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Conference & Networking
What Pharma Wants: Positioning Psychedelic Assets for Partnership & Acquisition
The psychedelic therapeutics landscape is evolving rapidly, with major pharma players making headline-grabbing acquisitions and partnerships. But what exactly is pharma looking for in psychedelic assets—and how can startups and researchers best position themselves for success?
Join us for an engaging panel discussion featuring leaders from the forefront of psychedelic drug development, deal-making, and regulatory strategy. Our panelists bring firsthand experience from both sides of recent landmark transactions, including the $1.2 billion acquisition of Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals’ asset by AbbVie and the strategic acquisition of Psilera’s portfolio by ataiBeckley.
Key topics will include:
- What makes a psychedelic asset attractive to pharma and large biotech
- Lessons learned from recent high-profile deals
- The critical role of regulatory strategy in enabling successful partnerships and acquisitions
- Practical advice for startups and researchers preparing for partnership or exit
Panelists include:
- Adam Klein, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals (in-person)
- Jacqueline von Salm, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Psilera (virtual)
- Odette Hauke, Regulatory Affairs Consultant (Odette Alina LLC, formerly of ataiBeckley; in-person)
Moderated by: Kimberly Chew, Senior Counsel and Co-Leader, Psychedelics and Emerging Therapies Practice, Husch Blackwell LLP (in-person)
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, scientist, investor, or industry executive, this session will provide actionable insights, and a rare behind-the-scenes look at how deals get done in this dynamic field.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with industry leaders and gain the inside track on the next wave of innovation in psychedelic therapeutics!
Agenda
Prizes
- $10K in office/lab space
- $5,000 Legal Services
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- $5,000 Tax Services
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- Free Investor Readiness Bootcamp - Top 2 Winners
- $4,500 for each scholarship to the Big Tree Investor Readiness bootcamp
- $2,500 USD in-kind services
- Facilitation of a CMC strategy workshop & Up to 80 additional hours of complimentary consulting support through the end of 2026
- Admission to the Femovate portfolio plus $15k in award-winning digital product design.
- Winner will receive a slot in TechCon's Semi-finals 1 of 32) for a chance to present at TechCon in May (1 of 8) with a Grand Proze of $1M Cash funding plus substantial service credits.
- Free sign up for Pitch to Profit, All presenters can be nominated to bypass step one of the 2026 HealthTech Impact Award - HealthTechImpactAward.com
- $20k in office/lab space
- Digital Marketing and Branding Services (worth $5,000)
- $10K in office/lab space
- $10K in office/lab space
- $25k custom UX design package from the largest femtech incubator in the US
- Admission to Maroon Research Institute's Global Longevity Scientific Venture Studio for 6 months and eligible investment of $125k per venture
- $10,000+ in Strategic Go-to-Market Research
- Exploratory biostatistics package: 3 reports
- $10,000+ in Strategic Go-to-Market Engineering
- $4,500 for each scholarship to the Big Tree Investor Readiness bootcamp
- Membership to Mayo Clinic Innovation Exchange
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- Winner will receive a slot in TechCon's Quarter-finals for a chance to present at TechCon in May with a Grand Proze of $1M Cash funding plus substantial service credits.
- Regulatory kit and Regulatory strategy consulting (Medical Device only)
- $5,000 of tax services
- $5,000 Legal fees
- Two months campaign on startup program
- 3-day ticket to the upcoming 2025 RESI Conference
- Contingent Permanent Placement ($5,000 off); Retained Search services ($5,000 off)
- $5,000 of tax services
Learn from Subject Matter Experts
Odette Hauke
Principal Consultant, Odette Alina LLC
With over 12 years of experience spanning global regulatory affairs, drug development, and clinical research, Odette brings a wealth of expertise—particularly in advancing innovative therapies for rare and underserved diseases. Her career has been shaped by a deep commitment to ensuring that novel treatments are both effective and safe, especially for vulnerable populations including children.
Dr. Jackie von Salm
Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer, Psilera Inc.
Psilera, Inc., a biotechnology company founded in 2019 focused on discovering new treatments for brain health. Psilera was named one of the top 25 start-ups to watch in 2025 and 2026 by Tampa Bay Business Journal and won the Tampa Bay Innovation Award for HealthTech Company of the Year in 2023 and Deal of the Year in 2025. Dr. von Salm has been featured in National Geographic, Nature, and the Wall Street Journal for her company's work at Psilera and was named the Most Read Author in 2017 by the American Chemical Society (ACS). Dr. von Salm graduated with Honors (magna cum laude) with her Bachelor's and Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of South Florida.
Adam Klein, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist, Gilgamesh Pharma
Leads research and development of next-generation psychedelic-inspired therapeutics for mental health conditions. At Gilgamesh, Dr. Klein is instrumental in advancing innovative compounds, including improved ketamine analogs and novel serotonergic medications, designed to deliver improved therapeutic efficacy and patient accessibility. Dr. Klein earned his Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from UC Santa Barbara and completed postdoctoral research at UC San Diego, where he studied the neurobiology of psychedelics such as LSD, psilocybin, and DMT. He is recognized for his research on serotonin receptor signaling and the psychoactive properties of novel psychedelics. Dr. Klein’s expertise bridges cutting-edge neuroscience and drug development, positioning him at the forefront of translating psychedelic science into impactful mental health treatments.
MC/MODERATOR
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Kimberly Chew
Senior Counsel and Co-Leader, Psychedelics and Emerging Therapies Practice, Husch Blackwell LLP
Kimberly Chew is senior counsel in Husch Blackwell LLP’s virtual office, The Link. Chew is a seasoned professional with a rich background in biotech research, leveraging her extensive experience to guide clients through the intricate landscape of clinical trials, FDA regulations, and academic research compliance. As the co-founder and co-lead of the firm’s Psychedelic and Emerging Therapies practice group, Kimberly is particularly inspired by the potential of psychedelic therapeutics to address mental health conditions like PTSD. Her practice encompasses regulatory due diligence and intellectual property enforcement, particularly in patent infringement and validity.
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