Explore the Agenda

8:00 am Check-In & Coffee

8:50 am Chair’s Opening Remarks

9:00 am Panel Discussion: Scaling Clinical Operations to Support Gene Therapies for Larger Populations

Chief Scientific Officer, Beacon Therapeutics
Senior Vice President - Product Development, Pacira Pharmaceuticals Inc
Independent Expert, Independent Expert
CEO, Endsulin
  • Highlighting the limitations of current small-batch methods in meeting the needs of larger patient populations
  • Understanding the unique manufacturing, financial, and regulatory challenges associated with working on common disease indications
  • Anticipating the scientific and operational shifts needed to make gene therapy viable for high-prevalence conditions

10:00 am Gene Therapy for Dry AMD Using AAV to Improve Durability & Compliance

Chief Scientific Officer, Beacon Therapeutics
  • Complement Inhibitors clinically validated for treatment of dry AMD
  • AAV vectors can potentially transform treatment from monthly injections to a single long-lasting intervention
  • Intravitreal delivery using novel AAV capsid

10:30 am Morning Break & Networking

Creating Viable Market Strategies for Gene Therapies in Common Disorders

11:30 am Case Study: Building an Economically Viable Path for Gene Therapy in Osteoarthritis

Senior Vice President - Product Development, Pacira Pharmaceuticals Inc
  • Leveraging novel vectors to reduce cost of goods and create greater economic value
  • Understanding how proactive payer engagement and early market education can pave the way for smoother commercialization
  • Exploring how cross-functional collaboration and continuous learning have shaped a resilient development strategy capable of navigating scientific, clinical, and economic hurdles

12:00 pm Building Smart Pricing Strategies to Secure Reimbursement for Gene Therapy in Common Conditions

Chief Executive Officer, Adolore BioTherapeutics
  • Understanding how payers evaluate value when multiple therapies exist for the same disease
  • Learning how coverage decisions, rebates, and clinical trade-offs impact pricing outcomes
  • Exploring how to align internal teams on pricing strategy early to avoid reimbursement delays and maximize launch success

12:30 pm Lunch & Networking Break

Pinpointing the Right Targets & Tools to Make Gene Therapy Viable for More Widespread Conditions

1:30 pm Roundtable Discussion: Identifying Clear Biological Targets to Make Gene Therapy Work for Common Diseases

Executive Director & Head of Integrative Science, Astellas Pharma
  • Exploring whether common diseases like cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, and obesity have gene therapy-suitable targets
  • Understanding how biology can guide modality choice and clarify the path forward for gene therapy
  • Using real disease examples to assess when gene therapy offers a viable and differentiated approach

2:15 pm Evaluating the Right Modalities to Deliver Gene Therapy at Scale in Common Diseases

Independent Expert, Independent Expert
  • Comparing gene therapy to small molecules and biologics in terms of tractability and therapeutic reach
  • Investigating whether advanced modalities like AAV, mRNA, or LNPs can meet the demands of high-prevalence diseases
  • Delving into use cases to understand where gene therapy may offer unique value or face limitations

2:45 pm End of Common Disease Focus Day