Session four: Expanding horizons – Markets, funding and the future

Showcasing expanding applications of ADCs beyond cancer treatment, gain insights about next-gen ADC drug development and the pipeline for cancer antibodies, regulation and safety. Our speakers will also discuss funding opportunities, market dynamics and commercialisation lessons from global leaders, as well as building commercial advantage through strong patent strategies.

Senior Investment Manager, Brandon Capital

Partner, FB Rice

Prue has experience in the preparation and global enforcement of patent portfolios in key geographic markets (including Australia, Europe and the US); conducting patent due diligence; and providing freedom-to-operate; patentability, infringement and validity opinions. Prue specialises in the area of biopharmaceuticals (including antibodies), their use and methods for their manufacture.

Prue works with local and overseas companies (including SMEs and multi-nationals), research and academic institutions, as well as both brand and biosimilar companies to strategically protect their intellectual property and assist in bringing their products to market.

Prue has an extensive scientific background having graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Hons) before completing her PhD at Monash Institute of Medical Research (now Hudson Institute) investigating the effects of environmental chemicals on prostate disease. She also completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, where she conducted comprehensive studies investigating acquired chemo-resistance in ovarian cancer and was part of the international effort to sequence the ovarian cancer genome.

Prue is a registered Australian and New Zealand Patent Attorney.

Managing Director, Panlabs Biologics | Senior Advisor, Trican Biotechnology | Venture Partner, Perseverance Capital

(Overseas Speaker – will join remotely).

An expert in Global commercial ADC landscape analysis, Charley Lu currently advises corporate, venture, and private equity investment opportunities in life sciences industry. He joined Taiwan Liposome Company (TT:4152; NASDAQ:TLC) and led its global nanotechnology partnerships and strategic initiatives. Prior to TLC Charley was instrumental spinning out first-in-class neuroprotective assets from University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He shared fundraising and operating responsibilities with the scientific founding team.

Charley earned his MBA from Johnson School at Cornell University focusing on venture capital and private equity and his MS from Northwestern University studying bioinformatics and immunology. He completed cellular neuroimmunology research at UCSF while obtaining his BA in Integrative Biology with emphasis in neurobiology and endocrinology from University of California, Berkeley. In addition to his academic pursuits, Charley served as a portfolio analyst at Burrill & Company, a life sciences venture capital firm, evaluating startup opportunities. He was the Jonas Weil Fellow at the Johnson School.

Charley is an active and recognized leader in the community. He received multiple commendations for his public outreach, fundraising, and volunteering efforts at the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation granting wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.

CEO, IDT Australia

Research Director, Biomedical Manufacturing, CSIRO Manufacturing

Prof Susie Nilsson is the Research Director for the Biomedical Manufacturing program with CSIRO (the Commonwealth Science and Industry Research Organisation), Australia’s National Science Agency. Her portfolio encompasses the production of new products and processes for the biomedical sector – medical devices, diagnostics, drugs, vaccines, and efficient processes to produce them. This covers regulated biomanufacturing, biologics research and development, chemical biology, diagnostics and devices and bioactive small molecules and polymers.

Susie has an extensive history in biologics and specifically haematopoietic stem cell research. She completed her PhD at Melbourne University and post-doctoral studies at the University of Massachusetts prior to taking up a position at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute then the Australian Stem Cell Centre. She moved to CSIRO in 2009 and was appointed as an Australian Research Council Future Fellow. She became a group leader at the Australian Regenerative Medical Institute, Monash University in 2013 and a CSIRO Science Leader in 2014. Her current role sees broad contributions including overseeing the production of biologics for Phase I clinical trials, recently exemplified by the production of two COVID-19 vaccine candidates, the building of the new National Vaccine and Therapeutics Laboratory for producing products in mammalian and insect systems for Phase I and II/III clinical trials as well as the growth of interactions with industry in key areas or of the biomedical sector. Recently she won the 2023 BioMelbourne Network Inspiring Women’s leadership award.

Partner, Brandon Capital

Jonathan Tobin will join remotely from overseas as a panel member for session 4.