Panel on investing in life sciences companies opens 'Bio-Haven '99' series

A seminar series titled "Bio-Haven '99: Helping Put Bio-tech into Business," will begin on Monday, Nov. 16, with a panel discussion titled "Venture Capital and Investing in the Life Sciences."

The panel will be led by James C. Blair, a general partner of Domain Associates, a venture capital management company. It will take place at 5:30 p.m. in Rm. 216 of the Jane Ellen Hope Building, 315 Cedar St. Panelists will include Kevin Rakin, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Genaissance Pharmaceuticals; Ronald W. Lennox, a partner at the venture capital investment firm of Collinson Howe & Lennox; and Frank Marco, a partner at the law firm of Day, Berry & Howard and chair of the Emerging Companies Practice Group.

Blair has been general partner of Domain Associates since its founding in 1985 and a principal partner and U.S. venture capital advisor to Biotechnology Investments Limited since that fund began in 1981. In the past 30 years, Blair has been involved in the creation and successful development of more than 30 life sciences ventures. A former managing director of Rothschild Inc., Blair was directly involved at a senior level with Rothschild/New Court venture capital activities 1978-85.

Other speakers and their topics are:

Jan. 11 -- Stelios Papadopoulos, managing director of health care at PaineWebber, Inc., "Financial Strategies in Biotechnology";

April 22 -- Mark Simon, managing director and co-head of investment banking in life sciences at BancBoston Robertson Stephens, "New Trends in Biotech Venture Formation"; and

June 17 -- Andrew Gorman, director of worldwide licensing at Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., "Pharmaceutical Licensing Trends, Strategies and Practices."

The series is sponsored by Yale, the Connecticut Venture Group and the MIT Enterprise Forum. Each seminar will begin at 5:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required. Call (203) 934-8035 to register.