MOFO Series Part 2 - Startup Spotlight: Strategies, Stories, and Solutions

Date: June 11, 2025 @ 3:00 pm – @ 6:30 pm
Location: Morrison Foerster Palo Alto office: 755 Page Mill Rd A, Palo Alto, CA 94304

Morrison Foerster and CABS invite you to two exclusive events that discuss Intellectual Property (IP) essentials and startup strategies for Life Sciences Innovators!

• Do you ever find IP concepts overwhelming and difficult to navigate?

• Are you considering or currently in the process of launching a company but not 100% where to begin?

• Are you a business developer, investor, or exploring a transition into these roles? 

• Or are you simply curious about the behind-the-scenes – how to license a IP from academia, what to watch out for, and what is the step-by-step process of building a company with the IP. 

Two expert-led, hands-on workshops will provide a clear roadmap for understanding IP fundamentals and strategic consideration in the step-by-step process of company formation, fundraising and exit planning. Successful entrepreneurs and seasoned investors will share their stories, key lessons, and insights into today’s evolving landscape. 

Whether you're an entrepreneur, scientist, or industry professional, this series will equip you with the essential knowledge to build and protect innovation in the life sciences sector.

Join us to gain practical insights, real-world strategies, and expert guidance to navigate the intersection of intellectual property and biotech entrepreneurship.

Wednesday, June 11, 2025 | 3:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.: Startup Spotlight: Strategies, Stories, and Solutions

Morrison Foerster partners Jim Ryan and Stephanie Sharron will share practical guidance on company formation, fundraising, and start-up traps for the unwary tailored for life sciences startups. Learn key life sciences transactional issues and navigate around the potential pitfalls life sciences start-ups often face.

Dr. David Shen will lead a fireside chat spotlighting the success story of Proteologix, which was acquired by Johnson & Johnson for $850 millions. The fireside chat will be followed by a panel discussion with all speakers including Dr. Josh Xiao, a veteran entrepreneur and a well-recognized mentor for entrepreneurs.

3: 00-3:15 pm: Check-in and Introduction 

3: 15-4: 15 pm: Formation, Fundraising, and Licensing in Life Sciences - Jim Ryan and Stephanie Sharron 

4: 15-4: 30 pm: Break 

4: 30-5: 30 pm: Fireside chat with Dr. David Shen, The Success Story of Proteologix 

5: 30-6: 30 pm: Panel discussion- David Shen, Jim Ryan, Stephanie Sharron, Josh Xiao

David Shen, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Propeller Bio

Dr. David W. Shen is an entrepreneur in Biotech and a leading expert in Biologics, with a proven track record of advancing drug pipelines from discovery to clinical proof-of-concept. As Founder and CEO of Proteologix, he led the company’s breakthrough work in bispecific antibody therapeutics in immunology and inflammation, culminating in its $850 million plus milestone acquisition by Johnson & Johnson in June 2024.

Previously, Dr. Shen held executive roles from SVP, Global VP, Department Head at NGM Biopharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Merck, and Amgen. Throughout his career, he played a key role in advancing several antibody drug candidates from research to clinical development and regulatory approval, including multi-billion dollar market drugs like evolucumab (anti-PCSK9), romosozumab (anti-sclerostin) and denosumab (anti-RANKL).

Innovatively blending his scientific and industrial vision, he has discovered new technologies, holding more than 20 patents and also numerable peer-reviewed publications. In February 2025, he embarked on his newest venture as Founder and CEO of Propeller Bio.

Jim Ryan, J.D., Partner 

Jim Ryan is a partner in Morrison Foerster's Transactions Department. His practice focuses on domestic and cross-border corporate and securities matters, including venture capital and private equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, securities compliance, and corporate governance.

Jim represents entrepreneurs, startups and emerging companies as outside general counsel, venture capital and private equity investors, and financial and strategic acquirers across the technology, media, telecommunications, and life sciences industries. His clients operate in a variety of sectors including machine learning and artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous vehicles, cybersecurity, data analytics, fintech, e-commerce, gaming, life sciences, and medical devices.

Stephanie Sharron, J.D., Partner 

Stephanie has over two decades of experience working with clients on the complex technology, IP, and data rights issues across technology and business sectors, with a focus on artificial intelligence, including: pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, medical devices, healthcare, and digital health, among others. Stephanie served on the Responsible AI Venture Council, part of the recently launched Lucas Institute for Venture Ethics at Santa Clara University’s Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. Stephanie also helps lead the Firm’s Responsible Tech group as a member of the global Environmental, Social, and Governance steering committee.

In addition to publishing on a variety of legal topics related to AI, since 2016, Stephanie has taught as a guest lecturer on a broad variety of subjects, including AI, data rights and other IP-related topics and has taught in Cornell Law School’s Technology and Entrepreneurship LLM program at CornellTech since the program’s inception nine years ago.

Josh Xiao, Ph.D.,Entrepreneur-in-Residence at RA Ventures (RAVen)

Josh Xiao is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at RA Ventures (RAVen), the NewCo incubator of RA Capital. He helps to startup NewCos, and is a member of the founding team of a stealth biotech startup. Prior to joining Raven, Josh served as Vice President and Head of Research at Binacea Pharma, a clinical stage biotech with a focus on first-in-class bi-/multi-specific conditional-active biologics for immuno oncology and autoimmune diseases. Prior to that, Josh led data driven antibody target and drug discovery at Amgen, where he led several antibody projects in both ADC and CD3 bispecifics. Josh has also previously worked at several additional startups. Josh earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and completed his post-doctoral training in Dr. James Manley’s lab at Columbia University.

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