9th Biotech Press-Lounge:
Popular industry meeting

Gilead Sciences, Chromotek and Johnson &Johnson Innovation present their strategies at the Biotech Press Lounge.

Group-portrait-Dr. Karsten-Kissel,-Dr.-Marion-Jung,-Thomas-Hegendoerfer,-Dr.-Peter-Hanns-Zobel

Dr. Karsten Kissel, Medical Director, Gilead Sciences GmbH, Dr. Marion Jung, CEO, ChromoTek GmbH, Thomas Hegendoerfer, New Venture Lead, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Dr. Peter Hanns Zobel, Managing Director, IZB (v.l.n.r.)

“The Biotech Press Lounge is a meeting place for many high-profile representatives of institutes, the academic world, renowned drug companies and start-ups. This mix of interesting personalities makes it possible to make valuable contacts in all directions. This is my first time here and I´m excited!”

Dr. Karsten Kissel
Director Medical Affairs Germany, Gilead Sciences GmbH

At the 9th Biotech Press Lounge, industry representatives met at the Faculty Club G2B (Gateway to Biotech) in the Innovation and Start-up Center for Biotechnology to discuss new research results, projects and strategies. Impulse lectures by Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Chromotek GmbH and Gilead Sciences GmbH were presented to multipliers from biotech, pharmaceutical and venture capital companies as well as top researchers from the Martinsried campus. Dr. Peter Hanns Zobel, Managing Director of the IZB, welcomed nearly 100 guests and explained: “We are excited to be working at this dynamic location where groundbreaking new therapies and drugs are being developed. The exchange between the players is important”. Susanne Simon, Head of Public Relations at IZB, moderated the event and introduced the speakers Dr. Karsten Kissel, Director Medical Affairs Germany from Gilead Sciences GmbH; Dr. Marion Jung, CEO from Chromotek GmbH and Thomas Hegendoerfer from Johnson & Johnson Innovation.

Dr. Karsten Kissel spoke about his new CAR-T cell therapy, one of the most innovative technology platforms in oncology. “In this personalized cell therapy, the body’s own cells are individually modified for each patient so that they can fight certain cancers. “With the introduction of CAR-T therapies, we are entering new technological, regulatory, administrative and logistical territory. Patients can only benefit from this innovation through the close cooperation of all those involved in healthcare,” explained Dr. Kissel. Gilead Sciences GmbH’s first product in this field has already reached market maturity.

“Chromotek’s mission is to provide scientists around the world with new, better tools for their research”, said CEO Dr. Marion Jung. She explained in her presentation how Chromotek’s alpaca nano-antibodies raise the quality of research results to a new level. Fields of application include proteomics, cell-microscopy and life cell screening.

“I am thrilled to see how many different people in our ecosystem come together here to exchange views and explain to the public the complex content of our work in the biotech industry.”

Dr. Marion Jung
CEO Chromotek

portrait-Susanne-Simon

Head of Public Relations, IZB: Susanne Simon

portrait-Dr.-Karsten-Kissel

Dr. Karsten Kissel, Medical Director, Gilead Sciences GmbH

Thomas Hegendoerfer spoke about the promotion of the external innovation landscape for therapies. “Our goal is to boost the local innovation landscape by providing scientists and entrepreneurs with expertise, infrastructure, investment and everything they need to improve their science together. With our JLABS Founding Initiative now coming to Europe, we look forward to further strengthening our interaction with transformative start-ups in the region,” Hegendoerfer
said.
Following the keynote speeches, the speakers were thrilled to meet many stakeholders and decision-makers from the biotech ecosystem and to network with them. “These opportunities for exchange are incredibly valuable and come far too rarely,” said Dr. Marion Jung at the end of a successful event.

“An exciting morning and a great opportunity to talk to the biotech scene. I’m also very excited about this hotspot for Life Science and the Faculty Club G2B in the Innovation and start-up Center for Biotechnology.”

Thomas Hegendoerfer
New Ventures Lead, Johnson & Johnson Innovation Germany