Explore the Agenda
9:00 am Check In & Morning Coffee
Workshop A – Artificial Intelligence for Peptide Design
10:00 am Converging AI/ML & Medicinal Chemistry to Effectively Predict & Advance Peptide Designs to Hit Functional Targets
Traditional peptide drug discovery has been hindered by limited native peptide ligands and time-consuming optimization processes. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are reshaping peptide-based drug discovery by enabling rapid design, activity prediction, and optimization of novel therapeutics. This workshop will deep diving into the current AI/ML tools to design peptides, enabling optimization of their properties and high accuracy for downstream development.
Spotlight Case Study 1: How Can AI Compelment Empirical Methods in Peptide Drug Discovery?
Spotlight Case Study 2: AI-Guided Multi-Objective Optimization of Peptides: Balancing Target Affinity & Membrane Permeability
Spotlight Case Study 3: AI Design of Peptide Therapeutics: From Binders to Drugs
Spotlight Case Study 4: Opportunities & Challenges in Oral Peptide Design & Formulation Development
Workshop C – Peptide Drug Conjugates
10:00 am Leveraging Peptide Drug Conjugates to Unlock New Targets & Expand Therapeutic Options in Oncology & Beyond
Peptide-Drug Conjugates (PDCs) are rising as a key next-generation therapeutic avenue, combining the precise targeting of peptides with the potency of cytotoxic drugs to treat cancers and other diseases. Several challenges to this technology however include their clinical potential due to stability, ligand binding specificity and target affinity which remains a significant challenge. This workshop will provide insights into the future direction of PDCs as a promising application to unlock new targets and expand therapeutic applications.
Spotlight Case Study 1: Development of Peptide-Drug Conjugates for Targeted Tissue & Cell Type Delivery
Spotlight Case Study 2: Design & Development of Peptide Conjugate Antiviral Therapeutics
12:30 pm Lunch Break & Networking
Workshop B – Screening Methods
1:30 pm Building mRNA, Phase Display & DNAEncoded Chemical Libraries to Optimize Peptide Drug Discovery with Enhanced Therapeutic Functionality
Peptide-based therapeutics offer high specificity, potent activity, and relatively low toxicity making them attractive for targeting complex diseases. As the demand for innovative peptide drugs continues to grow, the need for advanced technologies and integrated approaches in early discovery becomes paramount. This workshop will explore recent methodologies in peptide discovery screening including DNA-encoded library (DEL) technology, phage display, and mRNA display, to identify suitable targets and utilise the best strategy for accelerating therapeutic peptide research and development.
Spotlight Case Study 1: Linking Novel Site & Target Identification with Hit Discovery Using Genetically Encoded Libraries
Spotlight Case Study 2: Integrating mRNA Display with Phage Display to Discover Helically Constrained (Helicon) Peptides
Workshop D – Analytical Development
1:30 pm Refining Analytical Development Methods & Tools to Optimize DMPK Properties for Successful Translatability
In the dynamic landscape of peptide therapeutics, the development of robust analytical strategies is crucial for ensuring the efficacy when translating from discovery to clinic. This workshop delves into the intricacies of analytical methodologies to provide a comprehensive overview of cutting-edge techniques and best practices essential for understanding metabolic properties and translatability across model systems.
Key topics include:
- Developing a robust analytical toolbox to optimise complex peptide therapeutics to enhance resolution and efficiency
- Examining the integration of purification tools and artificial intelligence-driven process optimization, facilitating rapid identification and removal of impurities while maximizing yield and purity of peptides
- Leveraging these tools to effectively assess DMPK properties to translate across model systems