8:00 am Registration & Morning Coffee

8:50 am Chair’s Opening Remarks

  • Jenny Wang Director of search and evaluation for oncology, Abbvie

From Concept to Clinical Success: How to Pave the Way Forward

9:00 am Key Note Address: Early Discovery to Drug Candidates to Clinic

Synopsis

  • How many of these early discoveries have turned into like late lead drug candidates?
  • How many of those late lead candidates have resulted in upcoming clinical trials?

9:30 am Early Discovery Lessons Learned Along the Path to Risdiplam

  • Matt Woll Vice President, Chemistry, PTC Therapeutics

Synopsis

  • With the discovery and commercial success of Evrysdi® (risdiplam) in treating SZA, the use of small molecules to influence pre-mRNA splicing has become a fertile ground for drug discovery
  • With hindsight vision, some of the key determinants to successful identification of risdiplam precursors will be discussed, including the importance of a sensitive screening assay and splicing selectivity
  • Discussing key SAR breakthroughs

10:00 am Morning Break & Speed Networking

Synopsis

As the RNA-Targeted community is reunited, this valuable session will ensure you can reconnect with your peers in the room to make new and lasting connections. All attendees will have the opportunity to meet and network with their academic and industry peer

Track A: Discovery

  • Jenny Wang Director of search and evaluation for oncology, Abbvie

Optimizing Assays to Determine Functional Effect in Cellular Conditions for Improved Selectivity

11:00 am Utilizing Screening Methodologies to Study Physiological Responses

  • Dominic Reynolds Senior Vice President & Head of Drug Discovery, Remix Therapeutics

Synopsis

  • Using RNA-sequencing to determine the specific effects elicited by the small molecules when interacting with the target RNA
  • Identifying the correct confirmations with the use of cell screening for higher predictabilit
  • How to use cell-free RNA-binding assays to identify small molecules that bind RNA and elicit a desired on-target response in cellular conditions

11:30 am Suite of Assays to Enable RNA-Targeted Drug Discovery

  • Sarah Duellman Biotech & Global Strategic Business Lead, Promega Corporation

Synopsis

  • Advance high-throughput quantitative gene expression analysis with a CRISPR/Cas9-enabled reporter system.
  • Measure modulation of RNA-protein complexes and rank order binding affinity.

12:00 pm Fire-side Chat: Leveraging the Biophysics of RNA Structure & Dynamics to Improve Small Molecule Potency & Selectivity

Synopsis

  • Replicating RNA-small molecule binding seen in vitro, in cellular conditions
  • Leveraging current understanding of RNA structure and cellular environment to improve selectivity
  • Understanding novel technologies used to determine small molecule binding RNA targets in the cell

12:30 pm HCR RNA-ISH: a Modern Tool Built for Clinical-Grade Workflows

  • Aneesh Acharya Vice President of Commercial, Molecular Instruments Inc.

Synopsis

  • Introducing Molecular Instruments, the team behind the revolutionary HCR Platform for bioimaging
  • HCR RNA-ISH is the only method for RNA imaging that is fully compatible with existing validated IHC/IF assays
  • MI has uniquely combined innovative technology with thoughtful engineering to deliver an array of products that fundamentally change how researchers approach bioimaging of RNA and protein

Track B: Preclinical & Translation

  • Li Zhang Director - Quantitative Clinical Pharmacology, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.

Evaluating Model Systems to Accurately Test PK-PD & Improve Therapeutic Index

11:00 am Fire-Side Chat: Understanding Off-Target Effects to Reduce Toxicity In Vivo

Synopsis

  • Assessing how to reduce off-target effects to improve safety and efficacy of drugs and allow for a more targeted approach
  • Utilizing small molecule bioinformatics to better predict offtarget interactions
  • How to increase therapeutic index in preclinical models that successfully translate into the clinic?

11:20 am Accelerating the Discovery & Development of RNA Binders with Mass Spectrometry

  • Peter Rye Vice President, Application Development, Momentum Biotechnologies

Synopsis

  • Mass spectrometry can be used to quickly identify non-covalent RNA binders using ASMS and covalent RNA binders using intact mass shift assay
  • Novel MS platforms enabling ASMS studies at <60 seconds per sample and intact mass shift assay at <15 seconds per sample are presented
  • Downstream effects of RNA binding, such as inhibition of protein expression, can be measured using proteomics LCMS workflows

11:50 am Using Appropriate System Models to Test Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics, Allowing Robust Translatability into Humans

  • Simon Xi Co-Founder and Chief Executive officer, Rgenta Therapeutics

Synopsis

  • Exploring how PK-PD relationship can be tested within system models & how these can be translated into in vivo models
  • Understanding the relevance of the chosen animal model and whether they express the relevant to perform disease efficacy studies
  • Evaluating tools to test PK-PD & efficacy of RNA-targeting small molecules to improve clinical outcomes

12:20 pm Mechanistic Modeling to support Translation of mRNA Therapies from Discovery to Clinic

  • Joshua Apgar Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Applied BioMath

Synopsis

  • Crigler-Najjar syndrome type 1 (CN1) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by a marked decrease in uridine-diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT1A1) enzyme activity with limited treatment options
  • In this talk, we will discuss the application of quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) modeling to the design and development of an LNP-delivered mRNA gene therapy for the treatment of CN1
  • We will cover two case studies, how the “LNP-encapsulated mRNA targeting an intracellular protein in vivo” model in Applied BioMath Assess ™ was used to explore key design features for an LNP-delivered mRNA gene therapy, and how a similar QSP model was developed and calibrated to data from a Gunn rat animal model and used for preclinical-to-clinical translation and FIH dose projections

12:50 pm Lunch & Networking Break

Utilizing Computational Tools to Predict Bioactivity & Fast-Track Lead Optimization

1:50 pm Improve Hit Discovery Efficiency & Success Rate Through In Silico RNA Splicing Fingerprints

Synopsis

  • Understand how to carry out phenotypical screens, large screens, NMR-based screens, and Mass-spec based screens to evaluate and determine good bioactivity
  • Exploring a more focused approach to achieve high-value hits to narrow down potential small molecule drugs that can successfully target RNA

2:20 pm Optimizing Selective Binding of Small Molecules to Reduce Off-Target Effects within the Cellular Environment

  • Martina Roos Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, President, Sardona Therapeutics

Synopsis

  • Understanding how to determine and select small molecules with high selectivity for RNA targets?
  • Utilizing bioinformatics to understand small molecules with minimal off-target effects, therefore, also predicting the best targets for these small molecule drugs

Bridging the Gap Between Pre-clinical Models & Humans to Improve Translation into the Clinic

1:50 pm Understanding Conservation of RNA Sequence in Preclinical Model Systems

Synopsis

  • Analyzing animal model data with cross-species conservation of RNA sequence to aid translatability
  • How can animal models be further manipulated to more accurately replicate human systems?
  • How relevant are the mouse models to the different disease areas?

2:20 pm Small Molecules Targeting RNA Expression: Evaluation of Preclinical Therapeutics in Pathophysiological Models of Disease

  • Peng Yue Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, ReviR Therapeutics

Synopsis

  • Examining translational medicine approaches to demonstrate human efficacy in vitro by utilizing IPSC models that asess small molecule RNA therapeutics for Huntington’s disease
  • Leveraging unique ‘omics analyses to demonstrate robust target engagement and target specificity profile to enhance translational confidence to the clinic
  • Limitations and challenges when utilizing patient derived models in vitro vs. in vivo assessments followed by direct omic comparisons

2:50 pm Afternoon Networking Break

Trailblazing the Future of RNA-Targeted Drug Discovery & Development for an Accelerated Path to the Clinic

3:30 pm Panel Discussion: Overcoming Key Challenges to Improve Drug Design & Discovery for Novel Approaches

  • Jennifer Petter Founder & Chief Innovation Officer, Arrakis Therapeutics Inc.
  • Andrew Krueger Research Investigator, Novartis
  • Tom Chappie Senior Principal Scientist & Associate Fellow, Research, Pfizer
  • Amanda Hargrove Professor of Chemistry, Duke University
  • Gal Gur Vice President - Business Development, Anima Biotech
  • Dominic Reynolds Senior Vice President & Head of Drug Discovery, Remix Therapeutics

Synopsis

  • Navigating the current landscape of small molecules targeting RNA
  • How can the unlimited potential to target RNA with small molecules be explored and exploited to develop novel approaches?
  • What are the lessons from other modalities that can be leveraged to develop small molecules that target RNA? What needs to happen for this modality to become widely adopted?
  • Analyzing the potential of small molecule drugs to treat diseases with unmet medical needs, such as oncology, neurodegenerative diseases and rare & genetic diseases

4:30 pm Examining the Intricacies of the Small Molecule Landscape to Influence Future Direction of RNA-Targeted Drug Discovery

  • Jennifer Petter Founder & Chief Innovation Officer, Arrakis Therapeutics Inc.

Synopsis

  • Where is the RNA-targeting small molecules field headed?
  • Understanding the complexities and risks when developing new approaches to target RNA
  • What are the shortcomings of using small molecules to target RNA that need to be understood and overcome?

5:00 pm Chair’s Closing Remarks & End of Conference Day One

  • Jenny Wang Director of search and evaluation for oncology, Abbvie

5:15 pm Post-Conference Drinks Reception