Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s 11th Annual

Antibodies Against Membrane Protein Targets


Part 1: Discovery Strategies, Technologies, and Workflow

September 26-27, 2023

Part 2: Engineering and Development of Biotherapeutics for Membrane Protein Targets

September 27-28, 2023

 

As the industry increasingly shifts its attention to biologics, more attention is being paid to the prospect of developing biotherapeutics against membrane-bound targets. For these large target classes, biologics offer improved selectivity, an alternative for targets with known function that have not been amenable to small molecule drugs and the potential for targeted delivery of therapeutics. For the field to advance, fundamental challenges in antigen quality and presentation, discovery methodologies, protein engineering and the pace of discovery must be resolved. This two-part meeting provides a forum in which discovery biologists and protein engineers can come together to discuss next generation strategies and technologies that will allow biologic drugs for the GPCR, ion channel and transporter target families to advance into the clinic and beyond.

 

Coverage will include, but is not limited to:

 

Part 1 – The Discovery Workflow

 

Keynote: The State of the Science in Discovery Strategies for Complex Targets

 

Antigen Design

  • AI/ML guided antigen design
  • Antigen design based on target outcome
  • Emerging alternative antigen formats (whole cells, SMALP fragments, nanodiscs)
  • Internal reagent and tool/platform development and validation

 

In vivo Discovery Strategies for Antibodies Against Membrane Protein Targets

  • Applications of proteomics and spatial transcriptomics
  • Improving the efficiency of immunizations (boosting, bulk purification, HT systems)
  • New immunization methods (b cell, genetic, subtractive, vesicle)
  • Novel species and transgenics

 

Selection and Screening

  • Cell-based platforms (bound protein, phage for cell-expressed proteins, whole cell panning)
  • High throughput functional screening
  • Multi-cell systems
  • Scale-up considerations

 

Integration of Structural Biology and in silico/ML Methods

  • AI/ML methods for engineering/development of candidate binders
  • Best practices for integrating structural studies into discovery workflows
  • Case studies of structure-based antibody discovery and design
  • Modeling challenges for membrane-bound proteins

 

Part 2 – Engineering and Development of Biotherapeutics for Membrane Protein Targets

 

Engineering and Development Strategies for GPCR Targets

  • Accessing membrane targets via cell-surface shaving of protein ectodomains
  • Overcoming engineering/targeting challenges: agonist antibodies, class A GPCRs, intracellular signaling, targeting accessory proteins
  • Potential for emerging modalities to target complex membrane proteins: bispecifics, CARs, gene therapies, novel binding domains
  • Targeting and modality strategies based on novel GPCR biologies

 

Case Studies of GPCR Biotherapeutics in Development

 

Targeting Transporters and Ion Channels

  • Case studies of biotherapeutics against SLC family and BBB transporters
  • Targeting strategies for ion channel targets
  • Targeting strategies for transporter targets

 

The deadline for priority consideration is March 17, 2023.

 

All proposals are subject to review by session chairpersons and/or the Scientific Advisory Committee to ensure the overall quality of the conference program. Additionally, as per Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s policy, a select number of vendors and consultants who provide products and services will be offered opportunities for podium presentation slots based on a variety of Corporate Sponsorships.

 

 

Opportunities for Participation:

 

 

For more details on the conference, please contact:

Kent Simmons

Senior Conference Director

Cambridge Healthtech Institute

Phone: (+1) 207-329-2964

Email: ksimmons@healthtech.com

 

For sponsorship information, please contact:

Kristin Skahan

Senior Business Development Manager

Cambridge Healthtech Institute

Phone: (+1) 781-972-5431

Email: kskahan@healthtech.com