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Meet the 2016 Life Science Catalysts
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30LifeLinesFor the California Life Science Community
Public Policy: New Frontiers, New Challenges and
Opportunities
Global Partnering Conferences: What Drives Success?
Pilot Program Helps Student Take Off
VOLUME 25, ISSUE 3 W i n te r 2016
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BRENT JACOBS [email protected] CA License No. 791657
GREG BISCONTI [email protected] CA License No.
1167920
TED JACOBS [email protected] CA License No. 1855220
(858) 452-6500
ONE TEAM. ONE FOCUS. www.sdlifesciences.com
REAL ESTATE EXPERTS FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES INDUSTRY
LILLY300,000 SF Tenant Representation
DEXCOM, INC.518,000 SF Tenant Representation
ARCTURUS THERAPEUTICS10,000 SF Tenant Representation
CRINETICS PHARMACEUTICALS6,000 SF Tenant Representation
AMBRX36,100 SF Tenant Representation
SYNTHETIC GENOMICS75,000 SF Tenant Representation
BIOCOM13,400 SF Tenant Representation
NITTO DENKO25,000 SF Tenant Representation
AJINOMOTO ALTHEA 56,700 SF Tenant Representation
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Greetings to our members throughout California, Japan and France
and welcome to our winter 2016 edition of LifeLines. As Biocom
continues to grow across the state and around the world, I want all
of our members to know what we are doing to enhance our efforts to
deliver continued value across our broad spectrum of offerings. As
I write this column, our association stands at more than 800
members strong, with an expanded San Diego headquarters facility, a
newly opened office in Los Angeles staffed by a team of 5
professionals and additional staff in San Francisco, Washington DC
and Sacramento. Our team of 43 employees is already moving in an
unprecedented manner to live up to our reputation as California’s
longest-established and largest life science association. And as I
write this column, I am returning from a week of successful
partnering meetings between our members and our strategic partners
at EuroBioMed, the life science association in France.
This issue’s cover story celebrates the winners of our inaugural
Life Science Catalyst Awards. These accomplished young
entrepreneurs represent California’s finest contributors to the
growth of our life science sector. We salute them as the new
generation of life science business leaders. In a related story,
you will meet one of our accomplished members, Abreos Biosciences,
which was named “hottest” device company in Southern California at
our annual DeviceFest Conference “Five in the Hotseat” competition.
Finally, staying with the theme of engagement with “entrepreneurs
of the future”, you will hear from one of the ILSE students who
participated in the first year of this important new program.
Because our association is only as strong as the members who
support us, we have chosen to focus much of this issue on the
diversity of our membership programs and the broad engagement of
our members. With rapid membership growth in the LA area, you will
read about the terrific work of the new new Biocom team in LA.
Next, John Newsam of Tioga Research contributes an article on the
growth of one of our most active and largest sectors, the CRO
group. Most of our members participate in and enjoy the enormous
benefits of the Biocom Purchasing Group, which recently welcomed
Thermo Fisher Scientific to the program as our exclusive and
exciting new provider of laboratory supplies and services. Finally,
as a measure of the success of our health care benefits contract,
you will find important information about the reduced premiums
under our Health Care Benefits Trust.
At the core of Biocom is our long-standing work in public policy
and advocacy at the regional, state and federal levels. It has been
a very busy and challenging 2016 for us in each of these arenas. In
this edition we discuss how our talented team of policy
professionals continues to fight to ensure that the unified voice
of our California life science sector is clearly heard in the face
of initiatives to control pricing and increase regulation.
Over the next five years, we have chosen to strategically focus
on ensuring that we lead the effort to make Southern California the
leader in personalized medicine, through partnerships between our
members and with researchers, investors, and other collaborators.
Four stories focused on these topics round out this edition: in the
research arena you will read about the 50-hour genome, as
accomplished by Dr. Steve Kingsmore of the Rady Children’s Hospital
Institute for Genomic Medicine, and a Q&A with UC San Diego
Associate Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Commercialization Paul
Roben on working more closely with our community to bring
innovative ideas to market. Next, you will find two articles that
reflect important pillars of Biocom: capital development and
partnering. Biocom has a variety of capital development programs
that are explained in detail. Last, you will get an insider’s view
of our upcoming 7th Annual Global Partnering Conference with a
guest article by planning committee co-chair Mark Wiggins.
2 Cover Story: Meet the 2016 Life Science Catalysts
10 Public Policy: New Frontiers, New Challenges and
Opportunities
13 Guest: One CRO’s Success Story: a Foundation for Growth
14 Guest: Global Partnering Conferences: What Drives
Success?
16 Q&A with Paul Roben, Associate Vice Chancellor for
Innovation and Commercialization, Office of Research Affairs, UC
San Diego
17 Biocom LA: Biocom’s Los Angeles Office: A Warm Welcome
18 Capital Development: Capital Development Landscape: Southern
California’s Life Science Industry
20 Biocom in the News: Biocom’s Making Headlines21 Members in
Action: Super Angel Day22 STEM In The Community – The Future Is Now
In
Pediatric Genomics!
25 Members in Action: Biocom’s 9th Annual DeviceFest Conference:
Congrats to Abreos Biosciences
26 Members in Action: Breakfast Meeting on Emerging Diseases,
Including Zika
29 Members in Action: Biocom PAC Annual Elected Officials &
Candidates Reception
30 Biocom Institute: Pilot Program Helps Student Take Off
32 Purchasing Group: Accelerating Growth & Changing the
Game
34 Meet the Biocom Team38 Biocom Board of Directors and
Committee
Leadership
39 Biocom Membership
WELCOMEI N T H I S I S S U E By Joe Panetta,
President and CEO, Biocom
WWW.BIOCOM.ORG
EDITOR : Jennifer LandressCOPY EDITOR : Julie AmesDESIGN &
LAYOUT: Cathy Tran
V O L U M E 2 5 , I S S U E 3
BRENT JACOBS [email protected] CA License No. 791657
GREG BISCONTI [email protected] CA License No.
1167920
TED JACOBS [email protected] CA License No. 1855220
(858) 452-6500
ONE TEAM. ONE FOCUS. www.sdlifesciences.com
REAL ESTATE EXPERTS FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES INDUSTRY
LILLY300,000 SF Tenant Representation
DEXCOM, INC.518,000 SF Tenant Representation
ARCTURUS THERAPEUTICS10,000 SF Tenant Representation
CRINETICS PHARMACEUTICALS6,000 SF Tenant Representation
AMBRX36,100 SF Tenant Representation
SYNTHETIC GENOMICS75,000 SF Tenant Representation
BIOCOM13,400 SF Tenant Representation
NITTO DENKO25,000 SF Tenant Representation
AJINOMOTO ALTHEA 56,700 SF Tenant Representation
Biocom LifeLines Winter 2016 1
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40U N DER
AN EPIC ENTREPRENEURDena Marrinucci, 34 | VP of Research,
SalveoDx
Dena Marrinucci’s latest biotech startup is still very much in
stealth mode. But if the success of her last big idea is any
indication, we can expect it to be nothing short of Epic. While
earning her Ph.D. at The Scripps Research Institute, Marrinucci
became captivated by the potential of better cancer diagnostics—and
by what that can mean for patient health. Finding dangerous cells
earlier: Marrinucci devoted years of academic research to a
technology that could detect cancer cells circulating in the blood
stream, allowing earlier disease intervention. Based on her
findings, she co-founded San Diego-based Epic Sciences, where she
served as chief scientific officer and forged dozens of
collaborations with top pharma and biotech companies such as
Genentech and Pfizer. The big reveal: Marrinucci, who reached the
summit of Mount Kilimanjaro five years ago, is now plotting her
next adventure: A consumer-facing diagnostics startup, SalveoDx,
which already has seed funding from Domain Associates.
COVER S TORYBy Kelly Quigley and Lauren Fish, Canale
Communications
In the world of science, a catalyst is a substance that
increases the rate of a chemical reaction. In everyday life, it
refers to people or events that spark action.
Each of the 10 winners of Biocom’s inaugural Life Science
Catalyst Awards can arguably meet both definitions. They’re not
only defining the unique chemistry of San Diego’s life sciences
scene—bringing a fresh mix of energy, ideas and ambition—but
they’re also sparking meaningful change to human health through
their research and entrepreneurship.
And they’re all doing it before they turn 40. Presented in
conjunction with the San Diego Venture Group,
Biocom’s Catalyst Awards honor the up-and-coming scientists,
executives and business advisors who are shaping the future of life
science in America’s Finest City.
“San Diego’s life science community is continually evolving to
meet the needs of the world around us, from our global leadership
in genomics to our innovative work in cancer diagnostics and
therapeutics,” said Jennifer Landress, senior vice president and
chief operating officer of Biocom. “These winners represent the
many facets of our dynamic industry and give us great excitement
for what lies ahead in San Diego.”
Catalyst Award nominees were evaluated by a committee of
executives and board members from both Biocom and the San Diego
Venture Group, which took great effort to narrow an impressive list
to just 10 recipients. They looked for people who are not just
excelling in their life science-focused profession, but are also
going above and beyond to invigorate the sector and bring industry
collaboration to a new level.
Meet the 2016 Life Science Catalysts
2 Biocom LifeLines Winter 2016
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INSURING BIOTECH SUCCESS Mike Milligan, 38 | Principal, Leader
of the Life Science Practice, Barney & Barney
Insurance is a business necessity in almost any industry, but
especially so in the risk-taking realm of biotech and pharma. And
if there’s anyone in San Diego who is an expert in this niche area,
it’s Mike Milligan. Back in 2000, Milligan was attending a Biocom
event when he heard a patient—a mother—share her story of cancer
survival. The story hit close to home, as Milligan’s father had
cancer many years earlier. The experience sparked Milligan’s
passion for making sure biotech companies have the insurance they
need to continue developing life-saving medicines. Making it big:
In the following years, Milligan helped expand Barney &
Barney’s life sciences practice into the company’s largest, today
serving more than 500 life science clients—including 150 public
companies. He’s helped insure hundreds of clinical trials in the
U.S. and abroad, and helps biotech execs wade through a range of
other risky business issues. Living the dream: The dad of three
loves San Diego’s small-town feel, which is why he says he’d never
want to leave.
THE LAWS OF LIFE SCIENCE Ed Truitt, 34 | Co-Founder and CEO,
Lubris Biopharma LLC
It’s not common to see a corporate attorney starting up new
biopharma companies. But Ed Truitt’s not your common guy. After
receiving his law degree from University of San Diego, Truitt
focused for several years on patent litigation and startups before
deciding to launch his own company focused on early detection of
cancer. He’s since launched another company that’s developing
therapies for eye conditions. Both are based on science from UCSD.
Poking holes: Truitt says that law is a lot like science; in both
fields your goal is to build solid evidence to prove that something
(your argument or your hypothesis) is unequivocally true. Working
in biotech now, Truitt says he deals with lawyers more so than
ever. Engaging the entrepreneurs: In 2006, Truitt helped his wife,
Nikki, create the Entrepreneur Challenge at UCSD, and continues to
be passionate about helping young leaders pursue their business
goals.
THE MICROBIOME MAGNATERob Knight, 39 | Faculty Director, Center
for Microbiome InnovationUniversity of California, San Diego
UC San Diego’s School of Medicine made a pivotal hire in 2015,
winning out over elite universities around the country when they
brought on board Rob Knight, Ph.D., a superstar biologist. Knight
is recognized globally for his expertise in all things
microbiome—the next frontier of medicine. While San Diego’s hiking
and scuba diving scene didn’t hurt, Knight was lured by the city’s
rich ecosystem of sequencing companies (Illumina, Synthetic
Genomics) and scientific research institutions, which together can
accelerate research into patient care. A voice in D.C.: Knight was
a driving force behind the White House’s $121 million National
Microbiome Initiative, launched in early 2016, of which UCSD is now
a key participant. All about the data: Always one to want to know
more about the many microbes that make us who we are, Knight has
been collecting his own poop for sequencing essentially every day
for the last eight years (and he’s not shy about it).
COVER S TORY
Biocom LifeLines Winter 2016 3
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COVER S TORY
DECODING BIG PROBLEMS Ashley VanZeeland, 34 | Chief Technology
Officer, Human Longevity Inc.
Ashley VanZeeland knows how to make things happen, whether she’s
in the lab or the boardroom. From identifying potential genetic
factors of autism, to forging public-private partnerships that
speed drug development, her accomplishments often reflect her dual
background in business (she holds an MBA from UCSD) and her Ph.D.
in neuroscience. Tech meets genes: VanZeeland, who once headed up
strategic partnerships for Scripps Genomic Medicine, co-founded
Cypher Genomics with leading scientists from Scripps—including Dr.
Eric Topol—to provide large-scale cloud solutions to genomic
problems. Cypher was bought by Human Longevity Inc., where she is
now chief technology officer and head of pediatrics. Elegant
approach: The yoga enthusiast, surfer and new mom was set on
becoming a professional ballerina until she injured her ankle in a
car accident. While she still wonders what life would have been
like if she pursued dance, it’s unlikely she would have made such
an immense impact on human health.
KING OF CHEMISTRYPhil Baran, 38 | Professor, Darlene Shiley
Chair in Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute
With a Ph.D. in hand at 24, and tenure at The Scripps Research
Institute at age 28, you can only imagine what the uber-achieving
organic chemist Phil Baran has accomplished before turning 40.
Baran, the Darlene Shiley Chair in Chemistry at TSRI, still spends
plenty of time in the lab, where he continuously breaks new ground
in natural product synthesis. But he also keeps busy consulting
with biopharmaceutical giants such as Bristol-Myers Squibb and
AstraZeneca, and serving as “sultan of synthesis” for Sirenas
Marine Discovery, a San Diego biotechnology company that’s
developing new drugs inspired by marine life. Cream of the crop:
Baran was recently named a 2016 Blavatnik National Laureate, an
honor that comes with the largest unrestricted cash award
($250,000) given to early-stage scientists. Inspired by the sea:
Baran’s favorite molecule is Palau’amine, an alkaloid found in
certain sea sponges off of the coast of Palau, the compound’s
namesake.
WATERING THE SEEDSSusie Harborth, 37 | General Partner and CFO,
BioInnovation CapitalManaging Director and Co-Founder, BioLabs San
Diego
Susie Harborth knows all the secret ingredients required to keep
new biotech businesses humming. While serving as the general
partner and chief financial officer at Boston-area venture firm
BioInnovation Capital, Harborth simultaneously co-founded BioLabs
San Diego, a brand new business incubator that provides
state-of-the-art lab space, equipment and a host of other resources
for emerging life science companies. Her goal is to remove those
earlier barriers to success. Fostering innovation: Harborth, who
has a master’s in biology from Harvard, also sits on the Advisory
Board at LabCentral, a nonprofit that provides co-working spaces to
start-up biotech companies in Massachusetts. Globe trotter: She’s
traveled the world and spent time in other big biotech cities, but
Harborth has happily settled back in her hometown of San Diego,
where she’s set on making sure promising life science startups have
the support they need to grow.
Biocom LifeLines Winter 2016 5
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COVER S TORY
LIGHTING THE WAY Martyn Gross, 33 | Founder, Vice President of
Innovation, Clarify Medical
Martyn Gross is the founder of a startup medical device company
that’s seeking to use portable light as an affordable prescription
therapy for patients with psoriasis, eczema and other skin
conditions. Gross, a psoriasis patient himself, can speak
personally to the need for a treatment that allows patients to
treat their conditions at home instead of visiting doctors or
clinics several times a week. Passion pays off: Clarify Medical has
been named San Diego Venture Group Cool Company, Biocom
DeviceFest’s coolest Device and Xconomy’s 2017 San Diego Tech
Startups to watch. In 2016, Gross also received the Our City San
Diego magazine’s recognition as the Most Influential Innovator. His
other passion is microfinance. He’s made trips to Uganda, Rwanda,
Dominican Republic, Nepal and India to assist non-governmental
organizations. Nothing like nature: Gross says that hiking, rock
climbing and surfing have given him the mental focus to make some
of his smartest business decisions.
DNA MATCHMAKER Michael Heltzen, 36 | Co-Founder and CEO,
AllSeq
Serial entrepreneur Michael Heltzen has created the first
“marketplace” for DNA sequencing services, providing researchers
with a robust, online bank of services and resources to help them
get their projects done quickly and well. Formerly of Denmark,
Heltzen chose San Diego for his new venture because he says the
city has the best talent and resources in the world to support
genomics. His company, AllSeq, is seeking to drive the genomics
revolution into everyday use by making services accessible.
Outspoken advocate: Heltzen is known as a genomics industry
cheerleader, investor and visionary, recently participating in many
key sessions at the Festival of Genomics in San Diego. A close
call: When living in the Philippines in the early 2000s, Heltzen
was nearly killed by a highly toxic stonefish, only to be saved by
an antidote that the tiny, local hospital had at the ready.
A HEALTHCARE VISIONARYTony Grover, 39 | Vice President, Business
Development, Banyan Biomarkers Inc.
After helping to establish a medical clinic at a Bangladesh
orphanage, and witnessing the disparities in the health care
industry, Tony Grover vowed he would make a difference in improving
the lives of others. Now at Banyan Biomarkers, a company that
develops rapid blood tests to diagnose time-sensitive concussions
and traumatic brain injuries, he’s living up to his promise. Grover
is also active with the American Association of Clinical Chemistry
and the American Academy of Neurology, where he served on the
Corporate Roundtable Executive Committee. Biotech hub migrant:
Grover, who’s been a resident of all three top U.S. biotech
clusters, says he views San Diego as the most collaborative of
all—it’s a quality that promotes innovation and speeds time to
market. He’s a fighter: In his free time, Grover enjoys teaching
his daughters Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
6 Biocom LifeLines Winter 2016
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Honorable Mentions
COVER S TORY
Looking for an assay development partner?
Francie Barron, Ph.D., 36 Vice President of Biology, Regulatory
Affairs Nanomedical Diagnostics
Sanjeev Bhavnani, M.D., 39 Physician-InvestigatorScripps Clinic
and Research Institute
Brendan Eckelman, Ph.D., 37 Founder and Vice President,
Scientific OperationsInhibrx
Thomas Hitchcock, Ph.D., 38 Founder and CEOXycrobe
Therapeutics
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Jonathan Kabakoff, 31Senior Principal, Science &
TechnologyAlexandria Venture Investments/Alexandria Real Estate
Equities
Ryan Taft, Ph.D., 38 Senior Director, Scientific Research
Illumina
Prashant Mali, Ph.D., 36 Assistant Professor of
BioengineeringUniversity of California, San Diego
Dina Uzri, Ph.D., 34R&D and Business DevelopmentAbreos
Biosciences
David Puerta, Ph.D., 37 Chief Operating Officer, Vice President
of DiscoveryForge Therapeutics
Biocom Catalyst Award winners
mingling with biotech leaders at
the San Diego Venture Group’s
Life Science Luminary Dinner
held at the home of Magda
Maquette and Francois Ferre.
Travis Stiles, Ph.D., 30 CEO Novoron Bioscience
For more information on the Biocom Catalyst Award winners and
honorable mentions, please visit
www.biocom.org/s/Catalyst-Awards.
COVER S TORY
Biocom LifeLines Winter 2016 9
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Congress and the California Legislature have both adjourned, and
although Congress will convene for a “lame duck” session after the
election but before the new Congress is sworn in, much of their
work is done for the year.
2016 has been a year during which the industry has been under
constant scrutiny in the policy arena, much of it coming to a head
in the past few months. Whether it is the entire industry being
unfairly painted with a broad brush because of the actions of a few
individual outliers; having blame shifted upon it by other aspects
of the health care delivery system in expensive, well-orchestrated
campaigns; or legitimate policy discussions trying to manage the
intersection of the costs of innovative new cures and delivering
the highest therapeutic value to the patient based on probable
outcomes, the core model of proportionate return for very high risk
has been threatened.
Congress returned from a seven-week recess on September 6 with a
long list of unfinished business, including passing a final 21st
Century Cures bill. Despite the efforts of House Energy &
Commerce Committee Chair Fred Upton to bring the bill to the floor
in September, the bill is not likely to move forward until after
the November 8 election.
The House measure contained almost $10 billion in mandatory
funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) but since its
passage last year, the original offsets have been used to fund
other bills and are no longer available, which has delayed the
conference process. Mandatory funding for the NIH is a prerequisite
for Democrats in both Chambers to continue to support any 21st
Century Cures package.
Biocom has been very supportive of the initiative and continues
to advocate for the inclusion of mandatory funding for the NIH and
other regulatory and reimbursement provisions, while lobbying to
ensure that legislators stay away from offsets that could harm our
industry, such as modifications to FDA’s Approved Risk Evaluation
and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) system.
In the State Legislature, the country watched as Senate Bill
(SB) 1010 unfolded. This bill would have required companies to
provide a wealth of pricing information to the state for public
release. The version passed by the Assembly Health Committee, for
instance, required drug manufacturers to give health plans and
other purchasers 30 day advance notification of price increases
exceeding 10 percent or $10,000 (over a 12 month period).
Biocom played a critical role in a large coalition of patient
groups, life science trade associations (BIO, CLSA and PhRMA in
particular),
and companies to educate Assembly Appropriations Committee
members on the possible unintended market consequences of the bill
as passed by the Assembly Health Committee. Due in part to these
efforts, the Assembly Appropriations Committee made significant
changes to the bill before passing it to the Assembly floor. Among
these amendments was a change to a 25 percent threshold for
reporting price increases and a one-year delay (to January 1, 2018)
in implementation of this first in the nation reporting system.
On August 17, as a result of the changes mentioned above, the
bill’s author, Senator Ed Hernandez, announced he would not be
attempting to move this particular bill forward, but instead would
seek legislation next year.
If it seems like 2017 will be a very busy year in the policy
world, it will be. Both presidential nominees have regularly
espoused rhetoric critical of the industry on the campaign trail.
The California Legislature will have a number of new members
unfamiliar with the critical role the industry plays in the state’s
economy. Biocom is preparing to take on these challenges. We are
already engaged with many of our Los Angeles stakeholders,
including offices of local elected officials, to evaluate local
policy needs, prioritize them, and begin effecting change there at
the local level. In many ways, as Biocom moves forward, we are
doing so by getting back to our roots of driving policy change
through industry coalition building.
Biocom is expanding its policy outreach efforts, including
developing engagement tools for our members, and will continue to
consult with our members on how we can best communicate the
industry’s message to policy makers. We are developing deeper
relationships with Los Angeles legislators through our new office
there, enlisting them as partners in developing the kinds of jobs
and industry recognition and cohesion in Los Angeles that their
neighbors in San Diego and San Francisco already enjoy. As Biocom’s
membership continues to grow and progress, we will continue to
serve the policy needs of our expanding universe.
Jimmy Jackson is the Senior Vice President of Public Policy for
Biocom. He oversees government affairs and public policy for the
organization.
PUBL IC POL ICY
New Frontiers, New Challenges and Opportunities
By Jimmy Jackson, Senior Vice President of Public Policy,
Biocom
10 Biocom LifeLines Winter 2016
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Over the past two months many people have asked how a Contract
Research Organization (CRO) came to be listed as one of 2016’s most
exciting, early phase companies in North America. 130 companies
presented to peers and judges at the final stage for the
RedHerring100 recognition; only six were life sciences companies,
and just one was a CRO.
The answer to the frequent question, is complex. Like many
outstanding companies, we have an impressive team with a robust and
lengthy track record. We are delighted by the level of our
engagement with our clients, both in industry and academia, and we
are pleased with our business model and growth trajectory.
But I have come to realize that the RedHerring100 award
recognizes much more than Tioga Research. It is also a reflection
of San Diego’s life science ecosystem.
As a CRO we have a specific focus. We work only on formulations
applied topically, that is to the skin or mucosa. When discussing
skin-applied products we distinguish between four types of
delivery: superficial (exterior surface only), topical (into the
skin to treat, for example, a dermatological condition), regional
(through the skin but concentrating in proximal tissue or joint),
and transdermal (for systemic availability). We address each of
these scenarios and we count among our clients cosmetic and skin
care companies, even if our main focus is pharmaceuticals. We serve
as a pre-IND CRO, supporting clients variously from product concept
assessment through pre-clinical development.
The bulk of our work is on formulation innovation and screening
the delivery of an active from a formulation into and through the
skin. Unlike typical oral or injectable formulations, the extent of
delivery of an active from a skin-applied formulation can vary
hugely, with even subtle changes in formulation composition. Such
changes are today not predictable and formulation compositions that
work well for one active typically perform sub-optimally for
another active. Historically, selection of a topical formulation
commenced with a handful of ‘off-the-shelf’ vehicles into which the
drug would be introduced, perhaps at different strengths. The
formulation in this small set that performs best would likely be
chosen for development. Today, though, much of the value of Tioga
Research’s capabilities and proprietary technologies derives from
our ability to discover optimally-performing formulations by
preparing and screening many tens or hundreds of distinct
compositions.
This simple overview underscores that are we are not only
specialized, but that we also address only one phase of the full
research and development cycle. Being able to cooperate effectively
with other local organizations with complementary skills is
therefore important, both to us and to our clients. The April
2016 Biocom CRO Education Series Event “Skin-applied Products –
from Concept to Approvals in San Diego” included presentations from
two complementary companies, Pharmatek Laboratories and
Therapeutics Incorporated, with which we are proud to interact. It
also featured Pieter Dorrestein, a UCSD professor and global expert
in the emerging skin microbiome field. Links with our academic
research institutions can be important, and the state-of-the-art
instrumentation accessible at their core facilities can also prove
invaluable.
Southern California is home to a constellation of CROs and
Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs) that can have global
appeal. Tioga Research already has clients in India and Japan and
we look soon to adding clients in China. Our region also has a
notable history and a very substantial presence in skin interests
generally. Clinical dermatology, esthetic dermatology, skin
culture, wearable devices, hair growth, skin imaging and
diagnostics, tattoos, skin- and hair-related genomics are some
well-recognizable examples. Local leaders from across these
interest areas are now working to establish a Skin Interests Locus
community and to better promote the strengths of our region in this
area.
Southern California is envied for the effectiveness of the
communities it establishes. It is rightly stated that those working
to advance today’s science and technologies are standing on the
shoulders of giants. As I often remark when introducing the San
Diego Skin Interests locus in other regions, not only is Tioga
Research standing on the shoulders of giants, but we are also
rubbing shoulders with future giants.
John Newsam is CEO of Tioga Research, Inc. and is a Biocom CRO
committee member.
GUEST
One CRO’s Success Story: a Foundation for Growth
By John M Newsam, CEO, Tioga Research, Inc.
Biocom LifeLines Winter 2016 13
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The best partnering conferences stimulate conversations and
collaborations that spill out into the halls, stretch far into the
dinner hour, and have attendees meeting for sunrise coffee to
continue discussions. Earlier this year, the large group filling
The Lodge at Torrey Pines ballroom had a world-famous, ocean-view
golf course within sight. However one could immediately tell this
group was here for a distinctly different purpose. The standing
room-only crowd was listening with tremendous interest to a lecture
by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, named one of the Top 25 Most
Influential People in Biopharma in 2015. He was describing the U.S.
Government-sponsored Cancer Moon Shot project and his leadership
role. While this was the most popular presentation at the 2016
Biocom Annual Global Life Science Partnering Conference (GLSPC) the
conference consistently attracts other remarkably accomplished
keynote speakers and panelists.
As a member of the small planning committee who helped start
this conference seven years ago, I’ll share that our vision was to
bring the business and corporate development industry movers and
shakers from around the world to Southern California to witness
what’s happening in our important life sciences hub and annually
discuss this landscape on a global basis. No such meeting existed
seven years ago. Today, the mission is largely unchanged, but the
quality of the 200 attendees and speakers is extraordinary. And the
event continues to attract top-notch speakers and participants. The
primary goal of the GLSPC is to bring together senior level life
science industry leaders keen to form corporate partnerships
especially between a pharmaceutical company and a biotech or
start-up company. The types of partnerships being contemplated at
this conference are surprisingly comprehensive and include
licensing arrangements, mergers and acquisitions and even
investments by venture capital funds.
While there are partnering conferences around the country,
Biocom’s GLSPC is unique. This is the only conference of its type
in Southern California. And with the venue for the past several
years at The Lodge at Torrey Pines, we leverage the delightful
setting to create a one-of-a-kind San Diego vibe. We believe the
venue helps contribute to the casual nature of the networking and
fosters open and transparent interactions. It comes as no surprise
when surveys show that the conference has an impressive repeat
attendance rate. Why is that? One reason is because this conference
smoothly blends so many different forums for collaborating,
learning and spontaneously discovering new partnership
opportunities.
Here’s a sample of the diverse activities that take place:•
Individual company presentations from over 20 exciting
start-ups • Keynote presentations • Fireside chats• Panel
presentations from senior-level members of the industry• 1:1
partnering meetings scheduled in advance via an online
meeting tool• Planned breaks to allow for informal
networking
The upcoming meeting will be held March 1 & 2, 2017 at The
Lodge at Torrey Pines. As a preview, here two examples of
speakers:• Keynote presented by Rupert Vessey, Executive Vice
President
and President of Global Research and Early Development at
Celgene
• Fireside chat with George Golumbeski, EVP Business Development
& Planning at Celgene interviewed by Ed Saltzman who is
President of Defined Health
While the planning committee is putting the final touches on the
upcoming program, registration is now open along with the
application process for company presentations. I look forward to
seeing you there.
Visit Biocom’s Global Life Science Partnering Conference website
for additional information and registration:
www.biocomglobalpartnering.org
Mark Wiggins is a Senior Biotech Executive and serves as a
founding committee member for the Biocom Global Partnering
Conference.
GUEST
Global Partnering Conferences: What Drives Success?
By Mark Wiggins, Senior Biotech Executive
www.BiocomGlobalPartnering.org
March 1-2, 2017The Lodge at Torrey Pines
14 Biocom LifeLines Winter 2016
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Representing San Diego’s most notable bio-tech,
pharma and life sciences companies is a role
we take seriously. As the leading provider of
commercial real estate services in the San Diego
market and around the world, we are committed
to harnessing our unmatched real estate services
platform to deliver exceptional outcomes that
build competitive advantage for everyone
we serve.
Build on Advantage
cbre.com/sandiego-occupier @cbresandiego
THE LIFE SCIENCES
ADVANTAGE
-
Paul Roben, the new Associate Vice Chancellor for Innovation and
Commercialization (OIC) at UC San Diego, intends to “drive
innovation across all areas of campus, and to speed university
innovations to markets in California, the nation, and the
world.”
Roben, who has combined the offices of technology transfer,
intellectual property, innovative design, and industry partnering
under the OIC roof, answers some questions about the new office,
the university’s goals, and the prospects for strengthening the
university’s “culture of innovation” to broaden the benefits for
both the campus and the regional community.
Q: How do you define innovation?Roben: I define innovation as
people with diverse ideas coming together to create new solutions
to the problems that we will all face as a society over the coming
years.
Q: How has your experience in economic development and
technology-growth shaped your approach to the mission of the Office
of Innovation and Commercialization?Roben: I have worked in
academia, in companies, and for a government, so I have seen
innovation at work from all angles. This has shown me that
innovation is, at its heart, all about people. Fundamentally, my
job is to provide as many opportunities as possible for people from
these different backgrounds to come together with their diverse
ideas, and to create the solutions of the future. My office can
then help to provide them with the education, tools and resources
necessary so they can make their ideas become reality.
Q: The campus has a number of offices and organizations
dedicated to entrepreneurism and business-creation already. How
does the OIC fit into that existing framework?Roben: The OIC is a
cross-campus innovation platform designed to ensure UC San Diego’s
position as a major driver of regional development. As you point
out, there are many excellent organizations and resources across
campus doing outstanding work in the innovation space. The OIC aims
to bring the campus to the next level by supporting and aligning
those resources toward the common goal of social and economic
development. We are also providing new resources in support of
these organizations: People development -- inspiring and motivating
people to unlock their inner creativity -- and innovation programs,
such as Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, Open-Flow Innovation Licensing,
and Proof-of-Concept funding. These programs will create those
opportunities where diverse people can come together and
innovate.
Q: Given UC San Diego’s notable success in start-ups, and their
contributions to regional economic growth, how does the university
do even better in those areas?Roben: One important role for OIC is
to remove any barriers to getting promising technologies into the
hands of the people who can develop them and start new companies.
Our new Open-Flow Innovation program makes it considerably easier
for entrepreneurs to create more new companies and jobs in the
region.
Q: Can you elaborate on what the OIC is doing to bring ideas to
market faster?Roben: In addition to Open-Flow Innovation, we are
also launching a number of initiatives, such as an
Entrepreneur-in-Residence program, to bring the expertise of the
private sector to campus and to help our innovators develop
products and services faster. These programs, together with
initiatives in education, “innovation concierge” services, and
technology-development funding, are all designed to bring ideas to
market faster.
Q: What kind of response to your aggressive business-partnership
and business-development goals have you received from local
industry and community leaders?Roben: Local leaders have been very
supportive of this approach. Most people acknowledge that the way
to bring the entire region to the next level of success is to work
together to tackle the problems facing society, and also to work
together to build the reputation of this region as one of the most
innovative in the world, in order to attract the best people and
investment to the region. Local leaders recognize UC San Diego as
one of the major sources of people and technologies that will drive
these efforts, and welcome the chance to partner with the
university in our new business-friendly approach.
Q: Say I’m a student, or faculty member, or even a member of the
community looking for some expert help developing a new idea or
useful new tool. How does your new office, the OIC, help me?Roben:
One of the first things we are creating is an “entrepreneur’s road
map”-- basically a guide for anyone interested in this space to
help them find the resources they need to get to the next step in
developing their idea -- anything from mentorship to physical space
to legal services to investment. In the meantime, anyone can
contact my office and we will try and get them the help they
need.
Q: You’ve put together a talented, experienced, and optimistic
team. Tell us what you and your team hope to have accomplished in
five years.Roben: In five years, UC San Diego will be recognized
globally as the partner of choice for innovation.
Q & A
Q&A with Paul Roben, Associate Vice Chancellor for
Innovation and Commercialization, Office of Research Affairs, UC
San Diego
16 Biocom LifeLines Winter 2016
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Biocom opened the doors of its new Los Angeles office in June,
2016. Since then, we have seen excitement build over our arrival
and our efforts to showcase the exciting life science industry in
the greater LA area (more than 450 companies!). We believe in the
tremendous opportunity represented by this industry in LA and have
started to lay the groundwork to link everyone already in the
ecosystem.
By August, Biocom’s Los Angeles office was fully staffed and
operational and we hit the ground running. Using our 20-year
history of cluster-building, we work daily to advance our mission
to accelerate life science success in specific and meaningful ways
for our members. The new hires bring the Los Angeles office staff
total to five and include staff focused on advocacy, program
management, membership and our best-in-class purchasing group.
In addition to strategic hires, the LA office has been focused
on creating strong partnerships throughout the ecosystem. We are
partnering with the LA Economic Development Corporation to respond
to the LA County Board of Supervisors need for leadership in
pulling together stakeholders from across the industry, the public
sector and academics to catapult our life science cluster onto the
world stage. This requires that we work to attract more capital to
the region and to find ways to keep more of the great companies
that are spawned here local. These are among some of our initial
programming efforts and we are fortunate to work with such engaged
partners.
A big part of that effort requires us to tell our success
stories to the world. We are partnering with the local
universities, research institutes and their startups to raise
awareness. Did you know that each year UCLA spins out more startup
companies than any other UC campus, the majority in life science
related fields? Last fiscal year, they spun out 25 new startups,
almost twice the next most active campus (UC San Diego, with 15)
and almost 30% of the total startups spun out by the UC System as a
whole!
Biocom’s LA office is also partnering with other local
associations to put on events and programming that will connect and
grow the industry. The LA Venture Association (LAVA) and the
Biotech Connection LA (BCLA) are just two of these – LAVA educates
and connects entrepreneurs within the local entrepreneurial
ecosystem and BCLA is a group founded by USC and UCLA grad students
whose mission is to facilitate the connection between academics and
the LA biotech industry to move innovation forward.
We have also been reaching out to the LA area’s elected
officials to look for ways for us to partner with them to grow and
support the industry in LA. Biocom’s CEO, Joe Panetta, and I spent
a couple of days this summer in Sacramento, speaking with members
of
the LA delegation. In addition to working with companies in
their districts, we are looking for ways to partner on STEM
education and workforce development efforts.
Read more about our new hires and our upcoming events on the LA
office’s website at www.biocominla.org and follow us on twitter at
@BiocominLA for the latest updates on the LA area.
Dina Lozofsky is the Executive Director of the Biocom Los
Angeles office.
BIOCOML.A.
Biocom’s Los Angeles Office: A Warm Welcome
By Dina Lozofsky, Executive Director, Biocom LA
Biocom LifeLines Winter 2016 17
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California is known as a world-class life science industry
leader with a rich history of breakthroughs and milestones.
Reflecting back, many recall Genentech as the first official
biotechnology company. It was the first to successfully genetically
engineer human insulin using recombinant DNA technology in a
laboratory in 1978, and held the first biotech initial public
offering on October 14, 1980. Since then, the state has burst onto
the national scene with countless life-saving products.
Taking a closer look, Southern California has come a long way
from its inception and is now one of world’s largest life science
hubs. Southern California rests on a foundation of scientific
training and prowess. It employs over 139,000 people in five
sectors: biopharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostics,
research and lab services, industrial biotechnology and biofuels,
and life science trade. The industry in California alone generates
$258 billion in economic activity. Economic activity in the life
science industry comes in many forms: investing direct dollars,
company collaborations, and mergers and acquisitions, all of which
can lead to future ROIs and create growth.
Contract Research OrganizationsOne example of future potential
economic returns are Clinical
Research Organizations (CROs). CROs are crucial to a thriving
life science industry. They enable pharmaceutical, biotechnology,
and medical device industries to outsource research services for
faster discovery and clinical development of new products. Southern
California is home to the highest concentration of CROs in the
world. With more than 85 CROs, the region is in a class by itself.
Analysts predict a 10% annual increase for the CRO industry, which
may lead to advances in product pipelines and stimulate additional
regional capital growth.
Venture FundingA more direct method of cultivating economic
activity is deal-
making through venture funds. According to PricewaterhouseCooper
(PWC) and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), in
FY2015, $1.04B on 80 deals was invested through venture funds in
Southern California, specifically in biotechnology and medical
device and equipment companies, Although 2015 saw a decrease in the
number of total deals over the last couple of years, 80 deals in FY
2015 versus 92 in FY2013, the Southern California region saw a 12%
increase in direct-dollars invested, leading to growth
in average dollars per deal. In FY2016, Southern California is
on pace to surpass FY2015, having already raised 64% of the total
invested dollars in just the first two quarters.
NIH FundingIn addition to millions invested through venture
funds, there is
an equally important influx of money coming to Southern
California institutions and companies from the National Institutes
of Health (NIH). The NIH invests over $30B annually to help fund
medical research in the United States. In FY2015, Southern
California alone received approximately $1.75B in total annual
funding from the NIH.
Biocom’s Contribution Although there are many funding sources
available, the
environment for raising capital to fund life science companies
continues to be increasingly difficult. Capital is available for
those who can demonstrate they have the knowledge, expertise, team
and vision to meet today’s rigorous investment criteria. Biocom is
cognizant that life science companies need increased access to
capital, therefore Biocom will continue to offer programs that
assist member companies in accessing financing resources.
Working on behalf of more than 800 members, Biocom is the
largest, most experienced leader and advocate for California’s life
science sector. Through the efforts of Biocom and its Capital
Development Committee, companies have the opportunity to showcase
their products and ideas to potential investors. From one-on-one
meetings with venture capitalists to quick-pitch sessions with
angel investors, Biocom’s Capital Development Committee implements
programs that help attract, maintain and cultivate growth
throughout the Southern California life science sector. Access to
potential capital and resources are frequently showcased by four
distinct programs offered by Biocom: Partner Days, Venture Days,
Super Angel Days and the Annual Global Life Science Partnering
Conference.
Partner DaysBiocom’s Partner Days program, established in 2012,
brings
buyers and sellers together to discuss potential partnerships,
licensing opportunities and/or M&A deals.
For Partner Days, the Biocom Capital Development Committee
invites representatives from a well-regarded pharmaceutical
CAPITALDEVELOPMENT
Capital Development Landscape: Southern California’s Life
Science Industry
By Oscar Rodarte, Project Coordinator, Biocom
18 Biocom LifeLines Winter 2016
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company to a day of one-on-one meetings with companies
interested in raising capital. Partner Days are held two to three
times per year.
Venture DaysBiocom Venture Days are designed to connect member
companies
to Venture Capitalists from around the US. Each event, organized
by the Biocom Capital Development Committee, features an intimate
group of esteemed VCs. They hold one-on-one meetings with
pre-selected companies, based on pre-determined investment
criteria. Venture Days are held two to three times per year.
Super Angel DaysBiocom’s Super Angel Days is a program designed
to offer serial
investors, or Super Angels, the opportunity to help fund
innovation and potentially add companies to their portfolio.
Selected companies are given the opportunity to “Quick Pitch”
(3-minute pitch) their company or idea to each Angel. Super Angel
Days are held once annually.
Global Life Science Partnering Conference Biocom’s annual Global
Life Science Partnering Conference
is an exclusive networking forum that bring together leading
deal makers, senior executives, VCs, emerging companies and
business development professionals from leading biotech and
pharmaceutical companies in one of the largest life science
hubs
in the world, San Diego. The conference consists of relevant
panel discussions, one-on-one meetings, start-up company
presentations, and various networking opportunities. Please join us
in 2017 for the 7th Annual Global Life Science Partnering
Conference on March 1st and 2nd.
Future DirectionThe life science industry in California, like
the rest of the nation,
is characterized by economic uncertainty, marketplace
volatility, pricing pressures and increased demand for innovation.
As companies grow and build their pipelines, this expansion
requires fresh capital and viable funding opportunities.
Biocom accelerates life science success through its robust and
member-focused capital development programs, which continue to
attract investment dollars to California. With the thoughtful
leaders on the Capital Development Committee, we continue to create
innovative new programs and opportunities for collaboration and
investment. To learn more about our capital development programs,
please contact [email protected]
Oscar Rodarte is a Project Coordinator with a focus on Biocom’s
Capital Development Initiative.
Biotechnology innovation in areas such as genomics,
microbiomics, pharmaceuticals, and precision medicine is
increasingly driven by informatics, requiring large scale
computation and storage.
SDSC’s array of computational infrastructure and storage, along
with its cadre of experienced scientists and engineers, is
leveraged by local companies to provide support in next-generation
sequencing analyses, drug discovery, translational medicine, and
other areas. We provide:
h Collaborative Research Opportunities h HPC and Storage System
Architecture and Design h Big Data Expertise and Training h Machine
Learning and Predictive Analytics h Bioinformatics Programming and
Applications h Data Science Training
Email or visit us online to see how we can help you reach your
research objectives.
www.sdsc.edu/collaborate/ipp.html | [email protected]
A National Leader in High-Performance Computing & Big
DataPartnering with local biotech companies to accelerate
discovery
-
If you didn’t already know that it’s been a busy few months for
Biocom, the quantity and diversity of these headlines tell the
story.
Here’s a quick scan of the articles that have recently appeared
in some of the top local and state-wide publications as Biocom’s
leaders get the word out about drug innovation, workforce
development, geographic expansion and other key issues that matter
to our members.
Read the brief excerpts here:
BIOCOM INTHE NEWS
Biocom’s Making Headlines
September 26, 2016Biocom Life Science Catalyst winners namedBy
Bradley Fikes
Biocom, the San Diego-based life science trade group, has named
10 winners of its new Life Science Catalyst Awards.
Presented along with San Diego Venture Group, the awards
recognize rising stars in research, technology and business fields
who have made a lasting contribution to the region’s life science
industry before turning 40.
A committee of Biocom and San Diego Venture Group members vetted
each nominee, evaluating then on innovation, leadership, vision and
other factors. Biocom selected the winners.
Read more at: http://bit.ly/2eMOyFB
August 4, 2016BioLabs Is Additional Plus for Local Biotech
SceneBy Brittany Meiling
A new coworking space called BioLabs San Diego is launching this
fall, hoping to fill the gaps left in the city’s biotech startup
space.
The project is a joint venture involving San Diego’s life
science industry group BIOCOM and BioLabs, a Cambridge-based
company that opened similar coworking spaces in biotech hotspots
across the country, including North Carolina, New York, and the
Boston area.
Read more at: http://bit.ly/2ewsIre
July 25, 2016Job Seekers Take Note: Challenges Faced by Life
Science EmployersBy Angela Rose
By all accounts, the California life science industry is
flourishing as one of the leading employers in the state, providing
work for more than 280,000 professionals from the entry-level to
the c-suite. Demand is outpacing supply, and job opportunities are
plentiful—though they aren’t always easy to land. BioSpace recently
spoke with executives from the California Life Sciences Institute
(CLSI), Biocom Institute and San Francisco Bay division of the
Centers of Excellence about the recruiting and hiring challenges
facing the state’s life science employers. Their responses were
illuminating and may contain information job seekers can put to use
when preparing for their next life science position.
Read more at: http://bit.ly/2ewhzqq
July 12, 2016Op-Ed: Jumpstarting the Conversation: LA Must
Harness Its Life Science PotentialBy Dina Lozofsky
Who would have guessed that Los Angeles’ life science industry
was percolating with so much energy?
Well, those of us in the trenches of LA life sciences know. But
based on the dearth of news coverage and overall conversation about
the area’s many biotech happenings, most people are unaware of the
abundance of new healthcare technologies and startup activity
happening right around them. Here are some insights gained from the
recent First Look LA event, the annual “sneak peek” investor
showcase of local startups and spinouts that span the life science
spectrum.
Read more at: http://bit.ly/2eMLFEy
20 Biocom LifeLines Winter 2016
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SUPER ANGEL DAY:On Monday, October 24, Biocom held the 2nd
Annual Super Angel Day with participation from Richard Heyman,
Ph.D. (Board Member at ORIC Pharmaceuticals), Francois Ferre, Ph.D.
(Co-CEO at ALMA Life Sciences) and Sheila Gujrathi, M.D. (former
CMO at Receptos). 35 companies participated in the event including
a number of first time entrepreneurs which demonstrates the
on-going, innovative spirit of the Biocom membership. Following the
three minute, quick pitch session, the Angels were questioned about
the quality of companies they saw – they were ‘inspired’ and
‘excited’ by the passion and science demonstrated during the event.
BioRibbon Health, Chrysalis Therapeutics and Notogen, Inc. were
identified as the companies they would like to have longer meetings
with. Congratulations to all companies that participated in the
event.
Representatives from Bristol-Myers Squibb will be in San Diego
on December 13th to meet with representatives from local academic
institutions, research organizations, venture capital firms, and
companies with programs and technologies complementary to
Bristol-Myers Squibb’s pipeline and capabilities.
BMS is Looking For Companies working in the following
therapeutic areas:• Immuno-Oncology/Oncology• Clinical
Collaborations in Oncology • Immunoscience• Cardiovascular
Fibrosis
For more information on the program and how to participate
please contact Oscar Rodarte at [email protected].
MEMBERS IN ACTION
Bristol-Myers Squibb & Biocom Partner Day
Biocom LifeLines Winter 2016 21
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Technology develops with time. From our trusted rotary wall
phone, to the latest iphone7, technology advances based on culture
and the wants and needs of a society. The same is true in medicine.
One of the first wearable cardiac pacemakers, powered by batteries,
was born out of necessity due to a mishap in the weather. Patients
with plug-in pacemakers needed a better option to secure their
safety during a power outage. Now, almost 60 years later the
company that gave patients their wireless freedom (Medtronic)
received FDA approval for the world’s smallest pacemaker. Their
technology is even more groundbreaking, because of where it is
implanted: inside the heart.
As the world continues to evolve and grow, whether in pop
culture or modern medicine, it’s no surprise that there is a
Guinness World Record for the fastest genetic diagnosis. The record
was recently achieved by successfully diagnosing critically ill
newborns in just under 26 hours. The best part of this story is
that the record-holder is Dr. Stephen Kingsmore, M.D., D.Sc., a San
Diego resident who was named president and CEO of Rady Children’s
Institute for Genomic Medicine at Rady Children’s Hospital one year
ago.
Rady’s new facility will be the first in the world to fold
genetic testing into its everyday way of care for patients. The San
Diego Union Tribune, in an article about Kingsmore’s naming, noted
that prior to the opening of this facility, “the only patients who
generally have had access to whole-genome sequencing were those
enrolled in a research project or clinical trial that pays for the
expensive diagnostic work. However, with the help of a $120 million
donation from La Jolla philanthropists Ernest and Evelyn Rady,
Kingsmore said he believes the new institute will be able to change
that reality.”
Another of Dr. Kingsmore’s successes is the 50-hour genome,
named by Time Magazine as one of the top 10 medical breakthroughs
in 2012. This process can screen for about 4,500 diseases know to
be linked to single-gene mutations in the DNA of babies. While many
other medical tests have to be processed one at a time, eliminating
possible contributing factors with each result, this method takes
only two days to complete, and covers the spectrum of genetic
diseases all in one test, creating answers rapidly to save lives.
“We are proud to have Stephen Kingsmore in San Diego bringing his
vision for pediatric genomic medicine to life and helping families
affected by genetic disease in our region”
said Tristan Orpin, Executive Vice President, clinical genomics
at Illumina. Dr. Kingsmore continues to work closely with
llumina,
collaborating with the teams there to develop more advanced
technologies to diagnose and treat his tiny patients.
At Rady’s, Kingsmore plans to begin small by offering the
sequencing to many of the patients admitted to the hospital’s
neonatal intensive care unit who have no clear diagnosis. To begin,
much of the testing will be conducted under the research protocols
approved as part of a $6 million grant he received from the
National Institutes of Health. “We’re going to start in the Rady
NICU (neonatal intensive
care unit), but then we’ll be putting it into ... other Level 3
NICUs. Then we move to the pediatric intensive care units and then
to outpatient clinics…It’s going to take a decade. But we believe
there are children who don’t need to suffer, and we’re going to fix
that one child at a time,” said Kingsmore in a September 2015 San
Diego Tribune article.
As we continue to hear San Diego described as “the genomics
capital of the world”, local players in the industry like Rady
Children’s Hospital, Edico Genome and Illumina, are not only
helping the city to hold this title, but are also making strides
daily to keep it for years to come. “You’ve got to have the right
institution, the right set of doctors, a lot of money and the right
sort of societal fabric. San Diego, I believe, is the only place in
the world that has this magical constellation to pull it off,” said
Kingsmore (The San Diego Tribune).
SAVE THE DATE: 2017 Biocom Institute Festival of Science &
Engineering March 4-12, 2017. Sponsorship opportunities now
available! Contact [email protected] for information.
Sara Pagano is the Managing Director of the Biocom Institute
Festival of Science & Engineering
SCIENCEFESTIVAL
STEM In The Community – The Future Is Now In Pediatric
Genomics!
By Sara Pagano, Managing Director, Biocom Institute Festival of
Science & Engineering
22 Biocom LifeLines Winter 2016
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BIOCOM’S 9TH ANNUAL DEVICEFEST CONFERENCE: CONGRATS TO ABREOS
BIOSCIENCES: The 9th Annual DeviceFest Conference welcomed more
than 200 attendees and brought together leaders in the medical
device, digital health and diagnostic world. The conference was a
full day of exploration of the latest developments around
reimbursement, regulatory, funding vehicles, and design-driven
innovation. Those who spoke revealed the exciting times ahead for
the industry, including our featured speaker, Bakul Patel,
Associate Center Director for Digital Health, at the Center for
Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), at the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA). Bakul shared with us that 90% of all of the
world’s data has been generated over the last two years, which is
remarkable and advantageous for research, but also somewhat mind
boggling. Despite this massive influx of data, challenges abound:
from the collection and storing of data, to whether or not the data
is actionable, to the protection of data. Fortunately, events such
as DeviceFest provide a forum for executives to collaborate and
discuss the tough lessons they have already learned, allowing the
industry as a whole to advance. One of the most exciting portions
of the day was saved for last, when five innovative companies
pitched their technologies to a group of world-class leaders and
investors. Entrepreneurs were given just five minutes to
explain
why their technology was revolutionary and then were given
on-the-spot-critiques. Audience members and the investor panel of
judges then grabbed their mobile devices to vote for the winner.
We’d like to again congratulate presenter and winner, Bradley
Messmer, Ph.D., CEO & Founder of Abreos Biosciences, who was
deemed the “hottest” device company in Southern California and the
winner of the Five in 5 in the Hot Seat session for DeviceFest
2016! More about the Winner of DeviceFest 2016: Abreos Biosciences
is an early stage biotech company pioneering assays for detection
of biologic drugs using
its proprietary Veritope™ technology. Abreos develops
laboratory-based and point-of-care assays that enable personalized
dosing and counterfeit detection of these expensive drugs,
such as therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. The company’s
reagents and assays are customizable and can be developed for the
detection of any biologic drug in a variety of formats, including
lateral flow and ELISA. Thank you to our 2016 DeviceFest Conference
sponsors for your continued support of Biocom.
MEMBERS IN ACTION
Biocom LifeLines Winter 2016 25
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MEMBERS IN ACTION
BREAKFAST MEETING ON EMERGING DISEASES, INCLUDING ZIKA: Karen
Midthun, Former Director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and
Research (CBER), at the FDA discussed the U.S. response to emerging
infectious diseases as well as what we have learned from previous
outbreaks, the role of the U.S. government in funding and approving
countermeasures to emerging pandemics and threats, the importance
of public-private collaboration and how the life science industry
can better engage and respond to existing and future outbreaks.
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619-849-6000
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It can be difficult to navigate a world where qualities like
experience, integrity and a solid reputation are the exception. For
our team they’re the rule.
We have a proven history of representing leading life sciences
companies in locating and negotiating facilities, creating
visionary work places, increasing facility delivery schedules,
optimizing productivity and reducing operational costs of existing
facilities.
Team up with us to create an environment for research,
collaboration and decision-making that inspires your next big
breakthrough.
Real estate partners in the life sciences industry.
Inspiring environments for inspired breakthroughs.
jll.com/sandiego . 858.410.1252Chad Urie . Steve Holland . Grant
Schoneman
-
It can be difficult to navigate a world where qualities like
experience, integrity and a solid reputation are the exception. For
our team they’re the rule.
We have a proven history of representing leading life sciences
companies in locating and negotiating facilities, creating
visionary work places, increasing facility delivery schedules,
optimizing productivity and reducing operational costs of existing
facilities.
Team up with us to create an environment for research,
collaboration and decision-making that inspires your next big
breakthrough.
Real estate partners in the life sciences industry.
Inspiring environments for inspired breakthroughs.
jll.com/sandiego . 858.410.1252Chad Urie . Steve Holland . Grant
Schoneman
BIOCOM PAC ANNUAL ELECTED OFFICIALS & CANDIDATES RECEPTION:
The Illumina campus provided a picturesque setting for this year’s
Biocom PAC Elected Officials and Candidates Reception. Biocom
members were able to chat with policy makers and those about to be
elected to office in a warm, relaxed setting and educate them about
the industry and the advances being made. This year we were honored
to be joined by a majority of the San Diego delegations in both
Congress and the State Legislature. Our thanks to signature sponsor
Genentech and host sponsor Illumina for making the event possible
and one of our most successful PAC receptions ever.
MEMBERS IN ACTION
Biocom LifeLines Winter 2016 29
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Iliana Pulido is 22 years old, lives in the City Heights area of
San Diego, and received her high school diploma in 2013 from Arroyo
Paseo Charter School. She started community college right after
high school but left partway through her first semester for family
reasons. She stalled in her career path. Over the next few years,
she heard about various career training opportunities, but it
wasn’t until the letter from the San Diego Housing Commission
arrived with information about the Introductory Life Science
Experience (ILSE) Program that Iliana’s interest in going back to
school was sparked.
ILSE is a 21-month pilot program that was launched in October,
2015. It provides a re-entry pathway into a STEM career in the life
sciences for young adults 18-24, who are not currently in school,
and who have substantial barriers to employment, education and
career pathway planning. Through one-on-one support, coursework at
Miramar College, work readiness training, and a paid internship,
participants receive focused assistance in taking the next steps on
their career paths to higher education and/or employment. The first
group of 13 students recently finished their internships.
Iliana was among the first group of students, and began an
upward trajectory. She successfully completed 150 hours of work
readiness, completed Introduction to the Lab courses at Miramar
College, received her ILSE training certificate, and went on to
complete a paid internship at Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Iliana’s
participation in the ILSE pilot program inspired her and helped her
set goals. She enrolled as a full time student at Miramar College
and in September, she secured a part time job on campus as an
Instructional Assistant. Recently we sat down with Iliana and asked
her a few questions:
Q: What were you doing before you started the ILSE program?A: I
was working at a retail store stocking merchandise. I worked there
for four months and prior to that I was babysitting.
Q: What were your career and educational goals prior to
beginning the ILSE program?A: My main goal was to go back to
school. I knew I wanted to do something in the medical field but
wasn’t sure what.
Q: How have those career and educational goals changed since you
started ILSE?A: The ILSE program gave me confidence to go back to
school. I’ve started taking classes at Miramar College and have a
job there as an Instructional Assistant. I want to pursue a
radiology technician program. I want to help people.
Q: What is the most important thing you learned in ILSE and how
will it help you? A: I learned a lot of things, but mainly it
inspired me to go back to school and taught me not give up. When I
left school the first time, I didn’t have any support or anyone to
motivate me. Now I have Rogelio and Karen, at Biocom. Whatever I
need, I can talk to them.
Q: What are your impressions of the courses at Miramar?A:The
ILSE coursework was pretty interesting. I was surprised at the
amount of information we learned in a short amount of time. I
really liked the hands-on work learning laboratory techniques.
Q: What are your impressions of your internship?A: I was pretty
surprised that I got an internship at a biotech company. I never
saw myself working there. I was nervous going into the internship,
especially when I realized I would be doing buffers. My supervisor
made me do buffers my first week and by the end of the week I got
the hang of it and was doing them on my own.
The ILSE program is supported by Workforce Investment and
Opportunity Act funding through the San Diego Workforce
Partnership. Additional support from a Blasker Science &
Technology Grant provided for student tours of the campus of two
local universities.
The ILSE program is continually matching interns in exciting
roles within life science and other organizations and the placement
of our second group of students is currently underway. Thank you to
Abbiotec, Althea, BioLegend, BioNano Genomics, Inovio
Pharmaceuticals, Media Arts Center, Mirati Therapeutics, Molecular
Response, Nanomedical Diagnostics, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
and Vertex Pharmaceuticals for opening your doors to ILSE interns
and accelerating the STEM career opportunities for San Diego’s
youth. More companies are providing these opportunities every week
and some may not have made the list before this issue of LifeLines
went to print but we would like to thank all companies who have
provided their support.
Liisa Bozinovic is the Executive Director of the Biocom
Institute and also heads Biocom’s HR Initiative.
BIOCOMINST I TUTE By Liisa Bozinovic,
Executive Director, Biocom Institute
Pilot Program Helps Student Take Off Scientist CEO
MBA | MFIN | MSBA | Ph.D. | ExecEd
To see more stories:rady.ucsd.edu/radymade
#RadyMade“The Rady School inspired me to ask, ‘Can things be
done a different way?’ The school’s Lab to Market and the StartR
Accelerator challenged my assumptions and I learned how to build a
business model based on our customer’s needs. The Rady School has
made a huge impact on my career. I went from an individual
contributor to a leader and CEO of a startup that will influence
the life sciences industry.”
Julio de Unamuno IV, MBA ‘14Founder and CEOLab Fellows, Inc.
I am RadyMade
30 Biocom LifeLines Winter 2016
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Scientist CEO
MBA | MFIN | MSBA | Ph.D. | ExecEd
To see more stories:rady.ucsd.edu/radymade
#RadyMade“The Rady School inspired me to ask, ‘Can things be
done a different way?’ The school’s Lab to Market and the StartR
Accelerator challenged my assumptions and I learned how to build a
business model based on our customer’s needs. The Rady School has
made a huge impact on my career. I went from an individual
contributor to a leader and CEO of a startup that will influence
the life sciences industry.”
Julio de Unamuno IV, MBA ‘14Founder and CEOLab Fellows, Inc.
I am RadyMade
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The Biocom Purchasing Group continuously strives to emulate the
entrepreneurial spirit of the Biocom members we serve. In 2016,
strategic enhancements were made to our staff, our statewide reach
and to our core competencies in an effort to grow concurrently with
the speed and ingenuity of our membership.
This June, we oversaw the completion of a rigorous effort by
over 50 scientists, lab managers, supply chain specialists,
financial advisors and executive leaders within our membership. An
18-month RFP process resulted in a Fisher Scientific Lab Supply
contract that awards Biocom members exclusive access to
unprecedented life science solutions.
This was the most robust and carefully-managed RFP process our
industry has ever seen. We leveraged the purchasing power of over
800 members and relied on them to assemble a multi-disciplinary
team that resulted in a comprehensive and exclusive contract that
delivers competitive advantages for our members not available
anywhere else in the country.
Over the past year, we have added two staff to our contracts
team. This expansion allows us to strategically add more
industry-leading contracts that closely fit the evolving needs of
California’s life science sector. It also means we can perform more
extensive RFPs, develop more robust Advisory Committees, and expand
our formal member feedback systems.
In addition to our latest lab contract enhancement, 202 Biocom
members of the Beyond Benefits Trust, the only bona fide life
science health insurance trust in California, will now see a 1.4
percent DECREASE in their health insurance rates for the 2017
calendar year.
We understand the pain points of the life science industry in
California. We know that skyrocketing healthcare costs (with an
average increase of 10.4 percent annually) take their toll on
companies who might be forced to forego sustaining revenues for
years as they develop lifesaving medicines. Thanks to the Beyond
Benefits Trust and the positive claims history of our members, we
are seeing a decrease for over 6,800 covered lives in California; a
number that is growing weekly.
We’re also excited to announce that the threshold for California
life science companies eligible for the trust has been reduced from
a headcount of five to four employees. This is the first adjustment
in the trust’s five-year existence and a huge win for Biocom’s
smaller start-up companies looking to gain access to exclusive
state-wide health insurance benefits.
Our significant growth this past year with regard to member
engagement, contract offerings and targeted reach, has been fueled
in large part by our database capabilities. We continue to
reinvest
a substantial share of our resources to create the
infrastructure necessary to build a network of life science
companies that can connect with each other to enable change, create
life science solutions and catapult California onto the global
stage.
Examples of our continued focus on supporting members can be
found in Biocom’s new staff of five in our Los Angeles office and
our expanded services in the Bay Area. We are driving growth and
achieving breakthrough results across all regions of California
simultaneously, creating state-wide momentum.
Our strategic investments in people, our expanded geographic
reach, and our enhanced technologies have one thing in common: they
align with Biocom Purchasing Group’s vision of being the most
valued GPO in the world. And, they reflect Biocom’s vision of being
recognized by each member as the most valued organization in
strengthening and enhancing potential for life science success. It
is our world-class members who keep us at the forefront of global
purchasing programs, creating targeted solutions to ensure
bottom-line savings and cost-effective growth for all.
Stay tuned for future purchasing programs that will sustain your
bottom line, drive California’s life science industry, and help all
Biocom members recruit and retain the best talent. If you are
interested in joining our movement, volunteering on a committee,
attending one of our world-class events or want to meet the
incredible team here, please contact us at
[email protected].
Rick Fultz oversees membership and sponsorship efforts, business
development opportunities, and the Biocom Purchasing Group.
PURCHASING GROUP By Rick Fultz,
Managing Director, Biocom Purchasing Group
Accelerating Growth & Changing the Game
32 Biocom LifeLines Winter 2016
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BIOCOM TEAM
Tatiana CeleberttiOffice Manager and Accounting Associate,
Los [email protected]
As the Office Manager and Accounting Associate, Tatiana ensures
daily operations in the LA office are executed smoothly and
coordinates all aspects of the day-to-day activities. She holds a
Masters in Leadership and Organizational Studies and has a positive
and energetic personality that tends to bring a smile to those
around her.
Mandy AbdiEvent Coordinator, San Diego
[email protected]
Mandy, a San Diego native who has been tech-ing it up in San
Francisco for the past three years, joined us in March of 2016 as
our new PG Event Coordinator. She is responsibile for developing a
strategic plan for sponsorship and event opportunities for all of
PG’s partners, while managing the design, planning and execution
for events of all types and sizes, across multiple industry
segments. Mandy holds a bachelor’s degree in Business
Management.
Maria ArrivelloProject Coordinator, San Diego
[email protected]
As a recent biology graduate from the University of South
Carolina, Maria is new to California, but not the life science
industry. We are using her fresh perspective to streamline internal
communications, manage project schedules, liaise PG Board
engagement, and help surpass PG goals with a unified, cohesive and
all-encompassing approach.
Hanan Al-HakimSr. Program Manager, Los Angeles
[email protected]
As the Senior Program Manager at Biocom’s Los Angeles office,
Hanan is responsible for all aspects of program-related
initiatives, including committee and networking functions. She
loves to go to the beach, work out, cook and eat. As a sports fan
who was born and raised in LA, Hanan is a die-hard Laker fan and
bleeds the purple and gold. Hanan is a graduate of Cal State
Northridge and holds an MBA from Pepperdine.
We have had an exciting year and are pleased to introduce you to
some of our new team members.Our recently-opened Los Angeles office
is now fully staffed and
operational, advancing on the mission to accelerate life
science
success in specific and meaningful ways for members.
In San Diego, the addition of new employees represents
organic growth at the headquarters office.
34 Biocom LifeLines Winter 2016
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BIOCOM TEAM
Matt D’AngeloContracts Project Coordinator, San Diego
[email protected]
We are excited to welcome Matt, a San Diego native, to our team
to assist with our Member Advisory Committees and Member Feedback
Program. He has proven that Chargers fans aren’t extinct and he’ll
be a tremendous help to our contracts team by assisting with
overall project timelines, budgets and communication. Matt earned a
Bachelor of Science degree from Sonoma State University.
Morgan HarrisData Analyst, San Diego
[email protected]
As Data Analyst, Morgan assists the contract team with Market
Research efforts and translates collected data on current and
future contract areas to support best practices and paths forward
in the development of Biocom Purchasing Group’s contract portfolio.
As a San Diego native, Morgan enjoys outdoor activities, sports and
serving his local community. Morgan holds a Bachelor’s degree in
International Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
Carol KnowlesAccounting Associate, San Diego
[email protected]
Carol has joined our Accounting Team, bringing extensive
experience as a professional accountant. When not balancing the
books, Carol can be found in town cheering on the Chargers with her
family or visiting her sons and granddaughter out of state.
Ben LiAssociate Director of Membership,
Los [email protected]
Ben, a Los Angeles native and UCLA Bruin, is our latest addition
to the Los Angeles team following over a decade of leading
international sales for an APAC device manufacture. He is equally
excited at the blossoming growth of life science companies in Los
Angeles as he is about the young Lakers team, and looks forward to
both to become prominent in their respective arenas.
Michelle NemitsDirector of Business Development,
San [email protected]
Michelle is Biocom Purchasing Group’s latest hire, and has hit
the ground running in San Francisco. She has over 20 years of
experience in the Bay Area life sciences ecosystem; over ten of
which she spent with VWR as a Director of Business Development
before being hired as the first employee at a life science
manufacturer and rising to CCO. Michelle spends her free time
coaching her daughter’s volleyball team and looks forward to
expanding Biocom’s services in Northern California.
Shannon Colette LeeSenior Membership Coordinator, San Diego
[email protected]
Shannon is the Senior Membership Coordinator and is responsible
for supporting membership growth with pipeline management of
prospective members from initial contact through formal membership
acceptance. In her free time Shannon enjoys spending time with her
family and friends. Shannon volunteers with the Scripps Hospital
and the Salk Institute and she enjoys traveling and collecting
wisdom in unexpected places. Shannon is a graduate of National
University, San Diego with a Bachelor of Arts in English.
36 Biocom LifeLines Winter 2016
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BIOCOM TEAM
Ryan PalhidaiBusiness Development Manager,
Los [email protected]
Ryan joined us this summer as one of our first hires in the new
Biocom LA office after a very successful stint at Life
Technologies, now Thermo Fisher. He brings a wealth of industry
knowledge to the team at a time of critical growth, and is a new
dad, so we know his drive to succeed is at an all-time high. Ryan
holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from
UCSD.
Lauren PanettaSenior Communications and
Marketing Manager, San [email protected]
As the Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications for
Biocom, Lauren is responsible for planning, developing, and
implementing Biocom’s marketing and communication activities. She
has an unrelenting passion for cooking and any sport that involves
being in or around the ocean, including paddleboarding and scuba
diving with the world’s diverse marine life. She is a graduate of
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science in Graphic
Communication.
Oscar RodarteProject Coordinator, San Diego
[email protected]
As a Project Coordinator, Oscar is responsible for supporting
all aspects of the Capital Development Initiatives of Biocom. Oscar
is a graduate of UCSD with a degree in Human Development, and comes
to Biocom from the healthcare industry. In his free time, he enjoys
traveling and exploring new cuisines.
Andrew SmithSystem Administrator, San Diego
[email protected]
It’s not only at the Crossfit Gym that Andrew is lifting
heavily; he is also our ‘heavy lifter’ in IT support and Salesforce
administration here at Biocom. He will be working internally and
externally to streamline communication, manage onboarding processes
and new feature training as well as Salesforce reporting. Andrew
holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from
California State University, San Marcos (CSUSM).
Joe SpiritoProgram Director, San Diego
[email protected]
As Program Director, Joe supports the relationships between PG,
its Suppliers and key Biocom partners. That’s a lot of work to be
balancing with golf and Chargers season tickets. He is also
responsible for the development of strategy and tactical execution
in contract administration, member education and business
development for our key partner organizations. Joe holds an MBA
from USC and a B.S. in Business Management from CSUSM.
Angela WieszchowskiSponsorship Sales Coordinator, San Diego
[email protected]
As Biocom’s Sa