Due to the ongoing public health crisis, Life Science PA had to convert their annual awards dinner into a virtual celebration. The video below features several Penn spinouts and partners including:
- Scientific Achievement Award: Dr. Jean Bennett, a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. Bennett’s lab developed the gene therapy treatment for an inherited retinal disorder, which leads to blindness, that was licensed to Spark Therapeutics and became its flagship product Luxturna.
- Deal of the Year: Roche’s acquisition of Spark Therapeutics. Roche of Basel, Switzerland, completed its $4.3 billion purchase of Spark, a Philadelphia-based gene therapy pioneer, in December. Spark, which has grown to more than 450 employees, is still based in the city and operates as a subsidiary of Roche.
- Frank Baldino CEO Award: Usman “Oz” Azam, the chairman and CEO of Tmunity Therapeutics, a Philadelphia cell and gene biotherapeutics company that has manufacturing operations in East Norriton.