What Happened at the 7th Glioblastoma Drug Development Summit – the Leading Forum for Glioblastoma Drug Development
No matter where attendees were in their journey, whether pioneering a new modality or scaling innovation, the 7th Glioblastoma Drug Development Summit became a powerful collective mission to bring hope to patients and families facing one of the most aggressive brain cancers.
In the lead‑up to the summit, breakthroughs such as Mustang Bio’s orphan drug designation for its CAR‑T therapy and SurVaxM’s encouraging Phase IIb results helped reignite optimism in glioblastoma research. At the summit, that momentum transformed into action, where science met compassion to accelerate life‑changing therapies.
Together, participants addressed the questions that matter most to patients:
- How AI, multiomics, and molecular subtyping can rapidly identify the right treatment for the right patients
- The role of K9 models, patient‑derived organoids, and engineered rodent models in creating safer, more effective therapies
- Which innovative approaches, gene therapies, cancer vaccines, CAR‑T, ADCs, and more-hold the greatest promise for extending and improving lives
- How to design trials that prioritize patient well‑being, including strategies to eliminate placebo arms for those who cannot afford to wait
- What funding and partnership strategies are needed to bring breakthrough therapies from bench to bedside
The summit became far more than a scientific forum, it served as a collective call to action for all stakeholders dedicated to transforming the future of glioblastoma care. Behind every data point discussed, there was a patient, a family, and a story, underscoring the urgency and responsibility shared by the entire community to deliver meaningful progress.
Overcoming the Brain’s Immunosuppressive Environments with Cell Therapy Approaches for Breakthrough GBM Treatments
Following Kite Pharma and Gilead’s impressive breakthrough with a CAR‑T treatment for glioblastoma, cell therapy approaches emerged as a powerful new source of hope for the GBM field. During this session, attendees reviewed data shared from Kite/Gilead’s trial and explored novel platforms and autologous strategies designed to advance the next generation of GBM cell therapies.
Expert insights were provided by:
- Ulrike Gerdemann, Principal Investigator & Physician Scientist, Dana-Faber Cancer Institute & Harvard Medical School
- Aaron Edwards, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, KiraGen Bio
- Carlo Russo, Chief Medical Officer, Genenta Science
Navigating the Investment & Partnerships Landscape in GBM & Matchmaking Roundtables
Leaders from Merck, Modifi Bio, Google Ventures, RA Capital Management, the Brain Tumor Investment Fund, and White Lion Capital came together to discuss the milestones, models, and biomarkers that investors now prioritize to mitigate the high‑risk nature of GBM drug development. Attendees gained strategic clarity on how partnerships can accelerate programs toward clinical and commercial impact.
Participants networked with:
- Carla Bauer, Director - Oncology Search & Evaluation, Business Development & Licensing, Merck & Co
- Ranjit Bindra, Founder, Modifi Bio
- Jonathan Pritz, Investment Director – Venture, RA Capital Management
- Yash Thukral, Managing Director, White Lion Capital
- John Higgins, Managing Director, Brain Tumour Investment Fund
- Sam Blackman, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Google Ventures
Gain Exposure to Investors by Taking Part in the Pitch Slam
Explore the Innovative Use of AI in Reducing Development Time & Improving Trial Enrolment
This session highlighted how cutting‑edge applications of AI are transforming the GBM development landscape, from shortening bench‑to‑bedside timelines to improving the clinical experience for patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.
Attendees heard from:
- Jason Binder, Head of Patient Experience, Pathos AI
- Panna Sharma, Chief Executive Officer & President, Lantern Pharma
Explore the Full Event Guide
- 90+ industry attendees
- 25+ World Class Speaker
- 6 deep-dive workshops, covering end-to-end drug development
- 8+ Hours on Networking
- The world’s only industry-led forum focussed on Glioblastoma drug development
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