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 2025 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
March. 14, 2024 BeiGene: tislelizumab-jsgr 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
Nov. 8, 2024 Autolus, Inc: obecabtagene autoleucel 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

2024

Inaugural event at the Nasdaq focused on financing biotech to clinical inflection. Engaging discussion with FDA leadership at the annual Biotech Regulatory Roundtable. Advanced the next wave of IO through an innovative IO Drug Development Summit.

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, and Partnership

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

Emy Chen, PhD
Dana Farber Innovation Institute

Beverly Lu, PhD
Yosemite

David Kaufman, MD, PhD 
Third Rock Ventures

Holger Kissel, PhD
BioNTech

Kasia (Katarzyna) Urbanska
Bristol Myers Squibb

2025 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

2025 initiative

SITC Annual Meeting Session

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

2025 initiative

SITC Biotech Regulatory Roundtable: A conversation with FDA leadership

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

2025 initiative

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

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

2025 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