Past Event

Date
21 November 2024
About This Event
Co-organized with Enterprise Singapore, this conversation brought together a powerhouse panel of investors and operators: Luc Dochez, George Golumbeski, and Andreas Wallnoefer. Moderated by ClavystBio CEO Khoo Shih, the session provided invaluable insights into navigating successful deal negotiations and partnerships in the biotech industry.
Key takeaways from the discussion included:
Options are key: Having options is crucial for making good deals. This includes building a strong investor syndicate, assembling a talented team, and exploring non-dilutive financing options to maintain flexibility and enable independent development.
People are paramount: Strong relationships and trust form the bedrock of successful partnerships. While every deal is unique, the team and its dynamics play a vital role in achieving positive outcomes.
Building pharma traction: To gain traction with pharmaceutical companies, focus on identifying and nurturing a champion within their R&D department. When entering serious discussions, prioritize honesty about both progress and existing gaps, avoiding any attempts to sugarcoat the situation.
About the Speakers:
Luc Dochez is a Managing Partner at Droia Ventures. He serves as Chair of Montis Biosciences, VICO Therapeutics and on the Boards of Vaderis and Volastra among others. Before Droia, Luc was an executive in several biotechs including Tusk Therapeutics where he was CEO till its acquisition by Roche.
George Golumbeski is a Partner at DROIA Ventures and serves as a Board Director for several biotech companies including Mural Oncology, Sage Therapeutics, Carrick Therapeutics and Shattuck Labs. Previously, he was President and Head of Corporate Development ar GRAIL; Executive Vice President of Business Development at Celgene (now a Bristol Myers Squibb company), and Vice President of Business Development, Licensing and Strategy at Novartis.
Andreas Wallnoefer has over 25 years of experience in the pharma and biotech industry, including 12 years as a member of the F. Hoffmann-La Roche Pharma R&D Executive Leadership team and nearly a decade as a board member in several biotech companies. He has been a Partner at BioMedPartners and later at Jeito Capital.