PRIX GALIEN AWARDS CEREMONY
08:00 AM - 8:30 AM
The Awards will recognize outstanding achievements in Best Digital Health Solution, Best Incubator/Accelerator/Equity, and Best Start-Up. In addition, the nominees for the Best Medical Technology category will be presented during the ceremony.
MASTER OF CEREMONY
Kenneth C. Frazier
Prix Galien USA Committee Chair*
Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Merck & Co., Inc.; Chairman, Health Assurance Initiatives, General Catalyst
*Categories: Medtech, Digital Health, IAE and Startup
BACKGROUND AND TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:
Life science innovation stands at a crossroads where extraordinary AI achievements coexist with persistent challenges. While headlines celebrate breakthroughs in protein folding predictions and AI-identified drug candidates, the industry continues to grapple with lengthy development timelines, high costs, and substantial failure rates that have persisted despite technological advances.
This panel confronts the growing disconnect between computational promise and biological reality. How do we reconcile AI's impressive performance in controlled environments with its limited impact on real-world drug development outcomes? What does it mean to navigate a field where AI can predict molecular properties with stunning accuracy yet struggle to translate those insights into safe, effective therapeutics
The conversation explores deeper systemic questions, such as the tension between pattern recognition and causal understanding in biology, the challenge of establishing evidence standards for "black box" AI systems, and the critical question of when human judgment should override algorithmic recommendations.
Central to these discussions are questions of responsibility, safety, and equity. This panel brings together leaders to address what genuine transformation would require and what early signals might indicate real progress beyond current expectations.
Chair
Julie Louise Gerberding
President & Chief Executive Officer, Foundation for the National Institutes of Health
PANELISTS
Sally Kornbluth
President, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Steve Paul
Founder & Board Chair, Seaport Therapeutics; Venture Partner, Third Rock Ventures
John C. Reed
Executive Vice President, Innovative Medicine, R&D, Johnson & Johnson
Joni Rutter
Director, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
BACKGROUND AND TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:
America's biomedical research enterprise is navigating significant upheaval as traditional funding models face political and economic disruptions. While government funding encounters new constraints and uncertainties, this challenging period is also revealing alternative pathways for translating discoveries into medical breakthroughs.
This panel examines fundamental questions reshaping how academic and government discoveries become patient treatments: Must universities reimagine their business models in response to funding pressures? How do we balance academic and scientific independence? What new institutional models might emerge as traditional pathways face uncertainty? Do recent successes represent a new template for rapid translation?
Leaders will examine evolving roles of private foundations, venture capital, and international partnerships in addressing gaps within the research ecosystem.
Central to these discussions is the tension between public investment and private returns, maintaining scientific leadership amid global competition, and whether current translation systems can deliver needed medical innovations. This panel brings together leaders to explore emerging models as academic-government-industry partnerships adapt to increasingly complex conditions.
Chair
Mikael Dolsten
Chair, Prix Galien Bridges Committee; Board member, Novo Nordisk & Agilent Technologies
PANELISTS
Cedric Francois
Chief Executive Officer, Apellis
Frank D. Lee
Chief Executive Officer & Director, Pacira Biosciences
Endowed Chair in Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital
Rob Lin
Chief Executive Officer, Avista Therapeutics
Devyn Smith
Chief Executive Officer, Arbor Biotechnologies
BACKGROUND AND TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:
The gene therapy revolution stands at a critical inflection point where transformative scientific successes meet complex implementation challenges. Recent breakthroughs have validated the extraordinary potential of genetic interventions, yet these achievements unfold against safety concerns and evolving regulatory oversight that demands careful risk-benefit navigation.
This panel addresses fundamental questions about scaling breakthrough therapies beyond individual successes to meaningful population impact. How do we transition from treating hundreds of patients to reaching tens of thousands who could benefit? What does it take to overcome manufacturing constraints, infrastructure limitations, and accessibility barriers preventing widespread deployment?
The conversation explores the tension between innovation velocity and patient protection, examining new models for safety monitoring as therapies move from controlled clinical settings to broader use.
Central to these discussions is building sustainable models for manufacturing, delivery, and financing that make gene therapies accessible beyond affluent healthcare systems while maintaining public, regulatory, and investor confidence in pursuing ambitious therapeutic goals that inherently carry significant risks.
KEYNOTE
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
Martin Makary, FDA Commissioner (invited)
Co-Moderators
Joel S. Marcus
Executive Chairman & Founder, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc./Alexandria Venture Investments; Co-Founder, Alexandria Summit
Lynne Zydowsky
Chief of Science, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc./Alexandria Venture Investments; President & Co-Founder, Alexandria Summit
PANELISTS
Steve Harr
President and Chief Executive Officer, Sana Biotechnology
Thomas J. Lynch Jr.
President and Director, Raisbeck Endowed Chair, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Priya Singhal
Executive Vice President, Head of Development, Biogen
MODERATOR
Michael Rosenblatt
Galien Forum Co-Chair; Prix Galien USA Committee Chair*
Advisory Partner, Ascenta Capital; Senior Advisor to Bain Capital Life Sciences and Flagship Pioneering; Member, Harvard Board of Overseers
*Categories: Pharma, Biotech, Rare/Orphan
GUEST
Albert Bourla
Chairman & CEO, Pfizer; Board Chair, PhRMA
BACKGROUND AND TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:
This fireside chat explores how the life sciences industry can navigate unprecedented complexity while seizing transformational opportunities. As global health challenges intensify and industry headwinds multiply, leaders must balance immediate pressures with long-term innovation potential.
The conversation addresses fundamental questions shaping the industry's future: How do we frame this moment of simultaneous challenge and opportunity? Can breakthrough approaches in one therapeutic area become blueprints for broader transformation? What does it take to maintain innovation leadership in an increasingly competitive global landscape?
The discussion examines critical ecosystem questions about preserving competitive advantages, attracting talent, and building resilient partnerships that can withstand geopolitical and economic pressures. How do we balance domestic priorities with the inherently collaborative nature of modern innovation?
The conversation concludes with personal perspectives on leadership during periods of transformation. Drawing from Bourla's unique background and experience, the discussion explores how diverse perspectives and personal resilience inform the type of visionary leadership needed to guide complex organizations through uncertainty while maintaining focus on patient impact and scientific advancement.
Co-Chairs
Joel S. Marcus
Executive Chairman & Founder, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc./Alexandria Venture Investments; Co-Founder, Alexandria Summit
Lynne Zydowsky
Chief of Science, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc./Alexandria Venture Investments; President & Co-Founder, Alexandria Summit
PANELISTS
Dan Skovronsky
President, Lilly Research Laboratories; Chief Scientific Officer, Eli Lilly and Company
Co-Chairs
Michael Rosenblatt
Galien Forum Co-Chair; Prix Galien USA Committee Chair*
Advisory Partner, Ascenta Capital; Senior Advisor to Bain Capital Life Sciences and Flagship Pioneering; Member, Harvard Board of Overseers
*Categories: Pharma, Biotech, Rare/Orphan
Pratap Khedkar
Chief Executive Officer, ZS
PANELISTS
Rob Davis
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Merck & Co, Inc.
John D’Angelo (invited)
Chief Executive Officer, Northwell
Angela Hwang
Chief Executive Officer, and Partner, Flagship Pioneering; Chief Executive Officer, Metaphore Biotechnologies
Julie Kim
President, U.S. Business Unit, U.S. Country Head and Incoming Chief Executive Officer, Takeda
Thomas Schinecker
Chief Executive Officer, Roche; Chair, IFPMA
Times of change, uncertainty, and disruption can be precursors to innovation. Hear from innovative leaders about how they're adapting, what they're learning, how they're continuing to drive innovation, and how they're strengthening organizational culture to navigate uncertainty.
This panel tackles fundamental questions defining pharmaceutical and life science leadership today: How do you sustain long-term innovation vision when facing immediate market pressures? How do you adapt strategic approaches as global power dynamics shift? How do you evolve innovation partnerships and sourcing strategies in a transformed ecosystem?
The conversation explores how leaders ensure breakthrough science reaches patients in meaningful ways, how they navigate emerging technologies while managing organizational expectations, and how they build cultures capable of thriving through continuous change.
These questions aren't isolated challenges but interconnected dynamics that require leaders to rethink how they approach innovation and organizational resilience. The panel offers insights from leaders tackling these defining questions of our time, sharing how they're turning industry-wide uncertainty into operational strength through strategic vision and cultural resilience.
Chair
George Yancopoulos
Co-Founder, Co-Chairman, President and Chief Scientific Officer, Regeneron
PANELISTS
To be added
BACKGROUND AND TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:
Explore the journey of Dupixent® (dupilumab), a fully human monoclonal antibody that has transformed the treatment landscape for diseases with underlying type 2 inflammation. Approved in over 60 countries for eight indications, Dupixent targets the interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) signaling pathways, now recognized as central drivers of type 2 inflammation. Unlike immunosuppressants, Dupixent provides a targeted, more specific approach to managing chronic allergic and atopic diseases.
Developed and commercialized through the collaboration of Regeneron and Sanofi, Dupixent represents a milestone in antibody development made possible by Regeneron’s VelocImmune® and VelociGene® technologies. These groundbreaking platforms leverage genetically engineered mice with humanized immune systems to produce optimized antibodies, paving the way for innovative therapeutic solutions.
Panelists will discuss the biological discoveries, scientific breakthroughs, technological innovations, and unifying hypothesis that guided Dupixent on its path to becoming a leading biologic. They will also examine how its clinical development affirmed the role of IL-4 and IL-13 in driving type 2 inflammation, and the global impact Dupixent has had on diseases ranging from the common to the rare. For additional U.S. Product Information, including full Prescribing and Patient Information, please visit: www.Dupixent.com.
TOP SCIENTISTS & KOL
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