CerFlux CEO to Lead Distinguished Panel on Personalized Precision Oncology at BIO 2025

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., (April 23, 2025) – For the fourth consecutive year, Dr. Karim I. Budhwani, CEO-Scientist of CerFlux and Chair of BIO Alabama, will lead a panel of distinguished experts discussing the future of personalized precision oncology at the BIO International Convention, the world's largest biotechnology conference. The panel discussion titled, "From Discovery to Deals: Bridging the Valley-of-Death with a Molecule-to-Medicine Expressway," will take place on June 17, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM Eastern Time at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

​​

The panel will address a critical challenge in oncology drug development: despite over $90 billion invested annually in R&D, the industry continues to face a staggering 96% failure rate. Dr. Budhwani and his fellow panelists will explore how emerging technologies can transform the current "valley of death" into an efficient pathway for bringing promising cancer treatments to market.

​

Joining Dr. Budhwani on this prestigious panel are industry leaders: 

• Dr. Kara Bortone, Johnson & Johnson

• Dr. Sandeep M. Menon, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

• Dr. Maggie Scully, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research

• Dr. Christopher J. Mortko, Merck

​​

"Year after year, we witness tremendous investments in cancer research with disappointingly low success rates. Rather than accepting high failure rates as inevitable, we need to fundamentally rethink our approach," said Dr. Budhwani. "Our panel will examine how cutting-edge biomedical engineering, AI/ML technologies, personalized medicine approaches, and strategic collaborations can create a more efficient pathway from discovery to market, making these innovations accessible even to smaller biopharma companies."

 

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Cancer accounts for a $2.5 trillion annual global economic impact, with nearly 2 million people diagnosed every year in the US alone. For patients, the cost of treatment is often overwhelming, with 42% wiping out their life savings in just two years after diagnosis.

 

"Cancer remains one of the most devastating health challenges facing our communities, affecting countless families across Alabama and beyond,” noted Alabama Governor Kay Ivey. “The pioneering work being done in biotechnology represents not only hope for patients but also significant economic growth potential for our state. I'm proud that Alabama’s own Dr. Budhwani continues to lead this critical global conversation at the intersection of cutting-edge cancer research and biotechnology innovation, representing Alabama's growing presence in the life sciences sector on the world stage."

 

The panel discussion will offer attendees actionable insights into de-risking oncology assets earlier in development, creating more compelling partnering opportunities, and implementing novel approaches that can dramatically improve success rates. Participants will leave with practical strategies they can implement regardless of company size or resources – a critical advantage, especially in the current funding environment where investors must navigate greater uncertainty and thereby increase emphasis on de-risking assets and accelerated market entry timelines.

 

This session marks Dr. Budhwani's fourth year leading discussions on personalized precision oncology at BIO, highlighting his ongoing commitment to advancing this vital field. The BIO International Convention is expected to draw approximately 20,000 industry leaders from across the globe, representing the full ecosystem of biotechnology innovation.

​

For additional information on the panel and speaker profiles, please visit: https://convention.bio.org/program-1/discovery-deals-bridging-valley-death-molecule-medicine-expressway 

​

About CerFlux, Inc.

CerFlux, Inc. is a Birmingham (Alabama) based cancer biotech company. CerFlux is creating advanced, personalized medicine solutions, including its patented ChipMux® biopsy-on-a-chip for simultaneously testing multiple anticancer agents directly on standard-of-care tumor biopsy tissue. Our goal is to apply this biopsy-on-a-chip technology across the cancer care continuum; from improving AI in cancer drug response prediction with PROPHET, predicting clinical efficacy for preclinical compounds with PEER to improving clinical trials with POETRY and identifying the most effective cancer treatments for each patient on an individualized basis with POET. By building solutions that quickly and clearly separate optimal from ineffective options, we will improve treatment outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients.

​​

About BIO

BIO is the world’s largest advocacy association representing biotechnology companies, academic and research institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. 

 

Additional Information

To request collateral materials for publication or to schedule interviews with principals from CerFlux, Inc., please contact Dr. M. Grace Albright at mga@CerFlux.com for availability.