Wednesday, October 21, 2026
9:00 AM-9:30 AM
Registration and networking
9:30 AM-9:35 AM
GCR welcome remarks
9:35 AM-9:45 AM
Chairs’ welcome remarks
David Blackburn
Managing Director, NERA
Rahul Rao
Partner, White & Case
9:45 AM-10:45 AM
Dealmaking, pipelines, and regulatory risk – the current life sciences M&A landscape
- The resurgence of life sciences dealmaking in 2026, and the drivers behind renewed M&A activity
- Agency scrutiny of transactions involving pipeline products and future competition
- What the shift from transformative “megadeals” to targeted acquisitions of specialised firms means for the future of M&A deals
Kristin Sanford
Partner, Weil, Gotshal & Manges
David Gonen
Partner, Katten Muchin Rosenman
Elizabeth Porfido
Corporate Counsel - Antitrust, Pfizer
Meghan Rissmiller
Partner, Freshfields
Paul Wong
Managing Director, NERA
10:45 AM-11:05 AM
Networking break
11:05 AM-11:55 AM
Global antitrust trends reshaping the life sciences market
- How tariffs and trade policy are impacting pharmaceutical supply chains and investment strategies
- China’s rise as a biotech innovation and licensing powerhouse
- The latest enforcement developments from European regulators, and how their proposed merger guidelines may impact deals in the US
Rahul Rao
Partner, White & Case
Robin Adelstein
Global Head of Antitrust and Competition, Norton Rose Fulbright
John W. Elias
Partner and Head of Antitrust and Competition, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
Josh Sherman
Vice President, Charles River Associates
11:55 AM-12:55 PM
Networking lunch
12:55 PM-1:55 PM
Innovation or exclusion? Antitrust, patents, and data in the next era of drug development
- Key takeaways from the Amitiza verdict – what does it mean for future enforcement?
- Can the proposed ETHIC Act unlock competition in pharmaceuticals by limiting patent thickets, or will it create unintended consequences for R&D?
- The evolving development between IP rights and antitrust enforcement in life sciences
Eric Stock
Partner, Gibson Dunn
Kira Stearns
Senior Consultant, NERA
Christopher Wilson
Partner, Baker Botts
Saami Zain
Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Bureau, Office of the New York State Attorney General
1:55 PM-2:00 PM
Chairs’ closing remarks
David Blackburn
Managing Director, NERA
Rahul Rao
Partner, White & Case
2:00 PM-2:05 PM
GCR closing remarks
