2026 ARCHIVES
Wednesday, January 21
1:00 pmRegistration Open
The PepTalk Legacy and What’s Next
Dominic Esposito, PhD, Senior Director, Protein Sciences, Septerna
Join us for a special keynote panel as we celebrate 25 years of PepTalk. Hear from past and present leaders who have shaped the field and the event, reflect on the breakthroughs that defined PepTalk’s legacy, and explore what the future holds for protein engineering, expression, and production. This milestone moment honors our shared journey and looks ahead to the discoveries yet to come.
Panelists:
Nicola Burgess-Brown, PhD, Professorial Research Fellow, UCL, London; COO, Protein Sciences, Structural Genomics Consortium
Henry C. Chiou, PhD, retired Senior Director General Manager, Biosciences, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Ian Hunt, PhD, Global Head of Scientific Engagement, Biomedical Research, Novartis
Deborah Moore-Lai, PhD, Vice President, Protein Sciences, ProFound Therapeutics
David W. Wood, PhD, Professor, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Ohio State University
1:45 pmCelebrating 25 Years: Cake Cutting in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
Chairperson's Opening Remarks
Nathan Robertson, PhD, Scientific Director, Biologics Discovery & Development, LifeArc
Structure and Engineering of an Anti-CD3 Heavy Chain-Only Antibody for T-Cell Engaging Immunotherapeutics
William G Roach, PhD, Sr Dir Technology Alliances, Technology Alliances, Adimab LLC
We describe the 1.9Å resolution crystal structure of anti-CD3 single domain antibody ADI-98214, which is equipotent to UCHT1 when paired with IgG or TCR modalities but greatly simplifies bi- and multispecific assembly. The structure reveals a novel binding mode that overlaps with but is distinct from UCHT1 and informs further tuning to optimize affinity, with the aim of advancing the next generation of T-cell engagers.
Unlocking the Power of Bispecific Antibodies for Treating Solid Tumors
Tatjana Petojevic, PhD, Director, Protein Sciences, Rondo Therapeutics
CD3-targeting T-cell engagers show significant clinical benefit in hematological malignancies, but limited efficacy in treating solid tumors partially due to the immunosuppressive TME. To overcome this challenge, we develop bispecific antibodies that activate the CD28 costimulatory receptor when bound to a tumor-associated antigen for the treatment of solid tumors. Here, we describe our lead molecule RNDO-564, a potency optimized CD28 x Nectin-4 bsAb for the treatment of metastatic bladder cancer.
Engineering Next-Generation T Cell Engagers: A Trispecific Platform for Cancer Immunotherapy
Desmond Lau, PhD, Senior Scientist, Protein Engineering, Zymeworks
We engineered a trispecific T cell engager platform with integrated CD28 co-stimulation (TriTCE Co-Stim) that provides a differentiated target-dependent antitumor activity and safety profile facilitated by conditional CD28 co-stimulation, requiring CD3 engagement and obligate cis T cell binding resulting in no target-independent T cell activation or T cell-T cell bridging. Here, we present transferability of the TriTCE Co-Stim platform to improve anti-tumor activity and specificity via avidity-driven multivalent, logic-gated, and TCR mimetic (TCRm) targeting approaches.
Dalton Markrush, Sr Scientist, Global Bioanalytics, Alloy Therapeutics
Proper developability assessments are critical for clinical success, and workflows for monoclonal antibodies are well established in literature. We have developed similar workflows for multispecific building blocks to facilitate multispecific development. Here, we describe a rapid, multi-parameter optimization strategy for bispecific building blocks that integrates in vitro and in silico workflows to evaluate developability and affinity.
4:20 pmRefreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
Precision by Design: Next-Generation Immune Engagers with Improved Therapeutic Index
Even Walseng, PhD, Director, Protein Engineering and Novel Modalities, Biologics Engineering, AstraZeneca R&D
The presence of multispecific modalities is rapidly increasing in clinical trials. Among these complex modalities are T cell engagers (TCEs), a category of T cell-retargeting immunotherapy transforming clinical cancer care. The application of TCEs has in part been limited by challenges including on-target, off-tumor toxicity and poor therapeutic index (TI) linked to aberrant cytokine release. To overcome this challenge, we have designed the TriMab, a dual-targeting TCE with improved TI.
Leveraging Natural Killer (NK) Cell Tri-Specific Killer Engagers (TriKEs) to Treat AML: Clinical Updates and Future Directions
Martin Felices, Assistant Professor, Medicine, Hematology & Oncology, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Natural killer (NK) cells have been shown to have a role in the control of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but they are limited in their efficacy by lack of antigen specificity. To address this issue we have developed the Tri-specific Killer Engager (TriKE) platform, which imbues NK cells with antigen specificity through anti-CD16 and anti-tumor associated antigen (CD33, in this case) engager arms. It also drives their expansion through an IL-15 moiety in the middle of the molecule. Here we will discuss clinical findings from two generations of CD33 targeting TriKEs and ongoing efforts to develop next-generation molecules.
5:50 pmClose of Day
Thursday, January 22
8:00 amRegistration Open
Welcome Remarks
Christina Lingham, Executive Director, Conferences and Fellow, Cambridge Healthtech Institute
Plenary Keynote Introduction
Andrew Nixon, PhD, Senior Vice President, Global Head Biotherapeutics Discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc.
New Frontier of Biotherapeutic Discovery: Where Machine Learning Meets Molecular Design
Stephanie Truhlar, PhD, Vice President, Biotechnology Discovery Research, Eli Lilly and Company
PLENARY FIRESIDE CHAT: End-to-End in silico–Designed Biologics
Charlotte M. Deane, PhD, Professor, Structural Bioinformatics, Statistics, University of Oxford; Executive Chair, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Garegin Papoian, PhD, Co-Founder & CSO, DeepOrigin
9:30 amCoffee Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
Meet the Moderators at the Plaza in the Exhibit Hall
Michelle R. Gaylord, MS, Former Principal Scientist, Protein Expression & Advanced Automation, Velia Therapeutics
Join us for an inspiring Women in Science Meet-Up at this year’s Peptalk—an inclusive meet-up designed to connect, uplift, and celebrate women across all stages of their scientific careers. Engage in meaningful conversations, share your journey, and gain insights from trailblazing women shaping the future of bioprocessing. Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned professional, this is a chance to build a supportive network, foster mentorship, and discuss opportunities and challenges unique to women in the field. Our Women in Science programming invites the entire scientific community to discuss these barriers as we believe that all voices are necessary and welcome.
Chairperson's Remarks
A Novel Anti-CTLA-4 Switch Antibody with Asymmetric Fc for Tumor-Selective Anti-Tumor Immune Activation
Momoko Okuda-Miura, PhD, Researcher, Analytical Development, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co.
ROSE12 is a novel anti-CTLA4 antibody that activates in response to high concentrations of extracellular ATP in the tumor microenvironment. In addition, affinity of ROSE12 against FcγRs is increased by asymmetric Fc. Therefore, ROSE12 shows very strong ADCC activity. ROSE12 also selectively depleted intratumoral Tregs, demonstrating anti-tumor effects without inducing systemic immune activation in mouse models. Currently, ROSE12 is undergoing a Phase I clinical study.
FEATURED PRESENTATION: Structure-Aided Design and Engineering of an FGFR1c x KLB Multispecific Altibody Agonist for MASH
Yang Shen, PhD, Executive Director, Antibody Engineering, Bispecifics, Regeneron
Multispecific antibody targeting multiple epitopes or targets has emerged with advantages over bispecifics on better potency, broader target space and higher specificity. FGF21 is a master coordinator for lipid homeostasis. Via structure-aided design, a multispecific FGF21-mimicking Altibody was developed to achieve KLB-dependent FGFR1c activation. Our study illuminates combinatorial factors can contribute to the improved agonism. The multispecific antibody-based FGF21 mimetics also demonstrates potential dosing and developability advantages over ligand-based mimetics.
Next-Gen T-MATE T Cell Engagers: Transforming Cancer Therapies
Aude Segaliny, PhD, Vice President, Research & Development, Amberstone Biosciences
The therapeutic potential of T Cell Engagers (TCE) has been limited by a narrow safety window, with excess cytokine release and on-target toxicity limiting their clinical usefulness. Our Tumor-Microenvironment Activated Therapeutics (T-MATE) technology overcomes these challenges by utilizing a pH-dependent conformational switch. This innovative mechanism attenuates TCE activity at physiological pH while preserving full potency within the tumor microenvironment, enabling a new class of safe and effective T cell engagers.
11:55 amEnjoy Lunch on Your Own
1:00 pmIce Cream & Cookie Break in the Exhibit Hall with Last Chance for Poster Viewing
EVOLVE104: T Cell Engager with Integrated CD2 Costimulation for Treating ULBP2/5/6-Expressing Solid Tumors
Oksana Sergeeva, PhD, Principal Scientist, EvolveImmune Therapeutics
EvolveImmune has developed the EVOLVE platform by integrating CD2 costimulation with precisely tuned CD3 affinity to sustain T cell effector function and decrease target-independent cytokine release. EVOLVE104 targets not only CD3 and CD2 on the T cell but also ULBP2/5/6 on tumor cells of which there is enriched expression in squamous-cell tumors and urothelial cancer. EVOLVE104 is now in the clinic for the treatment of these solid-tumor indications.
Rational Design and Engineering POV for Humanizing Therapeutic Antibodies
Antibody humanization is a critical strategy in the development of therapeutic antibodies, aimed at reducing immunogenicity while preserving antigen specificity and affinity. This presentation showcases LifeArc's case studies on the humanization of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), highlighting their progression to licensed candidates and clinical trials. We will discuss various antibody engineering techniques employed in humanization, including complementarity-determining region (CDR) grafting, framework region modification, and de novo design. By integrating these methodologies, we enhance the safety profiles of therapeutic antibodies, maintain their functional characteristics, increase human content, reduce immunogenicity, and improve developability.
Multifunctional Cell Engagers with Conditional Effector Functions for Precision Immunotherapies
Nikolai Kley, PhD, Founder & President & CEO, Orionis Biosciences
We are developing various types of multifunctional cell-engager modalities that harness molecular cooperativity and induced-proximity mechanisms to modulate immune-cell connections and functions with a high level of precision. These include in-cis and in-trans acting molecules that encode engineered cytokines with on-target localized effector functions. Several such modalities, including myeloid, T and NK cell engagers, their cancer-immunity cycle-regulatory activities, and potential as novel immunotherapies will be discussed.
Triple Threat: Targeting c-Met, EGFR, and VEGF with the Trispecific Antibody TAVO412 for Comprehensive Tumor Control
Mark L. Chiu, PhD, President, Qilin Glen LLC
TAVO412 is a humanized trispecific EGFR x cMET x VEGF antibody with the potential to control abnormal EGFR signaling, dysfunctional cMET activation, and VEGF-induced angiogenesis which are responsible for the growth and metastasis in difficult-to-treat solid tumors. We highlight the clinical Phase 1 execution to determine the safety and tolerability, define the MTD/RP2D, and assess preliminary efficacy in patients with advanced solid tumors who progressed on prior standard-of-care therapies. We present where TAVO412 has clinical responses in esophageal, colorectal, and lung cancers.
Bridging Bench and Bedside: Translating Multispecific Protein Therapies into Real-World Cancer Care, What Protein Scientists Need to Know about the Patient Experience—Through the Eyes of an Integrative Physician
David James, ND, Licensed Naturopathic Physician, PLLC
As multispecific immune-engagers move from hematologic cancers into the solid tumor space, clinicians need practical frameworks to explain, monitor, and support these therapies in real-world patients. This talk explores off-the-shelf alternatives to CAR T therapy from the bedside perspective, integrating tumor microenvironment insights, patient safety, and shared decision-making. Attendees will learn how integrative oncology can help translate complex science into meaningful, accessible care.
4:15 pmClose of Conference
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