Why Attend
The animal health industry is changing. Since the Zoetis spin-out from Pfizer we’ve seen further companies such as Elanco follow suit with successful IPO’s.
Investors are beginning to take notice, however questions still remain regarding the opportunities in the industry:
- What does animal health really offer investors when compared to human health?
- In what ways can human biotech’s leverage the space to maximize their own technology?
Our investor conference in Boston will answer these questions and bring together domain experts and market leading companies to present the current trends and dynamics of the animal health industry and to outline where capital investment can make an impact.
Animal Health has distinct advantages over human healthcare:
- The research and development process for animal health products is typically shorter and less expensive than for human therapeutics, as animal trials typically can be performed in the target species at an earlier stage, and shorter lifespans result in faster safety assessment and trial completion.
- A substantial portion of animal health R&D is focused on product life-cycle management as opposed to novel drugs, which also leads to less risky pipelines.
- Animal health medicines and vaccines face lower pressure from generic competition when compared to human healthcare peers.
- Animal health is primarily a cash business and does not face the same insurance/third party payer and drug pricing risks that can be an overhang on human therapeutics.
Animal health is leveraging clear and present opportunities:
Speakers & Investor Retreat Participants

Aaron Schacht

Charles Hoare
Charles is a healthcare focused investment banker with approximately 20 years’ experience with specialty pharmaceutical companies in the US and Europe. Previously Charles was Managing Director for the international healthcare team at BofA Merrill Lynch and currently leads Commerzbank’s global healthcare team. During this time he has advised multiple companies on public and private capital raises, debt financing, mergers, acquisitions and out-licensing transactions.
He has a particular focus on the veterinary healthcare sector, where he has been involved in transactions for almost all of the top 15 companies in the sector. Recent transactions include advising Virbac on the acquisition of the Sentinel and Sentinel Spectrum brands from Novartis, advising Lohmann Animal Health on its sale to Eli Lilly, advising Pharmaq on Permira’s investment in the company and assisting United Biomedical with creating a global strategic alliance for its swine vaccine portfolio.
Charles also chairs the Commercialisation committee of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and serves on the school’s Finance and Planning committee. In addition, he is Chairman of the Bulldog Trust, which funds and supports entrepreneurial charities, and sits on the Boards of Directors of Placehill Limited (growth capital), Laguna Ventures Limited (late stage venture finance) and Atlantic Healthcare plc.

George Gunn

Justine Conway

John W. Dombrosky
John W. Dombrosky serves as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Agtech Accelerator. Launched in 2016 with a consortium of leading venture and industry strategic investors, Agtech Accelerator identifies, forms, capitalizes, and builds from scratch the most promising early-stage agricultural technology companies. The Agtech Accelerator team exclusively focuses on series seed to series a company creation across the ag and food tech economic value system.
Prior to joining Agtech Accelerator, Mr. Dombrosky spent eight years at Syngenta, where his responsibilities spanned licensing, mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, and business unit leadership roles. In addition to his experience in the agriculture sector, Mr. Dombrosky developed a deep understanding of software and value-added information platforms at Thomson Reuters while serving in finance, business development, and mergers & acquisition roles. Fostering his lifelong fascination with speed and flight, Mr. Dombrosky’s first professional job was as a corporate planning analyst at northwest airlines.
Mr. Dombrosky earned a Bachelor of Arts in financial management from the University of St. Thomas and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame.

Michelle Haven

Rimma Driscoll
Rimma Driscoll is an executive in Global Business Development and Strategic Alliances with 20+ years in the field. Rimma has a depth of experience in a broad range of global transactions including JVs,Strategic Alliances, Collaborations, Acquisitions, Divestitures, Licensing Deals, and Partnerships. This experience span from small Discovery deals to multi-billionaire dollar divestitures. Rimma guides Multi-function teams on the external strategies and then leads all aspects of negotiations, and leverages external relationships to bring transactions to closure. She has worked extensively in Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Healthcare and Consumer Products businesses.

Jarne Ellenholm
Jarne Elleholm, Managing Partner, has more than 20 years’ experience in the life science industry with a strong record of achievements in commercialization and fundraising of life science products and companies.
He has worked in the venture capital industry as partner in Vækstfonden and as Managing Partner in Inventure Capital. From 2005-07 he served as CEO of the biotech company Aresa A/S, where he built up the organization and completed an IPO raising more than DKK 50 million.
Prior experience includes European Vice President for Whatman International and CEO for Lundbeck Ltd. UK where he successfully launched several pharmaceutical products.
Jarne Elleholm served as Chairman of the board of Scandinavian Micro Biodevices and was pivotal in the sale of the company to Zoetis in 2016.
Jarne holds an M.Com from Copenhagen Business School and an MBA from INSEAD.

Rob Readnour
Dr. Readnour currently serves on or has visitation rights to the following companies: AgTech Accelerator, a unique startup accelerator focused on discovering and developing emerging agricultural technology companies, Skyline Vet Pharma, a company that is developing veterinary pharmaceuticals using proven delivery technologies to reformulate drugs with established animal health markets, and Boragen, a company that is developing small molecule approaches focused on leveraging the unique chemical properties of boron chemistry, both in crop protection and animal health.
Prior to joining MGP, Dr. Readnour worked at Elanco Animal Health for 27 years. During his Elanco tenure, he held several senior management positions in which he was responsible for developing and executing Elanco’s Research and Development strategies for entering several new business areas (companion animal pharmaceuticals, vaccines and enzymes). In 2017, these new business areas accounted for nearly 50% of Elanco’s $3.0 billion in sales. Dr. Readnour played an important role in Elanco’s acquisition and integration of Novartis Animal Health, Lohmann Animal Health, ChemGen and Janssen Animal Health. Within Elanco, Dr. Readnour led several initiatives to transform Research and Development through the piloting of new approaches to developing animal health products. He developed and led Elanco’s new technology scouting, acquisition and due diligence efforts. He pioneered a lean product development model which allowed Elanco to enter new areas of business without significant capital investment. He led initial efforts for Elanco to invest in early stage companies and partner with external funding sources to develop products with minimal initial investment from Elanco. Dr. Readnour served as a member of the Food and Agriculture Section of Bio International Board and as an External Advisory Board member for University of Illinois Animal Science Department.
Prior to entering management in Elanco, Dr. Readnour was an internationally recognized expert on animal health product development, analytical chemistry, human food safety and drug residues with 11 publications and 14 external presentations. Throughout his career, Dr. Readnour was responsible for the development and commercialization of 10 animal health products. Dr. Readnour received his PhD in Analytical Chemistry from University of Illinois in 1990.

Sébastien Lafon

Sam Al-Murrani
Babylon BioConsulting LLC is a human and animal health-based consultancy firm specializing in pre-revenue and early stage valuations of Animal Health and Biotech companies and providing clients with investor outreach, due diligence, business development and intangible asset management and valuation services. Dr. Sam Al-Murrani is also Managing Director for Bimini LLC, a privately owned manufacturer of pet dose-form health supplements and health treats.
Dr. Al-Murrani has a B.Sc. in Animal Science from the University of Edinburgh and a Ph.D. in Immunology/Biochemistry from the Roslin Institute and the Department of Veterinary Pathology at the University of Edinburgh. He holds an M.B.A. in Finance from Baker University.

Mike Seely

Phil Austin

Tony Simpson

Aditya Kohli

Doug Sterkel

Isaac Fraynd
Isaac tracks over a thousand investment opportunities, moving them through our dealflow process when appropriate. Prior to Aqua-Spark, Isaac worked as an Investment Banking Analyst at Deutsche Bank’s New York office on market analysis, financial modelling, valuation scenarios, and deal execution. Isaac worked within the Latin America Group, across sectors, primarily focusing on Mergers & Acquisitions. Isaac is from Panama City, Panama and holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics as well as a certificate in Energy and the Environment from Duke University. He is very passionate about travel and is a self-declared foodie.

Matthew Bell

Julia Stephanus
Julia Stephanus is a 30 year veteran of the veterinary pharmaceutical industry. Currently Julia is President of Avviare, a consulting firm specializing in supporting veterinary focused start-ups.
Julia has been involved in the development and launch of 28 veterinary products. She has been a senior executive in two start-up pharmaceutical companies (Aratana Therapeutics and Summit VetPharm), and held key positions at multi-nationals including Pfizer (now Zoetis) and its legacy companies.
As Chief Commercial Officer of Aratana Julia provided the commercial leadership resulting in a successful IPO (NASDAQ:PETX), high-impact corporate branding, innovative go-to-market strategies for five therapeutics and the staffing of the inaugural commercial organization.
As founder and CEO of Summit VetPharm, Julia developed and launched a new line of companion animal parasiticides, grew the company to a cash flow positive position with 85 employees in five years and divested the company to Ceva Animal Health in 2010. A graduate of Indiana University, she has continued her executive training at Harvard, Columbia, University of Chicago and the Wharton School of Business.

Samuel Bjork
Headline Partner
Elanco
Website: http://www.elanco.com
Elanco provides comprehensive products and knowledge services to improve animal health and food-animal production in more than 70 countries around the world. We value innovation, both in scientific research and daily operations, and strive to cultivate a collaborative work environment for more than 6,500 employees worldwide. Together with our customers, we are committed to raising awareness about global food security, and celebrating and supporting the human-animal bond. We understand the powerful role healthy animals play in making lives better. We support the physical, emotional and social well-being of people thru a balanced diet rich in protein and the companionship of a pet. And, we preserve the health of the planet by helping farmers raise animals more efficiently. Since our start at Eli Lilly and Company in 1954, Elanco has been working to empower our customers—from veterinarians to food producers to all those concerned with animal health—to address these global challenges, and advance a vision of food and companionship enriching life. Visit us at Elanco.com and EnoughMovement.com.
The Agenda
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Headline speakers include:
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Venue
Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor, Boston, MA
Venue: Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor
Address: 101 Harborside Drive, Boston, MA 02128
We have arranged a discounted room rate for all event attendees of $239 per night, exclusive of taxes
To make your reservations, please click here
If you need additional assistance, please contact the hotel Reservation Department on +1 877-803-7534 or click here to find contact information by Region.
Please book by 9th March 2019 - after this rates are subject to availability.
If the group rate is no longer available, prevailing rates may be offered for some or all of your dates.
Conference Packages
Sending Your Team? Group Discounts Available!
Applicable for Primary Market, Service Provider and Industry Rates Only. Not available for Academic or ‘Start-Up’ rates
Book a Team of 3+ - Save an Additional 10% Off
Book a Team of 5+ - Save an Additional 15% Off
If you would like to register a team of 3 or more, please email [email protected] for your discount coupon code before registering. PLEASE NOTE: Discounts cannot be combined with Early Bird Pricing or any other discount or offer. If you have any questions about your registration, please call us on +44 (0)20 3696 2920
- Please note that a $70 processing fee will apply to any invoices requested.
- Any questions about your registration, please call +44 (0)20 3696 2920 or email us at [email protected].
- All Prices are in USD
- All Early Bird discount prices, including Group Discounts, must be paid in full by deadlines provided above.
- No discounts or offers can be combined.
- Please view our Cancellation Policy.
- Emerging Companies are defined as early to mid-stage animal health pharmaceutical or biotech companies that are actively seeking financial investment or product licensing/acquisition. They must be engaged with this company on a full time basis. Those offering consultancy or market intelligence services do not qualify for this rate.
- Please Note: No additional discounts are available on ‘Emerging Company’ pricing.
Advisory Board

Clinton Lewis

Joachim Hasenmaier

Dirk Ehle

George Gunn

Linda Rhodes

Aaron Schacht

Alan Mackay

Dr. James Lloyd

Sébastien Huron

Jean Deleforge
Become a Sponsor
Kisaco Research provides the much needed platform on which industry executives can network, connect and learn from each other as well as meet potential industry partners.
Far from the typical ‘meet-and-greet’ exhibition experience, you – as a sponsor or exhibitor – will be positioned as a partner of the event with a focus on the benefits of your product and brand, rather than just a name on an exhibition list.
With our extensive marketing experience and strategy, your partnership with Kisaco Research will grant you a sponsorship package that is an extension and enhancement of your current marketing and branding efforts. We value your ROI and will work with you directly on your specific goals and targets – that’s why we take special care in finding the most relevant end-users to attend, so that your financial and resource investment is smartly allocated.
Find out more by calling us at +44 (0)20 3696 2920 or email us at mg@kisacoresearch.com
About Kisaco Research
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