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: