SITC Biotech Initiative

SITC Biotech Initiative

Launched in 2023 with a vision of accelerating the approval of 100 novel immuno-oncology agents in the next 10 years, the SITC Biotech Committee is leading six strategic pillars to support the entire IO biotech ecosystem.

With 2024 FDA IO Approvals and PDUFA Dates, the community is on its way to achieving 100 novel IO agents approved in the next decade.

Feb. 16, 2024 Iovance: Lifileucel approved by FDA
April 22, 2024 ImmunityBio: Nogapendekin alfa inbakicept-pmln approved by FDA
May 20, 2024 Amgen: Tarlatamab approved by FDA
Aug. 2, 2024 Adaptimmune: Afami-cel approved by FDA

How the Journey to 100 New IO Agents Began

2021

Initial strategic meetings to explore the unique needs of the IO biotech ecosystem

2022

Additional exploration of opportunities for SITC to support the financial, business, and partnership needs within the IO biotech ecosystem

2023

Official approval of the inaugural SITC Biotech Committee, launch of the SITC Biotech Strategic Plan, and announcement of the vision for 100 New IO Agents in the Next 10 Years

SITC Biotech Strategic Plan Pillars, Leaders, and Initiatives

Kristen Hege, MD

Biotech Committee
Co-Chair
Kristen Hege, MD

Zhen Su, MD, MBA

Biotech Committee
Co-Chair
Zhen Su, MD, MBA
Marengo Therapeutics

Business Financing

Communicating the promise of IO, understanding strategies to finance to clinical inflection points, and building a network of professionals to support the biotech community.

committee leaders

Beverly Lu, PhD
Yosemite

David Kaufman, MD, PhD 
Third Rock Ventures

2024 initiative

SITC Financing Biotech to Clinical Inflection Thinktank hosted at NASDAQ

Partnership

Creating high-yield networking among academia, biotech, and pharmaceutical company leaders to enable technology transfer from bench to bedside.

committee leaders

Emy Chen, PhD
Dana Farber Innovation Institute

Jason Ruth, PhD 
Merck

Holger Kissel, PhD
BioNTech

Kasia (Katarzyna) Urbanska
Bristol Myers Squibb

2024 initiative

SITC Financing Biotech to Clinical Inflection Thinktank hosted at NASDAQ

Scientific Leadership

Providing a platform for the most promising scientific advancements in biotech to be celebrated and disseminated to the IO community.

committee leaders

Alexandra Snyder, MD
Generate Biomedicines

Pedro J. Romero, MD 
Novigenix

2024 initiative

SITC Annual Meeting Session: Biotech Breakthroughs - Solid Tumor IO at the Tipping Point

SITC Immuno-oncology Drug Development Summit

Education Excellence

Educating the community on state-of-the-art drug development for the entire diverse portfolio of the next wave of IO agents.

committee leaders

Johanna Grossman, PhD
New York Stock Exchange

Praveen Bommareddy, MS, PhD 
Replimune

2024 initiative

From Conception to Launch to Funding, virtual programming to understand the business of biotech

Regulatory Advocacy

Representing the unique needs of the biotech community with a unified voice to the FDA.

committee leaders

Ke Liu, MD
Marengo Therapeutics

Gideon Blumenthal, MD
Merck

2024 initiative

SITC Biotech Regulatory Roundtable: A conversation with FDA leadership

Talent Development

Training the next generation of IO biotech leaders to excel in diverse career paths, from academia to biotech, finance, and pharmaceutical settings.

committee leaders

Claire Vanpouille-Box, PhD
Weill Cornell University

Christopher Heery, MD
Arcellx Inc

2024 initiative

From Academia to Biotech, Pharma to Financing, virtual and live programming to highlight the many career paths within the biotech ecosystem

Additional Resources from SITC