Designing Healthier Products: From Molecule to Market | Milan Longevity Summit 2026

*How does a scientific discovery become a product capable of improving millions of lives?* Between identifying a promising molecule and delivering a successful health solution lies one of innovation's most complex journeys: translating science into products that are effective, scalable, investable, and capable of reaching the people who need them. In this panel from the *Vitality Stage at the Milan Longevity Summit 2026*, *Lorenzo Wittum, Colby Kash, Asaph Aharoni, and Bart Van Hooland* join moderator *Ludovico Baldassin* to explore the path from biological discovery to market, and how new approaches across life sciences and the bioeconomy are changing what we can build. The conversation brings together perspectives from *pharmaceutical development, scientific research, biotechnology, entrepreneurship, and venture investment*. Where are the most promising biological discoveries emerging? How do we identify which discoveries have genuine commercial and health potential? What does it take to move from research into product development? And how can investors, scientists, startups, and established companies work together to overcome the long timelines, scientific uncertainty, regulatory complexity, and capital requirements involved? The panel also looks at how innovation itself is evolving. Advances in biology, data, engineering, and new technology platforms are expanding the possibilities for developing products derived from or inspired by living systems, creating new opportunities across health, nutrition, prevention, and biotechnology. But discovery alone is not enough. Creating impact requires connecting *science with product design, capital, regulation, manufacturing, market access, and ultimately adoption*. *Speakers:* • Lorenzo Wittum – VP Global, Vaccine & Immune Therapies, AstraZeneca • Colby Kash – Chief Executive Officer, Camelot BioCapital • Asaph Aharoni – Principal Investigator, Weizmann Institute • Bart Van Hooland – Managing Partner, THIA Ventures • Moderated by Ludovico Baldassin – Chief Executive Officer, Jakin Ultimately, the journey from molecule to market is where scientific possibility meets real-world complexity. *The next generation of healthier products will depend not only on what we can discover, but on how effectively we can turn those discoveries into solutions that reach people and create measurable impact.* *Powered by Roche* _The *Vitality Stage* at the Milan Longevity Summit explores how innovation moves from ideas and scientific breakthroughs into the markets, technologies, products, services, and business models shaping healthier lives and a healthier planet:_ *Learn more about the Milan Longevity Summit:* https://www.milanlongevitysummit.org/speakers26 #MilanLongevitySummit #Bioeconomy #Biotechnology #LifeSciences #HealthInnovation #Biotech #ProductInnovation #FutureOfHealth #Vitality #Innovation