Day TwoWednesday, 25 March 2026 - Western European Summer Time (WEST)

How can early-stage biotechs build commercial value from the very beginning? This panel will explore the importance of embedding market insights into R&D decisions long before Phase 3, helping companies attract partners and investors. Panelists will discuss practical strategies for preclinical and Phase 1 companies to gather feedback from payers, physicians, and patients, as well as the most effective low-cost market research tools, such as KOL interviews and analog analyses. The conversation will also address when to hire the first commercial leader and what expertise and profile best complement an early-stage team, ensuring a strong foundation for long-term success.

• How can preclinical/Phase 1 companies start gathering payer, physician, and patient feedback?
• What low-cost market research tools (e.g., KOL interviews, analog analyses) are most effective?
• When should you hire your first commercial leader, and what profile fits an early-stage team?

As oncology continues to evolve, where do the next big opportunities lie in this ever-growing market? This panel will examine the future of cancer treatment beyond checkpoint inhibitors, focusing on next-generation immuno-oncology therapies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and personalized approaches. Panelists will discuss novel mechanisms like T-cell engagers, cancer vaccines, and dual-targeting ADCs with blockbuster potential, highlighting the innovations that could shape the next era of oncology therapeutics.

• What novel mechanisms (e.g., T-cell engagers, cancer vaccines, dual-targeting ADCs) have blockbuster potential?
• How can smaller biotechs compete in a space increasingly dominated by big pharma?
• What pricing and market-access challenges will emerging oncology therapies face?

Navigating pricing and market access for novel modalities like cell and gene therapies or RNA-based drugs requires strategic foresight. This panel will explore how early-stage companies can design clinical trials with endpoints that align with payer expectations, ensuring smoother reimbursement pathways. Panelists will address common misconceptions about pricing for one-time versus chronic therapies and discuss the importance of engaging with health technology assessment (HTA) bodies well before Phase 3. Attendees will gain actionable insights into overcoming the unique challenges these groundbreaking therapies face in achieving commercial success.

• How can early-stage companies design trials with endpoints that payers will accept?
• What are the biggest misconceptions about pricing for one-time vs. chronic therapies?
• How should you engage with HTAs before Phase 3?