Wilfried DANG

I advise biopharmaceutical, biotech, and Tech-Bio companies in strategic decisions, initiatives and campaigns

For more than 15 years, I've been working with international clients on a range of projects, gathering experience in diverse areas. I look forward to hearing about your project and plan its success together. 

Work Experience

2022-2025

Director BD, Discovery and Early R&D, Owkin - FR

Shaped, promoted the Discovery and Early R&D capabilities, train the BD team, and contributed to Owkin discovery roadmap.

Mapped the Owkin environment, with good market understanding to position at best internal assets.

Built and promoted new offerings according to the R&D roadmap

Revised deal structure, exclusivities and push collaboration and strategic alliances with higher deal value

Publicized and built the Discovery sales pack and train the BD team to the new value proposition with new licensing skills and IP deal structures.

Defined priorities with scientific leads and the BD team to achieve company objectives

Collaborated with key stakeholders to draft the overall biotech strategy with the business value proposition

Identified relevant opportunities to strengthen Owkin’s value proposition in discovery and early R&D (acquisition/in-licensing of complementary assets, investments in key companies, …)

Participated in the definition and building of the proprietary discovery/drug pipeline (market opportunities and assessment)

Designed and structured term sheets and contract negotiations for druggable target discoveries, drug positioning and clinical trial optimization activities in close collaboration with project leaders and clients in oncology and Immuno-inflammatory (I&I) diseases.

Participated in signing one of the strategic alliances with Servier.

Participated in the in-licensing of the EP2/EP4 (OKN4395)

Participated in and managed cross-functional teams.

Built and managed key customer relationships.

2020-2021

Chief Business Officer, Cytoo SA - FR

In this position, as Executive Committee Member, I led a team of  3 BDs and sales people.

Reorganize and professionalize the Business Development department to signe the first licence deals. .

Managed the forecast and budget, with monthly reporting to the CEO

Identified new partners and secured several first R&D and license agreements

Went over the 2020 sales objective (+135% compared to 2019) of the company in a 6-month period during a challenging context (Covid-19 Lockdown).

Q1-2021 turn-over equivalent to 2019 sales. 2021 Net results increased by 1100% compared to 2020

Breakeven confirmed and ongoing net profit growth with a new business model established.

2019-2020

Director BD, Merck/EMD - FR

Hired to lead the CHOZN^® licensing and CLD services within the EMEA area

Identified main licensing issues in license agreements and was on the way to improving agreement templates before first Covid Lockdown.

2017-2019 

Global Head BD, EB66 Business Unit - Valneva SE - FR

Responsible for the EBx^® platform business Worldwide, resulting in the entire EB66 portfolio management (Patents, agreements, and R&D programs), in close relationship with Legal, IP, and Finance departments, including alliance management over the 35 license agreements, generating several million revenues each year.

Researched and built internal business cases to enter new markets (gene therapy, oncolytic viruses, ...)

Valuation of the EB66^® cell line business and forecasts; advised C-Level management in the reorganization of R&D to support the business line.

Four deals from initial scouting to final signature with global organizations and non-for-profit organizations well known in those new markets.

Led the negotiation of the amended and restated agreement with JSB.

Valuation of the “Lab-grown meat” market, prospection and negotiation with management.

2013-2017

BD & Project Manager, Valneva SE - FR

In this position, I :

Designed and structured term sheets and contract negotiations for cell line development activities in close collaboration with project leaders and customers.

Participated in and managed cross-functional teams.

Prioritized programs and activities using effective internal communication skills to achieve projects on time and within allocated budgets.

Collaborated in specific teams, providing recommendations on team structure and responsibilities.

Responsible for EB66^® cell line and IC31^® adjuvant out-licensing in North America, Europe, and Asia resulting over 4 years in the signature of 35 research, services and commercial agreements with human and veterinary health companies, securing several millions euros in immediate revenues.

Proven strategic skills in the areas of deal structuring and negotiating, including research and commercial license agreements with global organizations such as Eli Lilly, Zoetis, MSD, Boehringer, and also non-profit organizations, demonstrating flexibility in finding win-win deals where negotiations had been stalled. 

Supported the VP Business Development in the negotiation with Jianshun Biosciences (JSB-China) resulting in the signature of a regional exclusive €3 M upfront deal with future payment obligations.

·Identification and evaluation of new market opportunities, including scouting activities and in-license early-stage vaccine candidates in key strategic areas (Zika, and chikungunya vaccine candidates).

Lead the launch of the anti-CD47 asset program and responsible for the draft of its Target Product Profile.

Building and managing key account customer relationships, including license management, partner support, and cross-functional activities with R&D to solve licensee technical challenges and develop future license opportunities.

2010-2013

BD, Legal and IP counsel, Vivalis SA

In this position, I:

supported the business development, intellectual property, and legal teams, first to identify new partnering opportunities for a cell-based platform for manufacturing monoclonal antibodies (EB66^® cells), and recommend two antibody discovery platforms for acquisition to C-level management.

Provided market landscape analysis, and competitive and industry intelligence to senior management for strategic and tactical decision-making, including EB66^® cell line licensing and monoclonal antibody discovery, resulting in multi millions euros  of work.

Designed and structured over 14 term sheets and contract negotiation strategies for EB66^® cell line programs, resulting in over 7 new agreements in close collaboration with C-level management, senior members of business development, finance, and project leaders.

Responsible for managing payment obligations of over 30 agreements, which included, invention disclosures, and other annual reporting requirements.

Drafted all company confidentiality and material transfer agreements.

Part of the due diligence team for the Vivalis-Intercell merger, performing valuation analysis of Vivalis.

Education

2017

Terrapin - London (UK)

Masterclass - Valuation of Pharmaceutical Licences

2013

Insitut Européen Entreprise et Propriété Intellectuelle - FR

New trends and Technics in Licensing Practices

2008-2010

Tours University - FR

Master's Degree in Biotechnologies and Law

2006-2008
Tours University - FR

MSc in Infectious Diseases, Immunology and Vaccinology

2005-2006
Tours University - FR

Bachelor of Sciences in Genetics (BSc)

Scope of Expertise

Scouting, Market Analysis & Valuation

IP & Tech Transfer

Agreement Writing & Negotiations

Merger & Acquistions

Licensing & Partnership Agreements

Cross Functional Team Management

Business Plan, Forecast and P&L Analysis

Management & Mentoring

Cell Line Development and Biological Manufacturing

Vaccines, mAbs, Gene Therapies & Oncolytic Viruses

Infectious, I&I, Metabolic and Neuromuscular Diseases

Target / Drug Discovery, Drug Development

Artificial Intelligence, Federated, Machine & Deep Learning