Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s Inaugural

Advancing Multispecific Engineering to the Clinic

Conditional Activation, Engagers, & Promising Candidates: Innovation to Impact

January 21 - 22, 2026 ALL TIMES PST

Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s Inaugural Advancing Multispecific Engineering to the Clinic Conference connects the protein-engineering bench to real-world clinical performance. Here we deep dive into the latest conditional activation masking strategies, exploring how precise control over multispecific activity maximize on-target effectiveness while minimizing off-target activity. Two companion sessions then dissect multispecific candidates already in the clinic spanning T-cell engagers and other first-in-class molecules to show how co-stimulation strategy, toxicity management, and adaptive trial design loop critical insights back to engineering teams.

Wednesday, January 21

1:00 pmRegistration Open

PEPTALK KEYNOTE PANEL:
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF SCIENCE AND THE NEXT ERA OF PROTEIN RESEARCH

1:10 pm PANEL DISCUSSION:

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

NEXT-GEN CELL ENGAGERS

2:15 pm

Chairperson's Opening Remarks

Nathan Robertson, PhD, Scientific Director, Biologics Discovery & Development, LifeArc

2:20 pm

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.

2:50 pm

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.

3:20 pm

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.

3:50 pm Rapid, Multi-Parameter Optimization and Developability Assessment of Multispecific Building Blocks Using Integrated In Vitro and In Silico Workflows 

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

4:50 pm

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.

5:20 pm

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

PLENARY KEYNOTE SESSION:
End-to-End in silico-Designed Biologics

8:25 am

Welcome Remarks

Christina Lingham, Executive Director, Conferences and Fellow, Cambridge Healthtech Institute

8:30 am

Plenary Keynote Introduction

Andrew Nixon, PhD, Senior Vice President, Global Head Biotherapeutics Discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc.

8:35 am

New Frontier of Biotherapeutic Discovery: Where Machine Learning Meets Molecular Design

Stephanie Truhlar, PhD, Vice President, Biotechnology Discovery Research, Eli Lilly and Company

9:00 am

PLENARY FIRESIDE CHAT: End-to-End in silico–Designed Biologics

PANEL MODERATOR:

Andrew Nixon, PhD, Senior Vice President, Global Head Biotherapeutics Discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc.

  • How is the path to drug development different with ML/AI?
  • How far off is de novo design for biologics? For antibodies?
  • How is ML/AI used for target selection?
  • How do you accelerate DMTA cycles?
  • Data standardization—how to incorporate historical data?
  • Federated learning—how do you ensure you have enough data to build a model?
  • Promoting change management​​​​
PANELISTS:

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

Stephanie Truhlar, PhD, Vice President, Biotechnology Discovery Research, Eli Lilly and Company

9:30 amCoffee Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing

WOMEN IN SCIENCE MEET-UP

9:45 am

Meet the Moderators at the Plaza in the Exhibit Hall

Michelle R. Gaylord, MS, Former Principal Scientist, Protein Expression & Advanced Automation, Velia Therapeutics

Deborah Moore-Lai, PhD, Vice President, Protein Sciences, ProFound 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.

CONDITIONAL ACTIVATION AND MASKING APPROACHES

10:20 am

Chairperson's Remarks

Tatjana Petojevic, PhD, Director, Protein Sciences, Rondo Therapeutics

10:25 am

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.

10:55 am

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.

11:25 am

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

PROMISING CANDIDATES AND LESSONS FROM THE CLINIC

1:40 pm

Chairperson's Remarks

Even Walseng, PhD, Director, Protein Engineering and Novel Modalities, Biologics Engineering, AstraZeneca R&D

1:45 pm

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.

2:15 pm

Rational Design and Engineering POV for Humanizing Therapeutic Antibodies

Nathan Robertson, PhD, Scientific Director, Biologics Discovery & Development, LifeArc

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.

2:45 pm

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.

3:15 pm

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.

3:45 pm

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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