Webinar: From Discovery to Delivery: AI and U.S. Manufacturing Powering the Next Wave of Therapeutics
Thursday, October 16th | 12pm ET/9am PT | Online
AI and U.S. Manufacturing Powering the Next Wave of Therapeutics
Discover how AI and U.S. manufacturing are revolutionizing drug development and delivery.
At this webinar, attendees can expect to hear about:
- Why drug delivery is often overlooked in early development—and the risks that it creates downstream.
- How AI approaches are reshaping drug development and accelerating timelines.
- Key manufacturing bottlenecks and the advantages of reshoring to the U.S.
- How integrating delivery, AI, and domestic manufacturing early can de-risk programs and speed therapies to clinic.
Meet the Speakers
Jessica Martin Eckerly
CEO, Forward Biolabs
Throughout her career, Jessica Martin Eckerly has been bringing brilliant discoveries from academic labs into the marketplace where they can solve problems and improve lives. With Forward BIOLABS, she saw an opportunity to create a valuable asset for the bioscience startup ecosystem by enabling early-stage companies to operate efficiently, cultivate relationships, and collaborate within the nurturing environment while advancing cutting-edge technologies. She brings a strong track record of successful life sciences and medtech management experience and innovation expertise in settings including start-up (Stratatech, acquired by Mallinckrodt), established company (contract research organization PPD), and non-profits (internationally recognized WiCell). Sharing her passion for entrepreneurship, Jessica serves on the Advisory Board for WiSys’s Venture Home and as an Adjunct Professor teaching biotech business strategy for the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. She was recognized as a Madison area “40 under 40” award recipient and was a fellow with the venture capital firm Bascom Ventures. Jessica is a proud double Badger, earning both an Executive MBA and a MS in Biotechnology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A former Ironman triathlete and marathoner, Jessica keeps active with her family by spending time outdoors camping and hiking.
Justin Byers
CEO & Founder, Axio BioPharma
Justin Byers is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Axio BioPharma, an AI biomanufacturing company revolutionizing how monoclonal antibodies are developed and produced. Based in Madison, Wisconsin, Axio launched in 2024 with a mission to accelerate and de-risk the development of recombinant proteins and monoclonal antibodies through AI-driven process design and U.S.-based manufacturing.
Under Justin’s leadership, Axio has pioneered a data-rich, machine learning–powered approach that reduces process development timelines from years to days unlocking faster, more cost-efficient pathways for biotech partners. He has steered the company’s rapid growth, from establishing its state-of-the-art facilities to securing strategic partnerships, including collaborations to advance next-generation drug delivery technologies.
With a background at the intersection of biomanufacturing, technology, and entrepreneurship, Justin brings a vision of scaling biologics development with speed, reliability, and accessibility. He is committed to building Axio into a trusted partner for innovators worldwide, combining scientific rigor with cutting-edge AI to bring life-changing therapies to patients faster.
Lisa Stehno-Bittel
CEO & Founder, Likarda
Dr. Stehno-Bittel is founder of Likarda and serves as the President. She launched the company over seven years ago based on her extensive research and built a dedicated team of scientists at Likarda that advance the science and technology of CSS drug delivery and logistical optimization for cell therapy and biologics. That innovative spirit continues with numerous new inventions and awards including Ingram’s Magazine’s “50 Kansans You Should Know” and the Women in Medicine and Science Sirridge award for female role models. Most recently, the Women We Admire Organization named Stehno-Bittel one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in the state.
Register for the webinar today
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