Day One
8:30 am | Registration Opens & Morning Coffee Networking
8:50 am Chair’s Opening Remarks
Exploring RNA Structure, Dynamics & Target Recognition
9:00 am Keynote Address: Details to be Announced
9:25 am Determining High-Resolution Dynamic Ensembles of RNA Structures for Small Molecule Drug Discovery
Synopsis
- Importance of resolving the motional modes of RNA at high-resolution
- Methods for RNA ensemble determination and current industry limitations
- Leveraging high-resolution RNA ensembles for structure-based small molecule discovery and optimization
9:50 am Structure-Based Drug Design for Targeting RNA: Preclinical Validation
Synopsis
- Expansion repeat disorders: unmet medical need
- Drugging RNA using structure-informed design
- Preclinical validation of this approach
10:15 am Drugging RNA – A Structure-Based Approach
Synopsis
- Discussing the breadth of opportunity offered by drugging RNA
- Outlining target selection and screening
- Deeper dive into target structure
10:40 am Live Q&A & Panel Discussion: Debating Between Strategies to Obtain Critical & Valuable Structural RNA Insights
Synopsis
For years, frontiers of the field have harnessed various innovative strategies to unlock structural information to streamline the successful discovery and development of RNA targeted small molecules. This panel will unite the leaders of the field to compare, contrast and debate between approaches and successes in RNA structure-based drug design.
11:15 am | Morning Break & Structured Networking
Evaluating Chemical Based Strategies for Mapping Structure in RNA & Target Interactions
12:00 pm Comprehensive Mapping of RNA Ensembles in Living Cells
Synopsis
- Discussing DANCE-MaP, a chemical probing strategy for directly mapping secondary and tertiary structure in dynamic RNA ensembles in cells
- Discussing a large-scale structural switch in the human 7SK RNA that regulates transcription
- Validating an ASO strategy for targeting 7SK to modulate transcription in cells
12:30 pm CryoEM of RNA Structures
Synopsis
- Reviewing the advances in single particle cryoEM
- Discussing what can be learnt from RNA structures at near atomic and subnanometer resolutions
- Evaluating the prospect of imaging RNA in situ
1:00 pm | Lunch Break & Networking
Leveraging Structure-Based Modeling & Tools to Investigate RNA-Ligand Interactions
2:00 pm Structure-Based Modelling & Simulation Tools for Identifying RNA-Targeting Small Molecules
Synopsis
- Methods to mine RNA structures for ligandable cavities
- Exploring RNA-specific regions of chemical space
- QM-driven exploration of RNA-ligand interactions
2:30 pm Modelling Crystal Structures of RNA Ligand Complexes
Synopsis
- High throughput screening of RNA ligands
- Crystal structures of RNA-ligand complexes
- Learnings and challenges from an RNA structure-based approach
3:00 pm | Afternoon Refreshments
Splicing Modifiers: Route to Successful Discovery, Novel Chemical Space & Emerging Druggable Targets
3:30 pm Discovery of Risdiplam, Successes, Challenges & Future Directions
Synopsis
- Reviewing the route to the successful discovery of Risdiplam, a first-in class splicing modulator for treatment of SMA
- Discussing the successes and challenges with the discovery and development of Risdiplam
- Exploring future directions including potential other targets and new chemical space for splicing modulators
3:45 pm Discovery & Development of PTC518, a Selective Huntingtin Lowering Splicing Modifier for the Treatment of Huntington’s Disease
Synopsis
- Initiated Huntingtin lowering drug discovery program – Identified splicing modifiers and deciphered the mechanism of HTT lowering
- Lead optimization efforts led to the discovery of PTC518
- PTC518 data to be shared, demonstrating HTT lowering in cells and animals; POC demonstrated in humans
4:15 pm Drugging Alternative Splicing in Degenerative Disease & Cancer
Synopsis
- Alternative pre-mRNA splicing is commonly associated with human disease
- CLK/DYRK family kinases selectively modulate pre-mRNA splice junction selection by the spliceosome in both normal and diseased tissue contexts
- Emerging highly specific small molecule CLK/DYRK inhibitors indicate these kinases are a druggable intervention point for alternative splicing associated diseases
4:45 pm Live Q&A & Panel Discussion: The Value of Splicing Modulators for Therapeutics & Future Applications
Synopsis
Targeting RNA splicing for disease application intervention has proven a valuable therapeutic intervention. It is now essential to review the clinical landscape of successes which exists with targeting the RNA spliceosome, consider various approaches and motifs being harnessed to target diseases beyond SMA and review future applicability of this modality.
5:30 pm Chair’s Closing Remarks & End of Conference Day One
