meaningful dialogue and strategic partnerships. Teaming up with RESI allows us to expand these efforts, creating synergies that benefit our members and the broader life sciences community.”

For more information about the RESI and Genesis conferences, including sponsorship opportunities and registration details, please visit RESI and genesisconference.com.

About Life Science Nation (LSN): Life Science Nation (LSN) is a global partnering ecosystem connecting early-stage companies with investors and partners across Drugs, Devices, Diagnostics, and Digital Health. LSN curates databases of global investors and technology assets, providing sourcing, ranking, and accelerator services through initiatives like RESI and Focus on Cures Accelerator (FOC).

About One Nucleus: One Nucleus is an international membership organisation for life science and healthcare companies. Based in Cambridge, UK, One Nucleus supports its members through networking, knowledge-sharing, and advocacy initiatives, promoting growth and innovation within the life sciences community.

Media Contact Information: 

Media Contacts:
Caitlin Dolegowski, Marketing Manager
c.dolegowski@lifesciencenation.com

Tony Jones, CEO
tony@onenucleus.com

For Conference Inquiries:
Genesis: Claire Abrams - genesis@onenucleus.com
RESI: Claire Jeong - c.jeong@lifesciencenation.com

By Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO of Life Science Nation

With Vice President Kamala Harris in the spotlight for the presidency, what would her administration mean for biotech investment and partnerships? Here’s some commentary and a look at her past and potential future impact:

Science

Harris, the daughter of a breast cancer researcher, is strongly pro-science. She has advocated for COVID-19 vaccines, followed CDC guidance, and increased the NIH budget. During the 2020 VP debates, she criticized her opponent for not believing in science. Publications like Scientific American and Nature have praised her. She would likely leverage federal resources to advance science, particularly healthcare and climate.

Drug Pricing

Harris is known for her progressive stance on drug pricing. As California’s AG, she won lawsuits against big pharma for marketing and pricing issues and played a key role in lowering insulin prices. Her “Medicare for All” plan proposed allowing HHS to negotiate drug prices and supported “march-in rights” to control certain patents. She advocated for linking U.S. drug prices to those negotiated by other governments and proposed taxing profits from “abusive drug pricing” at 100%. However, many of these measures faced opposition and were not passed. Harris would likely continue pushing for drug price reductions and Medicare expansion.

Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)

Lawmakers are increasingly scrutinizing PBMs for their role in drug pricing. The FTC is suing several large PBMs, and the House Oversight and Accountability Committee is holding hearings on their practices. While Harris is not central to these actions, the evolving situation may influence her approach to drug pricing.

Payors

Harris has opposed the rising power of health insurers, notably suing to stop the Cigna-Anthem merger in 2015-2016. In 2021, she supported expanding Medicare and private insurance coverage, particularly in maternal care and disadvantaged communities. Harris would likely continue to exercise caution with the health insurance industry, opposing moves to increase its influence on healthcare pricing while advocating for increased accessibility.

A Harris presidency would likely be pro-science and pro-R&D, including increased funding for HHS and NIH. She would continue to advocate for drug price reductions and expanded healthcare access through Medicare and private insurance. The ongoing investigation into PBMs could lead to a more nuanced approach to drug pricing. Policy developments, as well as macroeconomic factors, can impact biotech investment, from seed funding to IPOs.