Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s 2nd Annual 
Antibody-Drug Conjugates
Engineering Targeted Therapeutics
January 21-22, 2015

The therapeutic potential of antibodies is enhanced by conjugating them to small molecule drugs. This combination merges the benefits of highly potent drugs with selective binders of specific tumor antigens. Antibody-drug conjugates offer the promise of delivering more powerful tumor-killing activity while resulting in diminished side effects for cancer patients. This important Antibody-Drug Conjugates conference brings together leaders in the world of ADCs who share their R&D case studies, along with their preclinical and clinical data, to illustrate how this form of empowered antibody is transforming next-generation antibody therapeutics.

Flavia Brunstein, M.D., Ph.D., Safety Science Leader, Safety Risk Management, Genentech, Inc. – A Member of the Roche Group

The concept of an ADC is to improve the therapeutic window of cancer chemotherapy, through targeted delivery of highly potent cytotoxic molecules directly to tumor cells expressing unique antigens that are specific to the monoclonal antibody. Preliminary clinical data are encouraging, but toxicity still occurs.

Lars Linden, Ph.D., Group Leader and Head, Protein Biochemistry, Bayer HealthCare

Developability analysis of antibodies and ADCs determines, together with cell line productivity and cost-of-goods analysis, the manufacturing feasibility of a drug candidate. A thorough biochemical & biophysical characterization is performed to analyze the intrinsic stability and technical robustness of clinical candidates. Standardization is ensured by a check of antibody platform compatibility (DSP and analytics). Early buffer screening is performed for accelerated formulation development.