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.

2026 SITC EU Immuno-Oncology Drug Development SummitJoin the SITC Biotech CommunitySITC Biotech Virtual Programs

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. 

Organizations within the IO biotech ecosystem that share SITC’s vision for 100 novel IO agents approved by 2034, can join the movement by becoming a member of the SITC Biotech Community.

Anticipated Dec. 2025

CG Oncology

 cretostimogene grenadenorepvec

Anticipated Dec. 2025

Regeneron

odronextamab and linvoseltamab

Anticipated Dec. 2025

Adaptimmune

 lete-cel

Aug. 15, 2025

Precigen

zopapogene imadenovec

Anticipated July 2025

Regeneron

Linvoseltamab

Anticipated July 2025

Replimune

vusolimogene oderparepvec

Anticipated July 2025

Pfizer

sasanlimab

April 23, 2025

Akeso Biopharma

penpulimab-kcqx approved by FDA

Nov. 8, 2024

Autolus, Inc.

obecabtagene autoleucel
approved by FDA

Aug. 2, 2024

Adaptimmune

Afami-cel approved by FDA

May 20, 2024

Amgen

Tarlatamab approved by FDA

March 14, 2024

BeiGene

tislelizumab-jsgr approved by FDA

Feb. 16, 2024

Iovance

Lifileucel 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 Chair
Kristen Hege, MD
Board Member, Mersana, Adaptimmune, Kelonia and EvolveImmune

Alexandra Snyder PhD

Biotech Committee Co-Chair
Alexandra Snyder, MD
Merck

Zhen Su, MD, MBA

Biotech Committee Immediate Past-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

Lily Cortese, MBA
J&J

Beverly Lu, PhD
Yosemite

David Kaufman, MD, PhD 
Third Rock Ventures

Holger Kissel, PhD
BioNTech

Jarrett Rieger, Esq
Moffitt Cancer Center

Kasia (Katarzyna) Urbanska, PhD
Bristol Myers Squibb

2026 Initiative

SITC Biotech Strategic Meeting at the NYSE

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

2026 Initiative

SITC Annual Meeting Session

Education Excellence

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

Committee Leaders

Johanna Grossman, PhD
New York Stock Exchange

Praveen Bommareddy, MS, PhD 
Replimune

2026 Initiative

Education Excellence Interviews > 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

2026 Initiative

SITC Biotech Regulatory Roundtable: A conversation with FDA leadership

Talent Development

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

Committee Leaders

Claire Vanpouille-Box, PhD
Weill Cornell University

Christopher Heery, MD
Arcellx Inc

2026 Initiative

Talent Development Webinars > 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