Bob Smith, Senior Vice President, Gene Therapy and Rare Disease, Commercial Strategy and Innovation at Pfizer, Inc., will deliver a keynote address at the Symposium on Tuesday, October 25.
Mr. Smith is an accomplished biopharmaceutical executive with over 30 years’ experience in a variety of alliance management, business development, commercial, corporate, and research and development roles.
In his current position, he is responsible for leading Pfizer’s Gene Therapy and Rare Disease portfolio from a strategic development and operational implementation perspective and for leading Pfizer’s end-to-end efforts to be an industry leader in gene therapy. Mr. Smith is also responsible for leading the Gene Therapy and Rare Disease Early Commercial Development activities in partnership with the Rare Disease Research Unit.
“Bob is a leader in advancing gene therapy for many challenging disorders, and we are honored he has agreed to speak at the Symposium,” said Foundation Chairman Neal F. Kassell, MD. “We believe that focused ultrasound has a role to play in the field as it has potential to enhance the effectiveness and safety of gene therapy by serving as a platform for delivering and activating various agents.”
Previously, Mr. Smith was responsible for leading and managing the Global Mergers and Acquisitions group at Wyeth and joined Pfizer after they acquired Wyeth in October 2009. Since then, he has held a number of senior roles at Pfizer, including leading the Worldwide Business Development activities for the company’s Worldwide Research and Development organization, and its Animal Health, Capsugel, Consumer Healthcare, and Nutrition Business Units.
Mr. Smith serves or has served as a member of the Board of Directors of AM Pharma B.V., Bamboo Therapeutics Inc., Ignite Immunotherapeutics Inc., Iterum Therapeutics Limited, Life Sciences PA – the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Association, Bio NJ – the New Jersey State Biotechnology Association, the Duke Margolis Value Based Agreements Advisory Board, the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM), and the Foundation for Cell and Gene Medicine (FCGM). He is also a member of the Executive Committees of the ARM and FCGM Board of Directors, and he serves as the Chair of the ARM Board’s Governance and Operations Committee.
He earned a BS in Neuroscience from the University of Rochester and an MBA in Finance and Corporate Accounting from the William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Rochester.
The Foundation’s 8th International Symposium on Focused Ultrasound will be held October 23-27, 2022. The event will take place in-person in Bethesda, Maryland. Virtual attendance is also available.