On November 9th, 2024, the CABS workshop brought together approximately 100 attendees, including industry professionals and aspiring scientists, for an engaging event at Hanhai Biolabs in Burlingame, CA. Themed “Journey from Discovery to IND to Early Development” the workshop provided a platform to explore the complexities of drug development through expert-led discussions on topics such as lead optimization, high-throughput screening (HTS), pharmacokinetics (PK), nonclinical safety, and regulatory challenges.
The event featured five distinguished speakers who shared their unique expertise:
-
Dr. Zhonghua Pei (SVP, Neuron23): Opened with an overview of the drug discovery-to-development process, followed by an insightful talk on "Optimizing Lead Compounds: From Micromolar to Nanomolar Potency." Dr. Pei highlighted strategies like high-throughput and virtual screening and discussed challenges in achieving potency, selectivity, and safety, emphasizing the lower clinical success rates of small molecules compared to biologics.
-
Dr. Yang Tian (SVP, AusperBio Therapeutics): Presented "The Evolution of High-Throughput Screening (HTS) in Drug Discovery," tracing its history from early low-throughput methods to modern AI-driven approaches. He emphasized the importance of data quality, reproducibility, and assay preparation while offering insights into future HTS considerations, including instrumentation and skillsets.
-
Dr. Shichang Miao (Ex-VP, ChemoCentryx; Founder & President, PBSS): Delivered "Balancing Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics in Drug Discovery," underscoring the need to balance PK and PD parameters like clearance and bioavailability. Through case studies, he demonstrated how successful drug candidates often require a nuanced, flexible approach beyond conventional guidelines like Lipinski's Rule of Five.
-
Dr. Xiaoting Wang (Director, Amgen): Focused on "Nonclinical Toxicology and Safety Assessments in Drug Development," detailing predictive tools, regulatory guidance, and study designs. She emphasized target liability assessments and thoughtful planning of toxicology studies, supported by real-world case studies.
-
Dr. Ron Najafi (Founder & CEO, Emery Pharma): Concluded with "The Discovery and Implications of Nitrosamine Impurities in Pharmaceuticals," highlighting advanced analytical techniques to identify NDMA impurities and their links to specific manufacturing processes. He emphasized the importance of risk assessments to mitigate contamination and discussed regulatory and toxicological considerations.
The workshop spanned various therapeutic areas, including oncology, inflammatory diseases, and immunotoxicology, and fostered active engagement through Q&A sessions. Attendees gained practical insights and networking opportunities, enriching their understanding of modern drug development challenges.
This successful event was made possible by the invaluable contributions of the speakers, sponsors, attendees, and the dedicated efforts of the CABS team. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who made this workshop a success, underscoring the vital role of collaboration in advancing drug discovery and development.
A big thanks to our sponsors:
