Explore the Agenda

8:00 am Check In & Registration

Driving ADC Stability & Safety with Next-Generation Conjugation Chemistries

9:00 am Protein Conjugation Beyond Maleimide – Exploring Protein Functionalization Using Prenyltransferases

Professor, University of Minnesota
  • Prenyltransferases can be used to install a wide variety of biorthogonal functionality in proteins
  • That functionality can be used to create protein conjugates for a range of applications ranging from directed cell killing to PET imaging
  • Prenyltransferases can also be used to create prenylated nanostructures that can be positioned on the surfaces of cells to transfer a variety of cargos to specific receiver cells

10:00 am CUSP06, a CDH6-targeting ADC Utixlizing a Novel T1000-Exatecan Platform Demonstrates Promising Antitumor Activities

Vice President - Research, OnCusp Therapeutics
  • T1000-exatecan is a novel platform with desired stability and safety profile and overcome drug-resistance mechanism
  • CUSP06 demonstrates target-dependent cell killing and antitumor activities in vitro and in vivo
  • Clean safety profile of CUSP06 from GLP toxicology studies indicates the excellent stability of T1000-exatecan

10:30 am Morning Break

Uncovering Innovative Linker & Conjugation Strategies to Overcome Novel Payload Challenges

11:00 am Unlocking Novel Payloads for Antibody-Drug Conjugates Through Targeted Delivery of Hydroxyl-Linked Drugs via ALCO5

Director Chemistry, Tubulis GmbH
  • Payloads of current marketed ADC are limited to three Modes of Action (MoAs): DNA binders, Tubulin- and TOP-I-Inhibitors
  • Exploring novel conjugation technologies for stable conjugation and traceless release of hydroxy-containing cytotoxins with different intracellular MOAs
  • Resulting ADCs are homogenous with a high DAR, have excellent linker stability, and exhibit excellent in vivo PK and efficacy 

11:30 am Emerging ADC Designs Provide Opportunity for Differentiated Next Generation ADCs

Chief Scientific Officer, Iksuda Therapeutics
  • The large number of ADCs with tubulin or topoisomerase 1 inhibitor payloads presents a high risk for clinical development of ADCs with these payloads in the future due to overlapping resistance and toxicity
  • New payloads with differentiated MOAs will be essential for ADC sequencing in treatment paradigms for patients
  • Innovations in linkers and bioconjugation will contribute to reducing the inherent risk in using these new payloads

12:00 pm Novel: Exatecan-based ADC Using HDP’s Innovative Multimeric Linker Platform

Group Leader - Chemistry, Heidelberg Pharma
  • A new multimeric linker platform facilitated the development of HDP-201, an ADC with exatecan as payload, as novel therapeutic modality for the treatment of solid tumors
  • The role of solubility enhancers in enabling site-specific coupling to cysteines, leading to stable, potent, and well tolerated ADCs
  • HDP-201 shows dose-dependent tumor regression in vivo and enhanced anti-tumor efficacy following multiple doses

12:30 pm Lunch

Exploring the Potential of Next-Generation Conjugation Strategies & Site-Specific Technologies

1:30 pm Advancing Site-Specific ADC Conjugation: Skymab’s Next-Generation Platform & First Preclinical Insights

Chief Development Officer, Skymab Therapeutics
  • Innovations in site-specific ADC conjugation – overcoming the limitations of traditional maleimide chemistry
  • Skymab’s novel platform – enhancing stability, DAR control, and therapeutic index through optimized linker strategies
  • Preclinical results and future directions – first insights into Skymab’s lead ADC candidate and its potential clinical impact

2:00 pm Unlocking the ADC Toolbox: Stable Chemistry & Sites of Conjugation Combine to Improve Therapeutic Index

Principal Scientist, AstraZeneca
  • Stable conjugation chemistry and site of conjugation impact the stability of conjugates
  • Long PKs increase tumor exposure and improve efficacy of ADC
  • A move away from unstable thiol-maleimide conjugation chemistry and exposed conjugation sites will enable development of novel ADCs with improved therapeutic indices

2:30 pm Afternoon Break

Unlocking New Therapeutic Potential & Expanding Beyond Traditional Payloads Through Linker Innovations

3:00 pm Linker & Conjugation Based Strategies for Improving MMAE-Based ADCs

Principal Scientist, Antibody Discovery and Engineering, Pfizer
  • Optimization of MMAE-based ADCs through linker composition
  • Improving payload properties
  • Identifying the ideal conjugation site

4:00 pm A Linker Platform For Antibody Drug Conjugates: Expanding The Therapeutic Window

Chief Scientific Officer, Baylink Biosciences
  • Baylink's novel linkers enable use of hydrophobic drugs at high DAR, and can reduce off-target effects 
  • It expands the diversity of payloads, including chemotherapy, protein degraders, and immunotherapy
  • The lead candidate will enter phase I clinical trial in 2026

4:30 pm Chair’s Closing Remarks

4:35 pm End of Scientific Programme Day Two