Conference & Networking

What Pharma Wants: Positioning Psychedelic Assets for Partnership & Acquisition

Date:
4/8/2026 5:00 PM
-
8:00 pm
Location:
10918 Technology Pl, San Diego, CA 92127

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)
  • Jaqueline 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!

Register

Agenda

Prizes

  • $10K in office/lab space
  • $5,000 Legal Services
  • $5,000 Tax Services
  • $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.
  • $20k in office/lab space
  • Digital Marketing and Branding Services (worth $5,000)
  • $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
  • Exploratory biostatistics package: 3 reports
  • $10,000+ in Strategic Go-to-Market Engineering
  • Membership to Mayo Clinic Innovation Exchange
  • 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

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MC/MODERATOR

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.

STARTUP SHOWCASE

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JUDGES

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Judges

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