This event focuses on the significant challenges and opportunities in developing new products and solutions for women experiencing menopause.
Menopause is a critical phase in women’s lives that is often overlooked in both healthcare and the commercial sector, despite the urgent need for innovative solutions. The event will explore topics such as basic research, financial challenges, funding for new biotech startups, and patients’ experiences with healthcare during menopause. Attendees will gain insights into how we can drive innovation forward and create meaningful solutions that improve women’s quality of life, while also understanding the economic and commercial perspectives in this growing sector.
Date: Tuesday, 22nd October, 2024
Time: 14:00 – 18:00
Venue: Medicon Valley Alliance, HUB3, Arne Jacobsens Allé 15, 2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark – Auditorium
Program
| 14:00 | Registration & networking |
| 14:45 |
Welcome Anette Steenberg, CEO, Medicon Valley Alliance |
| 14:50 | What is menopause? Anette Tønnes Pedersen, Clinical Associate Professor, Rigshospitalet and Copenhagen University |
| 15:10 | Current state on menopause research Lasse Gliemann, Associate Professor and Deputy Head of Department, University of Copenhagen |
| 15:30 | Developing a new medicine for women – challenges and opportunities Mary Kerr, CEO, NeRRe Therapeutics |
| 15:50 | Coffee, cake and networking |
| 16:20 | Protect your rights Pernille Winding Gojkovic, CEO, Høiberg European Patent Attorneys |
| 16:30 |
Hot Flashes, Cold Realities – Innovations in (Peri-)Menopausal Care Chandra P. Leo, Co-founder, Artemis Women’s Health Foundation |
| 16:50 | A health economic perspective on menopause Sara Olofsson, Research Director at the Swedish Institute for Health Economics (IHE) |
| 17:10 | Panel debate and Q&A Moderated by Camille Claudius, VP and Chief of Staff to CMO, Astellas Pharma |
| 17:40 | Networking and drinks |
| 18:00 | End of meeting |
Speakers
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Anette Tønnes Pedersen is an Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen and Senior Consultant at Rigshospitalet, specializing in sexual and reproductive health. She has authored 68 peer-reviewed publications and 17 book chapters and presented over 80 abstracts at international conferences. Her expertise includes gynaecologic endocrinology, hormone therapy, and family planning. Anette also works as a consultant for Maternity Worldwide and has provided medical support for maternal health projects in Ethiopia. |
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Lasse Gliemann is associate professor in cardiovascular physiology and deputy head of department at the department for nutrition, exercise and sports, university of Copenhagen. Since 2012, Lasee Gliemann have been doing invasive research in women around the menopausal transition in the quest to pinpoint molecular mechanisms underlying the consequences of the loss of estrogen, with a particular interest in the positive effects of physical activity. Since 2021, LG have been heading cohort study, “Women in Healthy Transition” that follows Danish women across the menopausal transition until 20 years post menopause, to study important physiological, sociological, and psychological research questions. |
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Mary Kerr is currently CEO of NeRRe Therapeutics, a VC funded UK Biotech company. She was Co-Founder and CEO of KaNDy Therapeutics until the company was acquired by Bayer in September 2020 for an upfront consideration of $425 million and milestone payments with a total potential deal value of >$1b. In addition, Mary was a NED at Galapagos (Nasdaq and Euronext listed) for seven years, an operating Partner at Advent Life Sciences VC firm, and is currently a Womens Health Adviser to the Danish BioInnovation Institute. Prior to her appointment at NeRRe, Mary held a range of senior leadership roles at GSK over more than 20 years. Her final role at GSK was as Senior Vice President and Global Franchise leader for the Immuno-inflammation and Infectious Diseases franchise. Dr. Kerr gained a Pharmacology degree and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology at the University of Bradford, did post-doctoral research at the University of Bradford and the Michigan Cancer Foundation in Detroit, and has an MBA from the University of Kingston. |
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Chandra P. Leo is a venture capitalist at HBM Partners, where he manages investments in healthcare startups in the US and Europe. Having previously worked in OB/GYN and reproductive biology, he co-founded the Artemis Women’s Health Foundation, focused on strengthening the innovation ecosystem for Women’s Health. Chandra holds a medical degree (FU Berlin), a Master in Medicines Development (University of Basel) and an MBA (INSEAD). |
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Sara Olofsson, Phd, Research Director at the Swedish Institute for Health Economics (IHE) Sara Olofsson has worked at IHE since 2009 with a research focus on individual preferences, societal costs, and health care policy. She has performed several health economic studies, including surveys of preferences and resource use in different disease areas, policy research, and cost of illness studies. One of her most recent publications include an IHE report on the productivity loss related to vasomotor symptoms (VMS) during menopausal transition. |
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Camille Claudius is educated as a Medical Doctor and have a business degree in leadership. After working as a clinician she has more than 20 years of experience in Drug Development working across different areas in the Life Science industry in organisations like GSK, Organon, Novo Nordisk and latest Astellas. Currently she is working as Chief of Staff to CMO in Global Development & Medical Affairs supporting the strategy cross the portfolio. |
Deadline for registration is 20th October
The MVA Women’s Health network
Joining the MVA Women’s Health Network is free of charge but is limited to Medicon Valley Alliance members. Non-member organizations and companies are welcome to attend one network event to evaluate the relevance in joining the network. For more information please contact Katrine Brems Olsen kbo@mva.org
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