18th EUFEPS Talks

We want to invite you to the 18th EUFEPS Talks on November 25, 2024 at 4 pm CET.

Luc van Hijfte will give a talk with the title: "The academia-CRO tandem : The drug discovery engine of the future ?".

Abstract:

The Pharmaceutical Industry has known a considerable drop in output of new drugs the last decades, and has been seeking solutions to tackle this issue. Following the megamergers and novel technology developments, there is currently a transformation ongoing of the Pharma R&D value chain. Large Pharma is aiming to share risks and costs, improve resource allocation and install a leaner, more agile R&D ecosystem based on open innovation concepts. The earlier phases of the drug discovery process are today more and more in the hands of biotech, academia and CRO’s, funded by VCs, where then the large pharma will recover the assets at a later discovery stage to bring them to the market. This transformation, and an example of a collaboration between Oslo University and Symeres in the field of Tankyrase inhibitors, will be highlighted.

CV:

Dr Van Hijfte holds a PhD degree in Chemistry from Gent University (1984, Belgium) and finalized his academic training by post-doctoral stay at UCSB. He started his industrial career at Merrell Dow in 1986 in Strasbourg, France, where he progressed to head of the medicinal chemistry by the time the site had become part of Sanofi in 1998. In 2002 he moved to Janssen, J&J, first as Research Director of their R&D site in Val de Reuil, France, before taking on the role of Senior Director, Head of Medicinal Chemistry EU, at Janssen Research & Development. He was privileged to contribute to several successful projects, with numerous programs entering into clinical development in the areas of neurosciences, oncology, and infectious diseases. In 2012 Dr Van Hijfte became CSO of NovAliX, Illkirch, France, before moving in 2017 to his actual position at Symeres, where he oversees all activities related to integrated drug discovery activities for clients worldwide. In parallel, he has been involved in a few start-ups, the principal one being Phytodia since 2015, a Strasbourg based company valorizing scientifically plant extracts for cosmetics and nutraceutics, where he occupies the position of President.

Dr Van Hijfte has been the president of the TechnoPole Chimie-Biologie-Sante in 2004-2012, Vice-President of the French Medicinal Chemistry Society (SCT) in 2015-16, President of the SCT 2017-18, and is currently president of the EFMC. He has been elected and named member of the “Académie Nationale de Pharmacie” in France, for his multiple contributions to pharmaceutical developments.

Registration:

A registration is needed for this event. Please use the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMpduiqpzgrHNZa3wbStbn-YPYK_ueEHfdT.After the registration you will receive an E-Mail with the log-in details.