Eminent panellists announced for ‘Industry vs COVID-19: What Are We Doing?’

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The life sciences industry is playing a fundamental role in the global fight against Covid-19. But what exactly is industry doing, and how are investors helping fuel progress against the pandemic?

Celebrating its 12th year, Optimum’s Annual Healthcare Investor Conference co-hosted with Dechert LLP, is the benchmark investor event for the industry. Join us on 8th October for an afternoon of live fireside chats, panel discussions and virtual networking.

Given the extraordinary times we live in, Clive Cookson, Science Editor, Financial Times will chair a panel of truly amazing speakers who will focus the discussion on probably the most important topic at the moment– the international effort against Covid-19.

We are honoured to have these eminent panellists [from industry and academia] make time to join the debate.

  • Kate Bingham, Chair of the UK Vaccine Taskforce
  • Sean Marett, Chief Business and Chief Commercial Officer, BioNTech
  • James Logan, Head of Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
  • Rajeev Venkayya, President of the Global Vaccine Business Unit, Takeda Pharmaceuticals

Register here to secure your place today.

Clive Cookson, Science Editor, Financial Times

Award winning journalist, Clive Cookson, has worked in science journalism for the whole of his professional life. He joined the FT in 1987 and has been Science Editor since 1991.  He covers the whole span of science worldwide, from medicine and biology to physics and space exploration, including research funding and policy issues. He is an honorary member of the British Science Association and the American Academy of Arts & Science.

Kate Bingham

In May 2020 Kate was appointed chair of the UK’s Vaccine Taskforce – to lead UK efforts to find and manufacture a COVID-19 vaccine, reporting directly to the Prime Minister.  Kate is uniquely qualified for the role, having worked in the biotech sector in the UK and internationally for 26 years – most recently as Managing Partner at SV Health Investors. Her work has led to the launch of six drugs for the treatment of patients with inflammatory and autoimmune disease and cancer.

Sean Marett

Sean Marett is CBO and CCO BioNTech, one of the leaders in the industry developing a potential vaccine to induce immunity and prevent COVID-19 infections based on the company’s proprietary mRNA technology and supported by Pfizer’s global vaccine development capabilities.

Prof. James Logan

Prof. James Logan, Head of Department of Disease control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Research led LSHTM in collaboration with the charity Medical Detection Dogs and Durham University, is looking at whether dogs can sniff out the Coronavirus in humans. He makes regular appearances on television (Channel 4 and BBC), radio and in print media, as a scientific expert.

Dr Rajeev Venkayya

President of the Global Vaccine Business Unit at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Dr Rajeev Venkayya previously served at the White House as Special Assistant to the President for Biodefense, notably writing 2005’s National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza. He also served as Director of Vaccine Delivery at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Check out our European Healthcare Investor Report which concludes that investors are proactively looking for new companies to invest in.