testaboutus

Steve Coats is a seasoned biopharmaceutical R&D leader with over 30 years of experience advancing monoclonal antibody (mAb) and antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) therapies from discovery through clinical development. He has led multidisciplinary nonclinical, clinical, CMC, and technology teams across multiple biologics platforms and therapeutic areas.

Most recently, Steve served as Chief Development Officer at ImmunOs Therapeutics (2021–2024), directing development of immunology focused biologics. Prior to that, he spent more than 15 years at AstraZeneca/MedImmune, ultimately as VP of R&D, where he led global teams delivering multiple novel biologics and ADCs and through IND/CTA submission and into proof of concept Phase 2 trials. Earlier in his career, he was a Research Director at Amgen, leading both small molecule and biologics discovery programmes.

In recent years, Steve has worked as a strategic consultant supporting startups and mid stage biotech companies with early stage financing, clinical development strategy, and venture capital due diligence.

Steve completed postdoctoral training at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, focusing on signal transduction and cellcycle biology. He holds a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology from Vanderbilt University and a B.A. from the University of New Hampshire.

Mike has founded five biotechnology companies and is currently chairman or executive chair of Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Sorriso Pharmaceuticals, Spruce Biosciences, Theolytics, Plexium and Alethio Therapeutics. He also serves as venture partner at Pappas Capital.

In a career spanning over 50 years, Mike has held senior positions at a number of companies, including CEO of Amplyx Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Pfizer), Lumena Pharmaceuticals, (acquired by Shire), Auspex Pharmaceuticals, SGX Pharmaceuticals. (acquired by Eli Lilly) and Trega Biosciences. (acquired by Lion Bioscience), as well as president of BioChem Therapeutic. Mike also spent 20 years in various roles with Glaxo and Glaxo Holdings (now GSK), culminating in his position as Vice President, Corporate Development and Head of International Licensing.

Mark has spent more than 25 years in biotech with extensive research experience and a track record of innovation and execution. He gained a Ph.D. in Immunology from Monash University (Melbourne, Australia) and spent four years as a research fellow with CNRS in Paris. Mark started his industry career at the formation of Crucell and worked there for eight years in various roles, finally as Director of Antibody Discovery. He joined Merus in 2008 as CSO supporting the development of its bispecific antibody platform and leading preclinical research until 2020. Since 2020 he has held executive management or board positions in preclinical- and clinical-stage biotechnology companies throughout Europe including ONA Therapeutics, Gadeta and Montis Biosciences. He is Executive Chair of ATB Therapeutics.

Suman has over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries with expertise in cardiovascular, oncology, immunology and anti-viral therapeutic areas. She has worked at Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Novartis and The Medicines Company where she had key roles developing blockbuster cardiovascular drugs such as Lipitor^®, Diovan/Diovan HCT^®, Lotrel^® and Angiomax.^. At Novartis, she led the malignant hematology franchise across Europe and was responsible for Glivec^®, Tasigna^®, Exjade^® and Jakavi^® generating over $2 billion in revenue across 38 countries. She later served as Global Lead for the Lung Cancer franchise managing a portfolio of seven products across research, development and launch phases.

Suman has held senior leadership roles across early and late-stage development, global launches, and commercial portfolio growth. She has served as CEO of Cambridge Epigenetix (UK) and as CEO and Co-Founder of Larkspur Biosciences a clinical stage immuno-oncology company. She serves on multiple biotech boards and is a Trustee & Board Member for Prostate Cancer Research UK and US.

Suman holds an MBBS from the University of Bombay and a Ph.D. in Virology from Harvard University in Virology and previously worked at McKinsey & Company in its healthcare practice.

Sanne is a Partner in the Life Sciences team at Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE). At OSE she is focused on the sourcing and structuring of new spinout opportunities from the University of Oxford, as well as supporting the existing Life Sciences portfolio. Prior to OSE, she was an investment manager at specialist transatlantic investor Gilde Healthcare, where she focused on European biotech investments, including Tagworks, ADCendo, Draupnir Bio and Calypso Biotech.

Prior to Gilde, Sanne was at Anterra Capital, a transatlantic Food and Ag Tech VC firm. Sanne began her career at M Ventures, the strategic corporate VC fund of Merck KGaA, focused on healthcare. She holds a BSc in Biochemistry from Leiden University with a minor in Neurology, and MSc in Biochemical Engineering from Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands. She serves as a director on the boards of OSE portfolio companies Sitryx, Orfonyx and MatchBio.

Sally is a Principal in the life sciences team at Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE) where she focuses on the creation of new biotech businesses, bringing deep oncology research expertise and experience translating cutting-edge science into company formation.

Sally was previously an Anderson Cancer Center Post-Doctoral Fellow at Rockefeller University in New York where her research focused on genetic instability at the very earliest stages of cancer development. Prior to this, she completed a Ph.D. at the Francis Crick Institute in London where she uncovered an important role for polypoid cells in driving cancer evolution.

Sally has contributed to published research in leading journals such as Nature Genetics, Nature Communications and Cancer Discovery. She has also studied corporate finance at NYU and consulted for The Solution Lab.

Benedicte is Senior Investment Manager at Oxford University Innovation (OUI), the technology transfer office of the University of Oxford. Since 2017, she has supported the formation of several Oxford spinouts, including MiroBio subsequently acquired by Gilead Sciences. Benedicte currently manages a portfolio of 40+ University spinouts and sits on the board of 10+ of them.

Before joining OUI, Benedicte co-founded a biotech spinout focused on therapeutics for neurological diseases. Benedicte holds a D.Phil. in life sciences from Paris University and a PMP® certification.