Part I, The Art of Financing the Next Wave, explored how capital is flowing into emerging biotech hubs and what investors look for in today’s market. Panels included:

Early Financing Strategies: Exploring how emerging biotech hubs attract capital and what investors prioritize today, featuring:

• Carl Gordon, Managing Partner, OrbiMed

• Shawn Titcomb, CEO, Allele Capital Partners

• Adam Rogers, Partner, PFP Biosciences

• Jackson Streeter, Managing Partner, UF Innovate Ventures / Partner, DeepWork Capital

• Moderator: Claudine Prowse, Ph.D., Venture Partner, J.P. Morgan

Building Market-Ready Companies: Lessons on establishing the financial and operational credibility required to secure institutional investment, featuring:

• Daniel Krizek, Portfolio Manager, Surveyor Capital

• Scott Braunstein, Independent Director

• David Moss, CEO & Co-Founder, INmune Bio

• Moderator: Mike Yee, Managing Director, UBS

Part II, The Art of Building Biotech, focused on execution, leadership, and infrastructure. Panels included:

Building for Scale: From Vision to Critical Mass: How leadership, infrastructure, and partnerships accelerate biotech company growth, featuring:

• Stephen Nimer, Director, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

• Daniel Teper, CEO, Naya Therapeutics

• Neil McFarlane, CEO, Zevra Therapeutics

• Moderator: Duane Mitchell, Associate Dean, UF Clinical & Translational Science Institute

The program concluded with a closing keynote conversation on transformative deals and partnerships, including lessons from landmark transactions, and discussed how South Florida companies can position themselves for long-term value creation. The keynote featured:

• Brent Saunders, Chairman & CEO, Bausch + Lomb

• Fred Hassan, Chairman, Caret Group

• David Epstein, Chairman & CEO, Ottimo Pharma

• Moderator: Rich Daly, President & CEO, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals

Reception: The Art of the Patient cohosted by Orrick and LavoieHealthSciences    

The reception highlighting the human side of biotech through photography exhibitions by breast cancer survivor Karina Giselle Rodriguez and Pablo Esteban, along with a musical performance by Brazilian Voices.

MBC’s inaugural Annual Summit marked a milestone moment for the region, bringing together a full cross-section of leaders shaping the future of biotech in South Florida and signaling the growing momentum of the local life sciences ecosystem.