June 2022

• New formats for bispecific antibodies delivering a new wave of cancer therapies   
• Development of bispecifics for solid tumours   
• Trispecific T cell engagers for solid tumours  

Discussion Leaders:

• Slobodanka Dina Manceva, Senior Scientist, Teva Pharma
• W. Blaine Stine, Senior Director, Abbvie
• Laura von Schantz, Vice President of Discovery, Alligator Bioscience

Discussion Topics:

May 2022

• Presentation: “Industry Overview of Oral Peptides Delivery” by Nazneen Dewji, President and CEO, at Cenna Biosciences 
• Key challenges: absorption, permeability, and enzymatic degradation 
• Strategies to overcome the challenges and improve the oral bioavailability of peptides  
• Peptide engineering 
• Permeation enhancer-based delivery systems
• Devices and examples of approved oral peptide products

Discussion Leaders:

• Nazneen Dewji, President and CEO, Cenna Biosciences

• Aktham Aburub, Senior Research Fellow – Synthetic Molecule Design and Development, Eli Lilly
• Wu Su, Director of Medicinal Chemistry, Team Leader in New Modalities Medicinal Chemistry, AstraZeneca

April 2022

Discussion Topics:

• Presentation: “Using AI for de novo antibody design”, by Philip M. Kim, Professor, The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research at the University of Toronto 
• Best practice implementation of ML/AI methods & technologies  
• AI/ML supporting the development of next gen therapeutics

Discussion Leaders:

• Slobodanka Dina Manceva, Senior Scientist, Teva Pharm 
• W. Blaine Stine, Senior Director, Abbvie  
• Philip M. Kim, Professor, The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto

March 2022

Discussion Points:

• Presentation: “Sustainability Considerations for High Volume Oligonucleotides”, by Louis Diorazio, Senior Principal Scientist, New Modalities at AstraZeneca
• Designing the synthesis of oligos for large-scale manufacturing  
• Opportunities in pharmaceutical practise: chromatography, synthetic chemistry, enzymatic & continuous methods, and lower dosage 
• Technical challenges: solvent and water consumption 
• Astra Zeneca Case Study: Provision of Building Blocks 

   

Discussion Group Leaders:

• Louis Diorazio, Senior Principal Scientist, New Modalities at AstraZeneca 
• Martin Olbrich, Principal Scientist at F. Hoffmann-La Roche
• Ben Andrews, Investigator, Chemical Development, Product Development and Supply at GSK

February 2022

Discussion Topics:

• Presentation: “Industry Insights in T-Cell Redirection”, by Gosia Nocula-Lugowska, Senior Principal Scientist at BioMedicine Design Pfizer 
• Assessing specificity  
• NK cell engagers: which trigger receptor should be addressed 

Discussion Leaders:

• Gosia Nocula-Lugowska, Senior Principal Scientist, BioMedicine Design Pfizer
• W. Blaine Stine, Senior Director, Abbvie 

January 2022

Discussion Topics:

• Presentation: “Recombinant peptides expressed in E-coli: A Case Study”, by Cécile Brocard, Head of Downstream Development, at Boehringer Ingelheim 
• Peptide Synthesis: Bottlenecks and Recombinant Opportunities 
• Evolution towards green synthesis  
• Modification and formulation: possibilities of oral delivery 

October 2021

Biotherapeutics representing an exciting class of modalities have been gaining renewed attention over the past few years, though challenges still remain. Their analytical development is one area with a lot of promise thanks to new platforms and softwares available. In addition to this, there are advancements pertaining to their characterisation and using of AI/ML. This live session brings together experts to look at the latest developments in the field for an hour of a discussion on automation, instrumentation, real-time release testing, and novel technologies.

Panel Discussion: Analytical Development for Diverse Modalities

• Analytical method development for protein therapeutics and other biologics 
• Novel analytical methods  
• Mass spec-based assay development  
• Automation
• Characterisation  
• Instrumentation 
• Real-time release testing  
• Novel technologies, digital transformation

   

Moderator: Amy Than, Senior Principal Scientist, Pfizer

Panellists:

• Rachel Chen, Senior Scientist, Analytical Development, Biogen  
• Galahad Deperalta, Senior Scientist, Genentech

September 2021

With the recent advancements of antibody engineering technologies, techniques and methods, the market has seen an expansion. This growth is largely attributed to our better understanding of new modalities, smarter ways of choosing our targets and ensuring their quality, though challenges still remain. Our September discussion groups brings together an exclusive panel of key opinion leaders discussing the key factors behind the market’s growth, its priorities, future outlook & challenges.

Presentation: Antibody Discovery At Novo Nordisk

• Complementary technical approaches
• Current initiatives to develop better antibodies faster

Speaker: Erik Vernet, Director, Antibody technology, Novo Nordisk

Panel Discussion: Oral Delivery of Biologics – Current Challenges & Opportunities

• Discovery strategy: in vivo and in vitro
• Multi parameter developability
• Display technologies – what are the current trends in the industry?
• Incorporating ML/AI into the discovery pipeline
• Hybridoma platform – Does it still have its place?

Moderator: Erik Vernet, Director, Antibody Technology, Novo Nordisk

Panellists:

• William Olson, Senior Vice President, Therapeutic Peptides, Regeneron
• Rick Davies, Senior Director of Chemical Biology and Protein Science, AstraZeneca
• Jonathan Davis, Vice President of Innovation & Strategy, Invenra 

December 2021

Recent market demands for bispecific antibodies can largely be attributed to the application of existing commercially available products to other multiple indications. Currently, there are 2 bispecific antibodies commercially available on the market and over 200 in clinical trials. The future for the research and development of bispecific and multi-specific antibodies remains highly progressive and profitable, driven by the fact that an increasing number of big and small pharmaceutical companies are allocating their resources and are collaborating with other stakeholders of the industry. Challenges remain, however, and in our next biologics discussion group we bring together an exclusive panel of key opinion leaders to discuss the key factors behind the market’s growth, priorities, future outlook & challenges.

Panel Discussion: Bi-and Multi-Specific Antibodies – Formats, Applications, and Paths to the Clinic

• Cell engager activities 
• Choice of format and characteristics
      » Geometry 
      » Valency
      » Affinity 
      » Ability to high-throughput screening 

• Bispecific portfolios & recent approvals 
• Bispecifics outside oncology: infectious diseases, autoimmunity  
• Manufactruing and FDA approval
      » Solutions to manufacturing issues 
      » Pathways for approval

Discussion Group Leaders: 

• William Olson, Senior Vice President, Regeneron
• Jonathan Davis, Vice President of Innovation and Strategy, Invenra