MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge Presents Session on Neuroscience, Featuring Keynote by Dr. Darryle Schoepp, Renowned Drug Discovery Scientist at Merck

Panel to Include Todd Sherer, Vice President of Research Programs, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research


CAMBRIDGE, MA--(Marketwire - October 30, 2008) - On November 12, the MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge, in collaboration with the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, will feature a keynote address by Dr. Darryle Schoepp, senior vice president and franchise head of neuroscience at Merck Research Laboratories. Internationally recognized as a leader in drug discovery research and science, Schoepp will discuss how the biopharmaceutical industry can overcome challenges hindering the development of new therapies for disorders of the brain and neurodegenerative diseases.

Following Schoepp's presentation, Christoph Adams, Ph.D., chief business officer at FoldRX Pharmaceuticals, will present a case study on his company, a leader in the discovery and development of disease modifying drug therapies. A panel of experts will provide feedback on FoldRX's plans and strategy, discussing the company's work with misfolded proteins, which are emerging as an underlying cause of many neurodegenerative diseases.

The expert panel includes Douglas M. Fambrough, Ph.D., general partner, Oxford Bioscience Partners and Todd Sherer, Ph.D., vice president of research programs, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. The panel discussion will be moderated by Skip Irving, partner and managing director, Health Advances LLC.

Keynote Speaker:

Darryle Schoepp joined Merck Research Laboratories in March 2007, after 20 years in neuroscience discovery research at Eli Lilly and Company. At Eli Lilly, Schoepp was responsible for formulating the company's neuroscience strategy and expanding research in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases and pain. Schoepp is recognized for having made major contributions in disease pathophysiology, pharmacology and therapeutics. In 2002, Schoepp was honored with the Pharmacia/American Society for Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) Award for Experimental Therapeutics for his research on the experimental therapeutics of metabotropic glutamate receptors.

Other Speakers:

Christoph Adams is chief business officer at FoldRX Pharmaceuticals. Prior to joining FoldRX, Adams was SVP of business development for ViaCell Inc., where he was responsible for strategic planning, commercial product development and corporate partnerships.

Douglas M. Fambrough is a general partner at Oxford Bioscience Partners. Since joining Oxford in 1999, Fambrough has specialized in financing innovative life science technology companies, including RNA interference pioneer Sirna Therapeutics, acquired by Merck for $1.1 billion. Prior to Oxford, Fambrough was a genomic scientist at the Whitehead/MIT Center for Genome Research (now known as the Broad Institute).

Skip Irving is a partner and managing director at Health Advances. Irving has spent more than 20 years advising companies on business strategy, technology commercialization, R&D planning and M&A in the medical products industry. A pharmacist by training, Irving's practice focuses on pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

Todd Sherer is the VP of research programs for The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Sherer joined the Foundation as associate director of research programs, in April 2004. Sherer's postdoctoral work has focused on understanding the role of environmental factors and the development of model systems for Parkinson's disease. Sherer is the author of over 20 research articles with a focus on Parkinson's disease.

When: Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Networking: 5:30 p.m.
Program: 6:15-8:00 p.m.
Reception: 8:00-9:00 p.m.

Where: Stata Center (Bldg. 32), Kirsch Auditorium, 32 Vassar St., Cambridge

Marketing Sponsor: Mass High Tech Bio Flash
Supporting Organizations: Science Careers, LES, MBC Mass Bio Investors
Forum, McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT

Registration and information: http://www.mitforumcambridge.org/nov.html

Pricing: Forum members: $20; Non-members: $30; Students from all
universities, free with college ID. Pre-registration encouraged.

Contact Information: MIT ENTERPRISE FORUM OF CAMBRIDGE CONTACT: Regina Smith MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge 617-253-3937 PRESS CONTACT : Brad Baker (for MIT Enterprise Forum) CHEN PR, Inc. 781-672-3118