BMWS25

Karen Walker, Chief Technology Officer at Kyverna Therapeutics, shares insights into the groundbreaking potential of CAR T-cell therapy to transform the treatment of autoimmune diseases. In this fireside chat, she explores emerging science, early clinical progress, and what this next frontier could mean for long-term disease remission and patient outcomes.

Chris Crowell, VP and Global Head of Manufacturing at Kite, a Gilead Company, shares strategies for advancing manufacturing and innovation to drive productivity and reduce cost of goods. He explores how process improvements, modern technologies, and flexible, future-ready capabilities are reshaping biomanufacturing—illustrated through real-world examples of measurable impact.

Birk Vanderweeën, Senior Vice President of Global Manufacturing & Supply at Legend Biotech, shares key lessons from launching commercial manufacturing for CARVYKTI™. He highlights the challenges that shaped critical decisions along the way and the insights now guiding the next phase of CAR-T production, scaling, and delivery.

Moderator Michael Thien, former SVP & Head of Pharmaceutical Sciences, R&D at Takeda, leads a discussion with Pat Yang, Chairman of Taiwan BioManufacturing Corp, and Ran Zheng, CEO of Landmark Bio, on fostering innovation in today’s rapidly shifting healthcare landscape. The panel explores innovative approaches to developing therapies for rare and ultra-rare diseases, integrating digital tools and automation into biomanufacturing, and driving cross-functional innovation amid evolving regulatory and supply chain pressures.

Michalle Adkins, Director of Life Sciences Strategy at Emerson, shares how digital-first workflows, automation, and AI are transforming tech transfer from a bottleneck into a competitive advantage. She explores how connected platforms streamline recipe translation, optimize scheduling, and accelerate pipeline throughput by combining intelligent technology with human expertise.

Pascal Bécotte, Managing Director at Russell Reynolds, and Marie-Noëlle Gagnon, Chief Talent Officer at Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, share how Cirque’s creative heritage inspires leadership through ambiguity and change. They explore how open communication, trust, and a strong sense of purpose empower teams to stay resilient and adaptable in high-pressure environments.

Adam Pfeiffer, Senior Vice President at Project Farma; Angela Goodenough, Executive Director of CMC, Analytical Development & Quality Control and Interim Head of Clinical Supply Chain at AnaptysBio; Jeff Davis, VP of Clinical Manufacturing at Gilead; and George Skillin, VP of Client Engagement at Project Farma, share how to build adaptive technical operations that can keep pace with the future of biomanufacturing. They explore how to strengthen internal and external partnerships, maximize innovation and efficiency, and balance quality with speed to market in an increasingly dynamic environment.

Rainer Haemmerle, Executive Director of Manufacturing at Boehringer Ingelheim Biopharmaceuticals GmbH, shares how strategic partnerships fuel agility and excellence in biomanufacturing. He explores how collaborative models accelerate new capabilities, strengthen responsiveness from development to commercial scale, and help biopharma companies navigate evolving market and regulatory pressures.