Conference Dates: Oct 11, 2011
Worcester, MA[edit Location]
Innovation in the life sciences seems to be everywhere in Massachusetts, but sifting out the best ideas to fund here takes a focused approach, backed by experience and the scientific understanding of what it takes to commercialize a great idea. Kevin J. Bitterman, keynote speaker for the WPI Venture Forum’s October 11 meeting and Principal at Polaris Venture Partners, will shed light on the process as seen from the funder’s perspective.
Bitterman joined Polaris in 2004 and focuses on investments in the life sciences. He earned his Ph.D. in genetics at Harvard Medical School where his doctoral research focused on the molecular regulation of caloric restriction and on modulation of a novel class of protein deacetylases. A cofounder of Genocea Biosciences and Sirtris Pharmaceuticals (GSK), Bitterman was also the founding CEO at Visterra Inc. (formerly Parasol Therapeutics).
He represents Polaris as a Director of EPacing Inc., Follica Inc., Genocea Biosciences, Kala Pharmaceuticals, Neuronetics, Inc., Visterra Inc., and Taris Biomedical. He is also a Board Observer to Pulmatrix Inc. and Biolex Therapeutics.
Case Presentation: Histogenics Corp.
Histogenics is a leading regenerative medicine company that combines cell therapy and tissue engineering technologies to develop highly innovative products for tissue repair and regeneration. The goal: a lifelong, active lifestyle for those who suffer from articular cartilage-derived pain and immobility.
The company’s flagship products reverse or prevent cartilage damage, regenerating healthy hyaline cartilage tissue: NeoCart®, autologous engineered neocartilage grown outside the body using the patient’s own cells, developed for repair of full thickness cartilage lesions; and VeriCart™, an auto-regenerative cartilage matrix developed to stimulate cartilage regeneration in a simple, one-step procedure.
Presenter Patrick O’Donnell, President and Chief Executive Officer, is a 20-year veteran of the medical device, biomaterials, and biologics industry. Prior to Histogenics, O’Donnell served as the CEO of Prochon BioTech, a private Israel cell therapy company focused on articular cartilage regeneration. He previously led the global marketing organization for biomaterial start-up Confluent Surgical, Inc., where he was responsible for the global launch of the organization’s flagship hydrogel technology, DuraSeal, into the neurosurgical market. O’Donnell was also responsible for building the technology’s value in the spine, thoracic, and vascular markets. Confluent was subsequently acquired by Tyco Healthcare in 2007. He began his career in sales and marketing in the spine, orthobiologics, and orthopaedics industry at Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy and DePuy Spine.
Innovation in the life sciences seems to be everywhere in Massachusetts, but sifting out the best ideas to fund here takes a focused approach, backed by experience and the scientific understanding of what it takes to commercialize a great idea. Kevin J. Bitterman, keynote speaker for the WPI Venture Forum’s October 11 meeting and Principal at Polaris Venture Partners, will shed light on the process as seen from the funder’s perspective.
Bitterman joined Polaris in 2004 and focuses on investments in the life sciences. He earned his Ph.D. in genetics at Harvard Medical School where his doctoral research focused on the molecular regulation of caloric restriction and on modulation of a novel class of protein deacetylases. A cofounder of Genocea Biosciences and Sirtris Pharmaceuticals (GSK), Bitterman was also the founding CEO at Visterra Inc. (formerly Parasol Therapeutics).
He represents Polaris as a Director of EPacing Inc., Follica Inc., Genocea Biosciences, Kala Pharmaceuticals, Neuronetics, Inc., Visterra Inc., and Taris Biomedical. He is also a Board Observer to Pulmatrix Inc. and Biolex Therapeutics.
Patrick O’Donnell, Histogenics
Case Presentation: Histogenics Corp.
Histogenics is a leading regenerative medicine company that combines cell therapy and tissue engineering technologies to develop highly innovative products for tissue repair and regeneration. The goal: a lifelong, active lifestyle for those who suffer from articular cartilage-derived pain and immobility.
The company’s flagship products reverse or prevent cartilage damage, regenerating healthy hyaline cartilage tissue: NeoCart®, autologous engineered neocartilage grown outside the body using the patient’s own cells, developed for repair of full thickness cartilage lesions; and VeriCart™, an auto-regenerative cartilage matrix developed to stimulate cartilage regeneration in a simple, one-step procedure.
Presenter Patrick O’Donnell, President and Chief Executive Officer, is a 20-year veteran of the medical device, biomaterials, and biologics industry. Prior to Histogenics, O’Donnell served as the CEO of Prochon BioTech, a private Israel cell therapy company focused on articular cartilage regeneration. He previously led the global marketing organization for biomaterial start-up Confluent Surgical, Inc., where he was responsible for the global launch of the organization’s flagship hydrogel technology, DuraSeal, into the neurosurgical market. O’Donnell was also responsible for building the technology’s value in the spine, thoracic, and vascular markets. Confluent was subsequently acquired by Tyco Healthcare in 2007. He began his career in sales and marketing in the spine, orthobiologics, and orthopaedics industry at Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy and DePuy Spine.
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Fee: $30[edit ]