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Explore how AI-driven digital twins and functional models integrate patient-specific biology to identify and validate high-confidence drug targets by simulating system-level responses to genetic or pharmacological perturbations.
Learn how perturbation modelling with multiomic and functional genomics data predicts the effects of interventions on disease pathways, while LLMs synthesize data to uncover and prioritize novel therapeutic targets.

Author:

Zhiyong (Sean) Xie

Vice President & Head, AI & Data Science
Xellarbio

Zhiyong (Sean) Xie

Vice President & Head, AI & Data Science
Xellarbio

Equip teams with AI tools that capture process knowledge and simulate scale-up scenarios, reducing tech transfer timelines and improving first-batch success rates - critical for aligning R&D, MSAT, and manufacturing expectations early.

Author:

Irfan Ali Mohammed

Director, CMC
Alexion Pharmaceuticals

Irfan Ali Mohammed

Director, CMC
Alexion Pharmaceuticals

Gain actionable strategies for embedding generative AI and large language models into early-phase trial design and execution, from protocol drafting and site selection to patient engagement, accelerating timelines while ensuring data quality and compliance

Author:

Yi Hong

Associate Director
Gilead

Yi Hong

Associate Director
Gilead

Explore how AI-driven approaches enhance high-throughput screening by optimizing DNA-encoded libraries (DEL) for rapid identification of potential drug candidates.
Learn how AI algorithms accelerate the analysis of complex screening data, enabling more efficient lead discovery and targeting of molecular interactions.

Author:

Hans Bitter

Head, Computational Sciences
Takeda

Hans Bitter

Head, Computational Sciences
Takeda

Discuss how Lab in the Loop is revolutionizing drug discovery by integrating AI with experimental workflows, enhancing speed and accuracy in data collection and analysis.

Author:

Yochi Slonim

Co-Founder and CEO
Anima Biotech

A serial entrepreneur in software and biotech, Yochi Slonim has built multiple companies as a founder and CEO through all phases of growth all the way to IPOs and large M&A exits. As a Co-founder and CEO of Anima Biotech, he is driving the company’s strategy and business development at the intersection of mRNA biology and AI.

Prior to Anima, Yochi was a co-founder of Mercury Interactive. As CTO and VP R&D from the company's early days, he created product vision and strategy and led a multi-product organization of 200 developers. After going public and reaching revenues of over $1B annually, Mercury was acquired by HP for $4.5B.

As Senior VP of products and marketing for Tecnomatix, a public NASDAQ company, he led a 500 people organization of 4 divisions that generated revenues of $100m until the company was acquired by UGS for $230m.

In 2000, Yochi was founder and CEO of Identify. The company reached revenues of $50m in less than 5 years and was acquired by BMC in 2006 for $150m in cash. 

Yochi founded ffwd.me, a unique startup acceleration program where he led a team that worked with over 25 startups in diverse areas and technologies, developing strategy, products and go to market operations while raising multiple rounds of financing from VCs and private investors. 
 
As one of Israel's leading speakers on the subject of startup positioning and company building, several of Yochi's approachable and amusing lectures can be found on Yochi Slonim's Youtube.

Yochi Slonim

Co-Founder and CEO
Anima Biotech

A serial entrepreneur in software and biotech, Yochi Slonim has built multiple companies as a founder and CEO through all phases of growth all the way to IPOs and large M&A exits. As a Co-founder and CEO of Anima Biotech, he is driving the company’s strategy and business development at the intersection of mRNA biology and AI.

Prior to Anima, Yochi was a co-founder of Mercury Interactive. As CTO and VP R&D from the company's early days, he created product vision and strategy and led a multi-product organization of 200 developers. After going public and reaching revenues of over $1B annually, Mercury was acquired by HP for $4.5B.

As Senior VP of products and marketing for Tecnomatix, a public NASDAQ company, he led a 500 people organization of 4 divisions that generated revenues of $100m until the company was acquired by UGS for $230m.

In 2000, Yochi was founder and CEO of Identify. The company reached revenues of $50m in less than 5 years and was acquired by BMC in 2006 for $150m in cash. 

Yochi founded ffwd.me, a unique startup acceleration program where he led a team that worked with over 25 startups in diverse areas and technologies, developing strategy, products and go to market operations while raising multiple rounds of financing from VCs and private investors. 
 
As one of Israel's leading speakers on the subject of startup positioning and company building, several of Yochi's approachable and amusing lectures can be found on Yochi Slonim's Youtube.

This session provides the unique opportunity to listen to, and engage with, some of the most innovative AI Drug Discovery and Development start-ups globally. Focusing exclusively on early-stage funding, six startups picked by our esteemed selection committee will take to the stage in front of 100+ potential partners. Through a series of rapid-fire presentations, these pioneers will demonstrate their vision of the future of drug discovery, and how their product, technology, or service fits into it.

Judges

Author:

Parthiban Rajasekaran

Innovation Lead
Sanofi

Parthiban Rajasekaran

Innovation Lead
Sanofi

Author:

Uli Stilz

Corporate Vice President, R&ED External Innovation Partners, External & Exploratory Innovation
Novo Nordisk

Uli Stilz

Corporate Vice President, R&ED External Innovation Partners, External & Exploratory Innovation
Novo Nordisk

Author:

John Mayfield

SVP BD & Strategy
Flagship Pioneering

John Mayfield

SVP BD & Strategy
Flagship Pioneering

Author:

Michaela Tolman

Commercial Development Lead for Inflammation & Immunology
Pfizer

Michaela Tolman

Commercial Development Lead for Inflammation & Immunology
Pfizer

Highlight how digital twins and hybrid ML models (e.g., Bayesian, predictive) enable virtual experimentation and proactive troubleshooting, reducing scale-up failures and supporting more reliable process performance at commercial scale.

Author:

Shruti Vij

Associate Director, Data Analytics & Modeling
Takeda

Shruti Vij

Associate Director, Data Analytics & Modeling
Takeda

Uncover how quantum technologies could reshape clinical trial design and optimization, from accelerating molecule-to-protocol timelines to improving patient stratification and adaptive trial modelling.

Author:

Michael Dandrea

Principal Data Scientist
Genentech

Michael Dandrea

Principal Data Scientist
Genentech

Author:

Zoran Krunic

Principal Product Manager
Amgen

Since joining Amgen R&D in 2018, Zoran Krunic has been at the forefront of applying Machine Learning to enhance patient outcomes and streamline clinical trial enrollment processes, utilizing comprehensive Electronic Health Records and clinical datasets. His pioneering work in the Quantum Machine Learning space, in collaboration with IBM's Quantum team, has been instrumental in integrating machine learning with quantum computing through IBM’s Qiskit platform.

Prior to his tenure at Amgen, Zoran developed Machine Learning algorithms at Optum to predict hardware and software failures within complex enterprise architectures. He has a strong background in data engineering and systems development, having contributed significantly to large-scale projects at renowned organizations such as Capital Group and ARCO Petroleum.

In his current full and part-time endeavors, Zoran is leading the efforts in embracing generative AI technologies, with a particular focus on OpenAI's GPT and Anthropic's Claude-2 models. His work is focused on prompt engineering and its application to code generation, advanced document analysis, and process management, with a commitment to ethical AI practices and data privacy.

A recognized voice in quantum computing circles, Zoran is a regular presenter at industry conferences and has served on numerous panels discussing the integration of quantum computing and generative AI within the Health Sciences sector.

With a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Zoran continues to explore and contribute to the evolving relationship between quantum computing and artificial intelligence, fostering groundbreaking advancements in healthcare technology.

Zoran Krunic

Principal Product Manager
Amgen

Since joining Amgen R&D in 2018, Zoran Krunic has been at the forefront of applying Machine Learning to enhance patient outcomes and streamline clinical trial enrollment processes, utilizing comprehensive Electronic Health Records and clinical datasets. His pioneering work in the Quantum Machine Learning space, in collaboration with IBM's Quantum team, has been instrumental in integrating machine learning with quantum computing through IBM’s Qiskit platform.

Prior to his tenure at Amgen, Zoran developed Machine Learning algorithms at Optum to predict hardware and software failures within complex enterprise architectures. He has a strong background in data engineering and systems development, having contributed significantly to large-scale projects at renowned organizations such as Capital Group and ARCO Petroleum.

In his current full and part-time endeavors, Zoran is leading the efforts in embracing generative AI technologies, with a particular focus on OpenAI's GPT and Anthropic's Claude-2 models. His work is focused on prompt engineering and its application to code generation, advanced document analysis, and process management, with a commitment to ethical AI practices and data privacy.

A recognized voice in quantum computing circles, Zoran is a regular presenter at industry conferences and has served on numerous panels discussing the integration of quantum computing and generative AI within the Health Sciences sector.

With a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Zoran continues to explore and contribute to the evolving relationship between quantum computing and artificial intelligence, fostering groundbreaking advancements in healthcare technology.