Dr Joël Richard is currently Senior Vice President, Peptides in IPSEN (France). He is globally leading all the pharmaceutical development activities of both injectable and oral peptide-based products, including APIs and drug products, with major franchises in Oncology, Endocrinology and Neurology. Dr Richard has more than 25 years of experience in chemistry and biopharmaceutical R&D, including several previous global senior positions in various Biotech and Pharma companies, such as: - Vice President, Drug Product Development in Ipsen (France) (2008-2011), - Director, Pharmaceutical Development in Serono and Merck Serono (Italy, Germany) (2005-2008), - Vice President Research, and Europe R&D Director at Ethypharm (France) (2001-2004), - COO at Mainelab (France), a drug delivery company he co-founded, which was specialized in developing solvent-free processes for protein delivery systems (1999-2001). Dr Richard graduated from Ecole Normale Supérieure (Cachan, 1985). He has got a PhD in Materials & Colloidal Science (University of Paris VI, 1987) and “Habilitation à Diriger les Recherches†in Chemistry (University of Bordeaux I, 1994).