We are honored to invite you to an enlightening full-day track on pharmacogenomics at the upcoming PMWC 2025 Silicon Valley – February 5-7, 2025. This track will delve into the transformative potential of precision medicine, specifically in the context of Africa’s unique healthcare landscape. Our Pioneer Honoree, Dr. Collen Masimirembwa from the University of the Witwatersrand, and who will be sharing his invaluable insights at PMWC 2025, is a trailblazer in this field.

Africa, home to 17% of the global population, is thought to carry 25% of the world’s disease burden. This disparity underscores the urgent need for innovative treatment strategies that can address these specific health challenges. Precision medicine, and pharmacogenomics (PGx) in particular, offers a promising solution.

Masimirembwa is Founder and President of the African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology (AiBST). Headquartered in Harare, Zimbabwe, AiBST ‘s goals are to create a thriving R&D ecosystem of African-led drug discovery and product development. An integral part of this effort is the sustainable development of genomic and pharmaceutical medicine capabilities, which requires the establishment of global strategic partnerships to ensure that AiBST accesses world-class scientific and engineering talent and collaborators, develops novel tools and technologies and secures the financial resources to move this agenda forward.

Masimirembwa’s work has led to the development of GenoPharm, Africa’s first genetic test inclusive of unique African variants and now established as a spin-off company, CradleOmics, commercializing its research and innovation products. “Our research resulted in the first registered genetic test in Africa, GenoPharm, now rolled out to more than 6,000 patients across South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Nigeria,” says Dr. Masimirembwa. Through initiatives like these, AiBST is advancing genomic research and training the next generation of scientists from numerous African countries.

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) utilizes an individual’s genetic makeup to determine the most effective drugs and dosages tailored to their specific needs. This approach minimizes adverse drug reactions and enhances treatment efficacy. In Africa, pioneering initiatives are paving the way for breakthroughs that could revolutionize healthcare not only on the continent but worldwide. Dr. Masimirembwa’s research has uncovered significant genetic variants in the CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 genes among African populations, which are crucial for drug metabolism.

Conducting research in resource-limited settings presents numerous challenges, such as infrastructure limitations, a shortage of skilled personnel, and funding constraints. To address these, Dr. Masimirembwa established the African Pharmacogenomics Research Network, fostering collaboration among biomedical scientists across Africa. He also initiated the Consortium for Genomics and Therapeutics Africa (CGTA), launching the first multinational clinical pharmacogenetics program, iPROTECTA. This program aims to implement pharmacogenetics testing for effective care and treatment across Africa, inspired by successful programs in the USA and Europe.

To ensure sustainable healthcare innovation, Dr. Masimirembwa advocates for strong public-private partnerships. He has initiated SPARK Africa, a translational research program aimed at transforming academic research into market-ready products and services. By addressing barriers such as investment models, supply chain logistics, and regulatory frameworks, these efforts are fostering a robust R&D ecosystem in Africa. The establishment of Genomics Centres of Excellence and partnerships with pharmaceutical companies are further accelerating progress in precision medicine.

Thank you to the program committee members: Chair Kristine Ashcraft (Aranscia), Sara Rogers (American Society of Pharmacovigilance), Jai Patel (Atrium Health), and Kelly Claude (St. Jude) for their invaluable contributions to developing the PMWC 2025 PGx track with the program theme: Addressing Persistent PGx Myths.

See more of the developing PMWC 2025 – Feb. 5-7 Silicon Valley program below:

PMWC Award Ceremony:
Luminary Honoree: Philip E. Empey, UPMC
Pioneer Honoree: Collen Masimirembwa, University of the Witwatersrand

Genomic Diversity in Africa: Pharmacogenetics and Clinical Applications
Collen Masimirembwa, University of the Witwatersrand

PGx is Expensive and Insurance Coverage is Limited
Chair: Jai Patel, Atrium Health
Lena Chaihorskym, Alva10
Mark Fleury, ACS CAN
Kristin Wiisanen, Rosalind Franklin University
Alison L. Quinn, Kaiser

Science Backing PGx is Limited
Chair: Sara Rogers, American Society of Pharmacovigilance
Russ Altman, Stanford
Philip E. Empey, UPMC
Michael A. Pacanowski, FDA

PGx is Hard to Implement
Chair: Kristine Crews, St Jude
Deepak Voora, VA
Jennifer Wick, The Christ Hospital Health Network
Suzanne Stevens, Wentworth-Douglass Hospital
Jason Roos, ARPA-H

What will it take to make PGx the standard of care
Chair: Kristine Ashcraft, Aranscia (YouScript)
Alan Venook, UCSF/ NCCN
Gary Marchant, ASU
Dan Hertz, University of Michigan
Deepak Voora, VA

Sincerely,

Tal Behar

President & Co-founder, PMWC
PMWC 2025 Silicon Valley – February 5-7, 2025

We are honored to announce Dr. James M. Wilson, a pioneer in gene therapy, as our distinguished Pioneer Honoree at PMWC February 5-7, 2025 Silicon Valley, where we will spotlight the transformative effect of cell and gene therapies in addressing complex medical challenges.

In an exclusive interview with PMWC, Dr. Wilson shared insights into his groundbreaking work, which “has significantly impacted the treatment of rare diseases, offering hope for millions,” as he emphasized. His innovations have overcome critical barriers in gene therapy, particularly addressing the body’s immune response to viral vectors, thus paving the way for safer and more effective treatments.

Looking Ahead: Gene Therapy Beyond Rare Diseases
Dr. Wilson’s vision for gene therapy is optimistic. He envisions viral vector-based therapies for treating more common diseases. However, Dr. Wilson emphasized the crucial need to “align viral vector attributes with therapeutic needs.” He believes ongoing research holds the key to unlocking this platform’s potential beyond rare diseases.

Beyond the Hype: Safety First in Gene Therapy
See Dr. Wilson’s full insights and perspectives in the interview listed below my signature.

Equally pivotal is Dr. Carolyn Bertozzi of Stanford University, recipient of the PMWC Luminary Award. Her pioneering advancements in bioorthogonal chemistry have bridged the gap between basic science and clinical application, shaping the landscape of precision medicine.

The Cell and Gene Therapies track at PMWC 2025, chaired by industry leaders Yael Weiss of Mahzi Therapeutics and Morten Sogaard of Astellas, will delve into critical topics such as next-generation delivery systems, harnessing epigenetics in rare disease treatment, and navigating regulatory landscapes.

Don’t miss your opportunity to network with visionaries like Dr. Wilson and Dr. Bertozzi, as well as other pioneers shaping the future of gene therapy. Secure your place today to participate in this dynamic exchange of ideas at PMWC 2025, Feb 5-7.

See The Gene & Cell Therapies in Rare Disease’s Track Program below:

      PMWC Award Ceremony:
            ● Pioneer Honoree: James M. Wilson, University of Pennsylvania
            ● Luminary Honoree: Carolyn Bertozzi, Stanford

      Keynotes:
            ● Bioorthogonal Chemistry, from Basic Science to Clinical Translation
                  o Carolyn Bertozzi, Stanford
            ● The Promise of Genetic Medicines Unless You’re Too Poor or Too Rare
                  o James M. Wilson, University of Pennsylvania

      Session Schedule:
            Reimbursement for Genetic Medicines in Rare Diseases
                  ● Chair: James M. Wilson, University of Pennsylvania
                  ● Speakers:
                        o Erin Satterwhite, Optum Specialty Pharmacy

            Next-Generation Delivery Systems for Gene Therapies
                  ● Chair: Morten Sogaard, Astellas
                  ● Speakers:
                        o Mathieu Nonnenmacher, Voyager Therapeutics
                        o Kevin Friedman, Kelonia Therapeutics
                        o Haig Aghajanian, Capstan Therapeutics
                        o James M. Wilson, University of Pennsylvania

            Beyond the Genome: Harnessing Epigenetics in Rare Disease Treatment
                  ● Chair: Charles Gersbach, Duke
                  ● Speakers:
                        o Prashant Mali, UCSD
                        o Nadav Ahituv, UCSF
                        o Blythe Sather, Tune Therapeutics
                        o Fyodor D Urnov, Berkeley University

            Navigating the Regulatory Landscape for Gene and Cell Therapies
                  ● Chair: Yael Weiss, Mahzi Therapeutics
                  ● Speakers:
                        o Courtney Silverthorn, Bespoke Gene Therapy Consortium (BGTC)
                        o Peter Marks, FDA

            How We Use AI and ML to Develop Gene Therapies of the Future
                  ● Speakers: TBA

We look forward to seeing you at PMWC Feb. 5-7, 2025. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with industry leaders and gain valuable insights into the future of precision medicine.

Register Now & SAVE HERE

Sincerely,

Tal Behar

President & Co-founder, PMWC
PMWC 2025 Silicon Valley – February 5-7, 2025

The Precision Medicine World Conference (PMWC)


PMWC’s Interview with Dr. Wilson continued:

Looking Ahead: Gene Therapy Beyond Rare Diseases
Dr. Wilson’s vision for gene therapy is optimistic. He envisions viral vector-based therapies for treating more common diseases. However, Dr. Wilson emphasized the crucial need to “align viral vector attributes with therapeutic needs.” He believes ongoing research holds the key to unlocking this platform’s potential beyond rare diseases.

Beyond the Hype: Safety First in Gene Therapy
Safety remains paramount. Dr. Wilson highlighted the importance of understanding potential risks and improving safety profiles. He stated, “Targeted delivery and the development of gene regulation mechanisms will be crucial for expanding this therapy to a wider range of conditions.” – like a gene switch – for more precise control. This innovation holds immense promise for expanding the reach of gene therapy while prioritizing safety.

A World Beyond AAV: Exploring New Delivery Technologies
The conversation delved into the future of delivery technologies beyond Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV). While Dr. Wilson acknowledges AAV as the current leader for gene replacement therapies due to its safety profile, he sees promise in non-viral delivery systems for gene editing applications. As Dr. Wilson explained, “These systems don’t require long-term expression of the therapeutic gene.” Additionally, advancements in engineering AAV capsids offer exciting possibilities for improved targeting and reduced dosage, making AAV an even more powerful tool.

Gene Editing and Gene Therapy: A Powerful Duo
Dr. Wilson shed light on how recent advances in gene editing will work alongside gene replacement therapies. He highlighted the distinct needs of each approach. “Gene editing holds significant potential for treating liver diseases due to the efficient delivery of non-viral systems,” Dr. Wilson explained. However, for diseases affecting other organs, AAV-based gene therapy remains the preferred method.
Furthermore, Dr. Wilson suggests that advancements in gene editing could eliminate the need for persistent viral vector expression. This shift would focus on integrating the therapeutic gene directly into the patient’s chromosomes.

The Potential of Other Viral-Based Approaches
Dr. Wilson acknowledged the renewed interest in retroviruses and the development of virus-like particles for gene delivery. While he acknowledged the success of herpes viruses in specific applications like skin diseases, he expressed some skepticism about their broader applicability. He also discussed past challenges encountered with lentiviruses and retroviruses, such as toxicity and manufacturing difficulties, suggesting these issues might resurface with these new technologies.

Join us in Celebrating Dr. Wilson’s Achievements at the PMWC conference!
Register Early & SAVE HERE

Mark your calendars for the exciting 24th Precision Medicine World Conference (PMWC) 2025 happening February 5-7 at the Santa Clara Convention Center.

We are honoring two Nobel Laureates Carolyn Bertozzi and Drew Weissman as well as Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang and more.

PMWC 2025 is your chance to:

      ● Dive deep into groundbreaking research that’s reshaping medicine.
      ● Explore cutting-edge technologies that are changing the clinical practice.
      ● Network with leading experts / KOLs shaping the future of precision medicine.

I will be sending you exclusive updates packed with the most exciting PMWC 2025 highlights, each email spotlighting a different track, providing you with detailed insights into the groundbreaking sessions and distinguished speakers who will be joining us

Program Overview

We have curated an exceptional program that covers the latest advancements in precision medicine across various fields, here’s a glimpse of what to expect:

Track 1: Gene and Cell Therapies
      ● Day 1 (Feb 5): Rare Diseases
            ● Track Chairs: Yael Weiss, Mahzi Therapeutics, and Morten Sogaard, Astellas
            ● Luminary Honoree: Carolyn Bertozzi, Stanford (2022 Nobel Prize Winner – Developer of bioorthogonal chemistry that has significantly advanced the precision of targeted therapies)
            ● Pioneer Honoree: James M. Wilson, University of Pennsylvania (Groundbreaking work in viral vector-based gene therapies, significantly impacting the treatment of rare genetic diseases)
      ● Day 2 (Feb 6): Oncology
            ● Track Chair: Maggie Chapman, Labcorp
            ● Luminary Honorees: David R. Liu, Broad Institute (Developer of base editing and prime editing that revolutionized the field of gene editing); Crystal Mackall, Stanford (Developed advancements in CAR T-cell therapy, including innovative clinical trials and improved treatment protocols that have significantly enhanced patient outcomes in pediatric oncology)
            ● Pioneer Honoree: Drew Weissman, Penn Medicine (2023 Nobel Prize Winner – Developer of mRNA technology that revolutionized vaccine development and gene therapy)
      ● Day 3 (Feb 7): Pharmacogenomics (PGx)
            ● Track Chair: Kristine Ashcraft
            ● Luminary Honoree: Philip Empey, University of Pittsburgh (Contributions to the advancement and practical application of pharmacogenomics in clinical settings)
            ● Pioneer Honoree: Collen Masimirembwa, University of the Witwatersrand (Contributions to pharmacogenomics, in understanding genetic factors affecting drug response in diverse populations)

Track 2: AI and Data Science
      ● Day 1 (Feb 5): Clinical Practice
            ● Track Chair: TBA
      ● Day 2 (Feb 6): Real World Evidence / Data
            ● Track Chair: William Oh, Mount Sinai
            ● Pioneer Honoree: Isaac Kohane, Harvard Medical School (Contributions to precision medicine using EHRs and data science to enable personalized treatments)
      ● Day 3 (Feb 7): AI & Data Sciences in Drug Discovery & Clinical Research
            ● Track Chair: Gad Getz, Broad Institute
            ● Luminary Honoree: Jensen Huang, Nvidia (AI/HPC Champion for Next-Gen Precision Medicine)

Track 3: Clinical Diagnostics
      ● Day 1 (Feb 5): Oncology Applications
            ● Track Chair: Razelle Kurzrock, Medical College of Wisconsin
      ● Day 2 (Feb 6): Women’s Health
            ● Track Chairs: Yoel Sadovsky, UPMC, and Noel Bairey Merz, UCLA
      ● Day 3 (Feb 7): Infectious Diseases
            ● Track Chair: Charles Chiu, UCSF
            ● Pioneer Honoree: Julie Louise Gerberding, Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (Pioneered precision medicine at CDC, Merck, and FNIH)

Track 4: Next-Generation Technologies
      ● Day 1 (Feb 5): New Frontiers in Precision Medicine
            ● Track Chair: Keith Yamamoto, UCSF
            ● Pioneer Honoree: Robert Califf, FDA
      ● Day 2 (Feb 6): Clinical Utility of Liquid Biopsies
            ● Track Chair: Adrian Lee, UPMC
            ● Pioneer Honoree: Victor E. Velculescu, Johns Hopkins University (Pioneering ctDNA analysis for liquid biopsies: Revolutionizing cancer detection and personalized medicine)
      ● Day 3 (Feb 7): Multi-Omics & Wearables for Disease Intervention & Prevention
            ● Track Chair: TBA
            ● Pioneer Honoree: Michael Snyder, Stanford (Transformative work in genomics and wearable biosensors, catalyzing a shift towards predictive medicine)

Showcases
      ● Tracks 5-6 (S1-2): Company Presentations grouped by technology focus

Register Early & SAVE HERE

We encourage you to learn more about the program and register for the conference today with the early bird rate to secure your spot. Stay tuned for more updates as we finalize the program and announce additional speakers. We look forward to seeing you at PMWC February 5-7, 2025 Silicon Valley, where we will continue to push the boundaries of precision medicine together.

Kind regards,

Tal Behar

President & Co-founder, PMWC
PMWC 2025 Silicon Valley – February 5-7, 2025

The Precision Medicine World Conference (PMWC)