This panel will discuss the current state of immunotherapy investing. What areas of immunotherapy are people investing in today? What have been the successes and challenges? What has changed in the last 5 years?
Biography
Risa has played a significant role in the early operations, financing and development of over 40 companies including: Veracyte (NASDAQ:VCYT), Foundation Medicine (NASDAQ;FMI) Trius (NASDAQ;TSRX sold to Cubist), Pacific Biosciences (NASDAQ:PACB), Corthera (acquired by Novartis), Quantum Health (acquired). Risa created and led the GE Ventures New Business Creation team that founded Evidation Health, Vineti, Menlo Microsystems, Drawbridge Health, and Avitas. Risa was a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers where she founded and developed therapeutics, tools, and molecular diagnostics companies. As a principal at J.P. Morgan Partners she sponsored venture and growth investments supported international investing. Before joining the venture capital industry, Risa worked as a derivative specialist on the Chicago Board of Trade. Risa holds a degree in genetics and development with distinction from the University of Illinois, a Ph.D. in immunology from the University of Chicago, and was a member of the second class of Kauffman Fellows.
Biography
Jorge Conde leads investments at the cross section of biology, computer science and health. Prior to joining a16z, Jorge served as Chief Strategy Officer for Syros (NASDAQ: SYRS), which is advancing a new wave of medicines that control expression of disease-driving genes to treat cancer and other diseases. He previously served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Product Officer, leading the platform strategy for Syros’ novel gene regulation technology. Jorge also cofounded Knome, a human genome interpretation company acquired by Tute Genomics in 2015. Earlier in his career, Jorge worked in marketing and operations at MedImmune and as a biotechnology investment banker at Morgan Stanley. Jorge holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, an MS from the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, and a BA in Biology from Johns Hopkins University. Jorge was named one of the top 35 young innovators in the world by the MIT Technology Review and is a 2015 Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. He serves on the board of the Museum of Science, Boston.
Biography
Nina Kjellson invests in biopharma and digital health companies that serve unmet therapeutic and access needs. As a leader of Canaan’s Women of Venture program, Nina is a vocal advocate for women entrepreneurs and investors. She serves as a mentor to Blueprint Health and Springboard Life Sciences and on the boards of Essential Access Health, the California Leadership Council for The Nature Conservancy and the Oliver Wyman Health Innovation Center. Nina is also a 2018 Aspen Institute Health Innovators Fellow. Previously, Nina was a General Partner at Interwest Partners. She holds a B.A. in human biology from Stanford University.
Biography
Dr. Daniels spent over two decades in clinical drug development, including leading the Development and Medical Affairs at Bristol-Myers Squibb for the last ten years. He directed the development of numerous innovative medicines that have contributed to the improvement for patients across a range of serious diseases. These include: ORENCIA and NULOJIX in immunology/transplant, REYATAZ, DAKLINZA and BARACLUDE in virology, ONGLYZA, FARXIGA and MYALEPT in metabolics, ELIQUIS in CV and YERVOY, OPDIVO, SPRYCEL and IXEMPRA in oncology. Dr. Daniels is currently a Director at these 5AM companies: Spyryx Bioscience, Nohla Therapeutics, Rarecyte, and Ideaya Biosciences (independent). He leads the Clinical Advisory Board for Aprea Therapeutics and also served on the Scientific Advisory Board of Novira. Dr. Daniels received B.S. and M.S. degrees from MIT and his M.D. from Washington University in St. Louis. He trained in internal medicine at New York Hospital and Rheumatology/Immunology at UCSF.