BIOPHARMA BOSTON

Early bird discount ends 9/25

ASAP Biopharma Boston

The Future of Alliances Starts Here

November 9–11, 2026
Renaissance Boston Seaport · Boston, MA
Boston, Massachusetts Boston, Massachusetts
4Tracks
300+Attendees
70+Speakers
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The future of biopharma alliances in an AI-driven, high-complexity world

What to expect

Three days built by practitioners, for practitioners. Every session is chosen for its real-world relevance, which means you'll leave with strategies, frameworks, and connections you can actually use.

Sessions that reflect the work you do

The 2026 program covers what's actually changing the job: AI moving from experiment to daily toolkit, governance models stretching to handle three, four, or more partners at once, and alliance leaders being asked to own value realization, not just process. No product pitches. No purely theoretical topics. Just the real work our community comes for.

What you'll walk away with

  • Actionable strategies from 50+ alliance leaders and practitioners
  • High-value connections with peers from pharma, biotech, and beyond
  • 12 professional development hours toward CA-AM or CSAP certification renewal
“Networking with peers who truly understand the art and science of alliances was game-changing. I connected with leaders across industries whose insights have reshaped how our teams think about collaboration and value creation.” ~ Kristin Rosner, PhD, CSAP, CA-AM, Senior Director, Global R&D Alliance Management, Takeda

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Featured speakers

Katherine Kendrick

Katherine Kendrick, CSAP, CA-AM, Executive Director, Head of Alliance Management, Jazz Pharmaceuticals

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Arne Worn

Arne Wörn, PhD, Global Head of Alliance Management, Novartis

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Vivian Berlin

Vivian Berlin, PhD, Executive Director, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University

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Chris Coburn

Chris Coburn, Chief Innovation Officer, Mass General Brigham


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Aram Donigian

Aram Donigian, Clinical Professor of Business Administration, Faculty Director, Tuck Business Bridge Program, Dartmouth

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Aleksey Gerasyuto

Aleksey Gerasyuto, PhD,  Senior Vice President, Discovery & Preclinical Development Sciences, Schrödinger

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Andre Heeg

Andre Heeg, MD, Founder, The Upward ARC

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Dana Hughes

Dana Hughes, Partner, KPMG

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Alasdair Milton

Alasdair Milton, PhD, Partner & Principal, KPMG

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Program

Sessions and times are subject to change

1:00-5:00 Board of Directors Meeting (Invite only)
6:00-8:00 Board of Directors Dinner (Invite only)
8:00-2:30

Alliance Essential Course  (separate registration and fee required)
Lynda McDermott, CA-AM, Equipro International

8:00-2:30 Applied Alliance Management Course formerly called the CA-AM Exam Prep (separate registration and fee required)
Swati Prasad, PhD, CSAP CA-AM, Alloy Therapeutics
8:00-2:30 Alliance Strategy & Leadership Course (separate registration and fee required)
Ann Trampas, CSAP, CA-AM, University of Illinois at Chicago
8:00-2:30 Mastering Alliance Management: Driving Clarity, Value, and Influence in Alliance Leadership Course (separate registration and fee required)
Vickie Dalton, PsyD & Nick Palmer
8:30-11:30      ASAP Advisory Council Meeting (w/ the Board of Directors) (Invite only)
12:00-2:00

Boston Dine-Arounds

Kick off your BioPharma Boston experience with a casual lunch alongside a small group of fellow attendees. These intimate dine-arounds are a great way to connect and network before the conference begins.  An additional fee applies. Sign up under Networking Add-Ons in the conference registration.

11:30-2:30

Executive Leadership Luncheon & Forum (Invite only)
Andre Heeg, MD, Upward ARC

DAY 1: ALLIANCE LEADERSHIP IN A CHANGING WORLD
3:00-3:15

BioPharma Boston Kick-Off, Nicole Boston, CAE, CA-AM, ASAP; Katherine Kendrick, CSAP, CA-AM, Jazz Pharmaceuticals; Arne Wörn, Novartis

3:15-3:45

Extreme Negotiations Aram Donigian, Tuck Business Bridge Program at Dartmouth
What do high-stakes negotiations in military operations have in common with the complex negotiations that shape today's business partnerships? More than most people realize. Drawing on his experience negotiating with tribal leaders, local officials, and assorted international partners while serving in the U.S. military, Aram Donigian explores the principles that determine success when the stakes are high, trust is fragile, and relationships must endure despite competing interests. In this keynote, Aram shares powerful stories from the field and translates them into practical lessons for leaders navigating strategic partnerships, cross-functional decision making, commercial negotiations, and organizational change. Participants will gain fresh perspectives on building trust under pressure, understanding interests beyond positions, using creativity to manage uncertainty, and creating influence without authority. Whether leading a critical alliance or negotiating a complex agreement, learn to succeed in the most challenging negotiation environments—where relationships matter as much as results. 

3:45-4:15

The New Geography of BioPharma Innovation: China and the Changing Deal Landscape
Roel van den Akker, PwC
The geography of biopharma innovation is being redrawn. China’s biotech ecosystem has rapidly evolved into a major source of globally competitive science and innovative assets, increasing cross-border licensing, investment, and partnership activity. For global biopharma companies, this evolution creates both significant opportunity and new complexity. Deal structures are changing, competition for assets is increasing, and regulatory, geopolitical, valuation, and execution considerations are becoming more important. Drawing on PwC’s perspective across the global biopharma deal environment, Roel van den Akker will examine the forces driving China’s emergence as a global innovation hub and what they mean for the next generation of cross-border partnerships. The session will explore what alliance and business leaders should understand, and the capabilities they will need to build, when evaluating opportunities, structuring partnerships, managing risk, and preparing for the next phase of global biopharma collaboration.

4:30-5:15

Leading Alliances in the Age of AI, Brooke Paige, CSAP, CA-AM, Novartis, Crystal Dillon, Eli Lilly, CA-AM , & Fern McSorley, PhD, Isomorphic Labs (invited)

5:15-5:45

The External Forces No Alliance Can Ignore: How Policy, Pricing, & Geopolitics Are Reshaping Partnerships, Mark Bolton, Jazz Pharmaceuticals

5:45-6:00

Alliance Excellence Awards, Katherine Kendrick, CSAP, CA-AM, Jazz Pharmaceuticals & Nicole Boston, CAE, CA-AM, ASAP
6:00-8:00 Welcome and Awardee Celebration Reception (all invited)

Registration

Conference Rate - $2,699 / $2,299 early rate ends 9/25

Member Rate - $2,159 / $1,839 early rate ends 9/25

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“ASAP’s BioPharma Conference is unequivocally the most valuable event I attend each year. The rich content and community elevate my career and alliance capabilities."

Logistics

Venue & Room Block

Renaissance Boston Seaport District
606 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210
Reserve Now 

ASAP has secured discounted room rate of $269+ per/night (until October 19, 2026 or when the block is full). 

Justification Letter

To help secure approval for your participation, customize this letter.

"The ASAP BioPharma Conference is a transformative experience that brings together the brightest minds in the industry. The insights and connects are invaluable."

Sponsors

We’re grateful to our sponsors whose support makes this event possible and strengthens the entire ASAP community. Their partnership enables us to deliver meaningful programs and experiences throughout the year. Interested in becoming an ASAP sponsor? Visit our sponsorship page to learn more and connect with us.

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