Novateur Ventures
In the life science industry, most products, drugs or devices fail, not because they have an inherent flaw, but because they are not properly developed due to lack of experience, planning, and resources. Novateur’s mission is to change that—one client at a time. We are immersed in the biotechnology, med-tech and pharmaceutical space and understand the scientific, regulatory, market and financial implications associated with your program. Novateur’s team is multi-disciplinary and brings with it a rich and broad base experience gained in the life sciences industry. Our network allows us to bring in the right additional subject matter experts, as and if the need arises. We always use a collaborative working style: an iterative, flexible approach to developing and implementing solutions for your program in partnership with you. Novateur’s goal is to provide the right guidance and input that yields outcomes that are cost effective, reduce project time, and yet ensure high quality development deliverables. We measure our success by rapidly creating maximal value inflection for you.
Conference Objective
Attending networking events and receptions, receive industry news and view presentations
Partnering Objective
Finding connections and partners, find funding, discussing projects, exploring solutions, connecting and networking with attendees and companies
Delegate Contacts
Ali Ardakani is a technical and entrepreneurial corporate development & operations biotech executive with 20 years experience in managing life science projects and companies. He is the Co-Founder & Managing Director of Novateur Ventures, a premier global advisory group with over 100 senior life science advisors, and the current Senior VP Device & BD for AIT Therapeutics, a publicly traded company. He also sits on multiple boards including LifeSciences BC (Vice Chair), Altum Pharmaceuticals (Executive Board Member) and Entrepreneur in Residence at Innovation Boulevard. He is the Co-Founder and COO of Niiki Pharma, which was acquired in 2013 by Intezyne Technologies, of which he became the VP, as well as the Co-Founder & CEO of Lexi Pharma, which was acquired in 2018 by Altum Pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Gina Stetsko is a senior pharmaceutical development and manufacturing executive with over 33 years experience including 23 years in the start-up pharmaceutical field. Dr. Stetsko began her career in Product and Process Development at Sandoz and Sterling Winthrop. She served as Senior Director of Product Development at Ligand Pharmaceuticals, then VP of Product Development and Preclinical, VP of Operations and VP of Research Strategic Planning at Amylin Pharmaceuticals. Subsequently she was Chief Scientific Officer at Eagle Pharmaceuticals and later VP of Research and Development at Flamel Pharmaceuticals, living in Lyon, France.
Dr. Stetsko has built and managed teams to collaborate with contract firms in the US and Europe and played a role in the approval of 12 products, including Bloxiverz®, Byetta®, Bydureon®, Panretin®, Symlin®, Targretin® and Topotecan®
Jonathan Polak has over 10 years of medical sales & marketing experience. Jonathan has dedicated a part of his professional experience to pioneering computational psychiatry and developing electronics to capture ecological measures of patient health in a real-life setting. Prior to joining Novateur, Jonathan worked at Blackthorn Therapeutics, a neuropsychiatry drug discovery company, where he developed surrogate endpoints. Jonathan was Founder & Chief Executive of 1Datapoint Diagnostics, a start-up medical software company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, using data analytics to improve the standard of care in neuropsychiatric illness. Previously, Jonathan worked as an Investment Banker in Colborne Capital in Toronto, Ontario; as VP BD of Intelescope Solutions Ltd. in Modi’in, Israel and São Paulo Area, Brazil; also as a trader in Fulcrum Capital – Distressed Debt Hedge Fund in Austin, Texas.