Rare Cancers: Special Considerations for Complex Clinical Studies

Deb Kientop, Vice President, Strategic Development, Oncology, Synteract

Deb Kientop, MBA brings over 25 years of experience in oncology drug development, starting in the cancer research labs at the University of Wisconsin, and moving into business development, medical affairs and clinical development roles within pharma and CRO. Her career has included thought leader engagement, product lifecycle planning, strategy development and execution for proposals and bid defenses, and corporate strategy and alliance management. Through her work with oncology investigators and patient advocacy organizations, she has been able to incorporate insights into patient-centric development strategies. Kientop is also a published author and cancer patient advocate.

Prior to joining Synteract, Kientop was the Vice President of Life Sciences at Inteliquet, a healthcare technology company. Previously, she held senior director strategy positions at two large CROs, as well as numerous biopharmaceutical organizations including MedImmune, MGI Pharma and Eisai.

Kientop holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology and Toxicology and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin.

Marie Bonneterre, Vice President, Medical Affairs, Oncology, Synteract

Dr. Marie-Edith A. Bonneterre is board-certified in Medical Oncology. She was trained at the Paris Diderot and Paris Sud Universities and also holds a University Degree in Bioethics and a master’s degree in Marketing and Management from the HEC Business School.

Dr. Bonneterre brings a mixture of experience, focusing on clinical development in both pharmaceutical and hospital settings. Recently as an independent advisor, she was Head of Strategic Development with Pharma Mar S.A. in Madrid, Spain until 2017. She acquired CRO experience through her role as Senior Medical Director of Global Drug Development for a large CRO from 2011 to 2014. She also served as Global Medical Director in Oncology and Hematology at Genzyme Corporation in Oncology-Hematology global development, and prior to that with Novartis and Sanofi.

In the academic setting, Dr. Bonneterre created and directed the Clinical Research Unit of the Oscar Lambret Cancer Centre, the Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Northern France for over eight years. As a full-time clinician and head of this unit, she was in charge of organizing and coordinating the clinical research of the institution on a national and international basis.

Dr. Bonneterre was elected a member of the French departmental Board of Physicians and was also for many years, an expert for the French Drug Agency in the Drug Usage & Advertisement Control Commission and the Clinical Trials Commission. She has contributed to 166 scientific presentations and publications, to the direction of 33 graduation assays or thesis and is a full member of main scientific organizations such as ASCO, AACR, ASH and ESMO.

Rachael Young, Director, Feasibility, Synteract

Rachael is an experienced feasibility strategist with over eight years of industry experience focused on the development of complex, data-driven feasibility strategies to support robust clinical trial planning. She works in a cross-therapeutic team supporting all stages of feasibility from early pre-award study planning through to site identification, selection and initiation. With expertise across multiple therapeutic areas

Rachael is able to analyze wide data sets to inform evidence-based and data-driven decision making ensuring effective strategies are implemented bespoke to the clinical program. Her passion lies in rare and orphan drug development, whereby understanding a multitude of unique factors is critical to overcoming study obstacles and ultimately ensuring patients gain access to these life changing trials.