Scientific Program Day One

Wednesday | April 17 2024

8:00 am Check in & Coffee

8:50 am Chair’s Opening Remarks

  • David Lee Executive Director - Analytical Chemistry, Mersana Therapeutics

Delving Into the Regulatory Perspective on Extended Characterization, Setting the Specifications & CQA to Evolve Your ADC From Discovery Through Clinical Development & Regulatory Filing

9:00 am Regulatory Considerations on Control Strategies for ADC Products – From the Biologics Perspective

Synopsis

• Overview of the review process for ADC products, with the focus on the biologics component

• Expectations on ADC characterization studies

• Expectations on ADC specifications, with the focus on potency assays

9:30 am Regulatory Considerations for Antibody-Drug Conjugates From the Small Molecule Perspective

  • Karina Zuck Chemist, US Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

Synopsis

  • Overview of the review process for ADC products, with a focus on the small molecule
  • Review expectations on payload-linker controls
  • Discuss the expectations on DAR and residual impurities controls in the ADC drug substances and drug products

10:00 am Panel Discussion – Analyzing the Regulatory Expectations Around Specification Setting to Benchmark the Required Specifications & Accelerate Analytical Method Development

  • Melvin Flores Associate Director, Quality Control Analytical, Sutro Biopharma
  • Linda Nelson Executive Director, Daiichi Sankyo

Synopsis

• Learning the regulatory expectations around setting specification for free drugs

• Exploring the commonly used methods to set specifications

• Understanding which qualities require specification setting

10:30 am Morning Break & Speed Networking

Synopsis

This is an informal session to help you connect with your peers in a relaxed atmosphere and continue forging new and beneficial relationships. You will have the opportunity to present your work, and review presentations displaying novel approaches and findings

11:30 am Learning the Approaches to Extended Characterization to Answer Questions Surrounding Data Interpretation to Justify Your Data & Answers to Regulatory Authorities

  • Yuan Gao Head of Analytical Development, ADC Therapeutics

Synopsis

• Understanding the need for extended characterization and the expectations surrounding it

• Exploring the various approaches towards extended characterization

• Navigating how to interpret data from extended characterization results

12:00 pm Understanding the Impact of Conjugation on CQA to be Able to Define CQA in MAb vs ADC & Reduce Workload to Ease the Filing Process

Synopsis

• Learning the differences in characterizing CQA in Mab and ADC

• Analyzing how conjugation affects CQA characterization

• Guiding analytical methods smoothly through development up to filing

12:30 pm Faster to Clinic Approach and the impact of ICH Q14 & ICH Q2(R2) on phase-appropriate drug development.

  • Kishore Hotha Global Vice President -AR&D Lab operatons, Veranova, L.P.

Synopsis

  • Understanding ICH Q14/Q2(R2): This presentation will cover the new ICH Q14 and ICH Q2(R2) guidelines, focusing on their impact on each phase of drug development.
  • Phase-Specific Strategies: We'll explore strategies tailored to each development phase, aligning with ICH Q14/Q2(R2) requirements.
  • Correlation with New Guidelines: The talk will also highlight how the data requirements for each phase relate to the new ICH guidelines, ensuring compliance and efficiency.

1:00 pm Networking Lunch

Exploring Physiochemical Assays Outside of DAR Distribution/Characterization to Produce a More Holistic Analytical Profile of Your ADC

2:00 pm Analytical Strategy & Regulatory Consideration of Linker-payload in ADC Development

Synopsis

• Discussing regulatory perspective of linker-payload in ADC therapeutics

• Exploring small molecule related impurities and control

• Outlining analytical strategies of linker-payload in ADC programs

2:30 pm Investigation of High Molecular Weight Size Variant Formation in AntibodyDrug Conjugates: Microbial Transglutaminase-Mediated Crosslinking

Synopsis

  • Reviewing extended characterization of HMW size variants in mTG-mediated ADCs 
  • Identifying primary source of increased level of HMW size variants
  • Exploring approaches to minimize HMW size variants formation in in mTG-mediated ADCs 

3:00 pm Roundtable Discussion – Evaluating Which Technique to Use to Characterize Conjugation of Your ADC to Arm Yourself With a Complete Dataset & Ensure Confidence in Your Analysis

  • Weijun Li Senior Director Biologics Analytical Development , CMC Team Lead, Exelixis
  • Geoff Winters Associate Director, ADC Process Development, Zymeworks

Synopsis

• Identifying why characterizing conjugation is so important

• Exploring which analytical methods are the most suitable for characterizing conjugation

• Discovering how characterizing conjugation enhances understanding of your ADC

4:00 pm Afternoon Networking Break

5:00 pm icIEF Method Development for Charge Variants of ADCs Based on Their Structural Features

  • Chuan Leng Associate Principal Scientist, Merck & Co

Synopsis

• Reviewing a capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF) method development for charge variant determination of ADCs

• Discussing solubilizer and carrier ampholyte optimization

• Learning about method assessment and robustness 

5:30 pm Chair’s Closing Remarks

  • David Lee Executive Director - Analytical Chemistry, Mersana Therapeutics

5:35 pm Drinks Reception & Scientific Poster Session

Synopsis

This is an informal session to help you connect with your peers in a relaxed atmosphere and continue forging new and beneficial relationships. You will have the opportunity to present your work, and review presentations displaying novel approaches and findings.

6:30 pm End of Scientific Program Day One