Specialized Workshop Th1 - Thursday April 16, 2026: 7am to 5:30pm
"AGENDA - Ligand-Binding Assays - Latest Advances, Challenges and Solutions from Internationally Recognized Key Opinion Leaders"
| 07:00am-08:00am: | Start your day at WRIB with Networking Continental Breakfast in the Exhibit Room |
Session 1: Recent Developments in LBA Critical Reagents: Improving DAR Sensitivity, Stability, and Quality
Chair: Dr. Graham Yearwood, Senior Director Protein BioAnalytical and Material Sciences, Bristol Myers Squibb| 08:00am-08:20am: |
Dr. Christopher Beaver, Executive Director, Global Head of Regulated Clinical Bioanalysis, Daiichi Sankyo "Challenges in ADC Bioanalysis: The impact of in vivo Biotransformation in Incurred Samples on Assay Designs" |
| 08:20am-08:40am: |
Dr. Thorsten Verch, Senior Director Vaccine Immunogenicity Regulated Bioanalysis, Merck "Reagent Stability in Ligand Binding Assays" |
| 08:40am-09:00am: |
Dr. Kun Lu, Associate Director Critical Protein Reagent Group, Regeneron "Thorough Characterization of Drug Targets (Ligands) as Critical Reagents to Ensure Consistent Performance of Bioanalytical and Potency Release Assays" |
| 09:00am-09:20am: |
Dr. Christopher Beaver, Executive Director, Global Head of Regulated Clinical Bioanalysis, Daiichi Sankyo
Dr. Thorsten Verch, Senior Director Vaccine Immunogenicity Regulated Bioanalysis, Merck Dr. Kun Lu, Associate Director Critical Protein Reagent Group, Regeneron "Panel Discussions on Recent Developments in LBA Critical Reagents: Improving DAR Sensitivity, Stability, and Quality" |
| 09:20am-10:10am: | Networking Coffee Break with Morning Snacks in the Exhibit Room |
Session 2: LBA Strategies for Complex Modalities for ADA Assay Development/Validation
Chair: Ms. Andrea Van Tuyl, Director Bioanalytical Sciences, BioMarin| 10:10am-10:30am: |
Ms. Atiya Taqui, Senior Director Bioanalytical Chemistry, Gilead "Challenges in ADA Assays for Complex Modalities: A 5-tier ADA assay for a bi-specific antibody" |
| 10:30am-10:50am: |
Dr. Corinne Petit-Frere, Senior Director Clinical Pharmacology & Immunology, Fresenius Kabi SwissBioSim "Adaptation of an immunogenicity testing strategy to address target interference in an ADA assay of FKS518 a denosumab biosimilar" |
| 10:50am-11:10am: |
Dr. Jinsong Yang , Director Bioanalytical, Keros "Immunogenicity Assessment of an Fc-Fusion Ligand Trap in the Presence of Endogenous Counterparts: A Multi-Tier Clinical Approach" |
| 11:10am-11:30am: |
Ms. Atiya Taqui, Senior Director Bioanalytical Chemistry, Gilead
Dr. Corinne Petit-Frere, Senior Director Clinical Pharmacology & Immunology, Fresenius Kabi SwissBioSim Dr. Jinsong Yang , Director Bioanalytical, Keros "Panel Discussions on LBA Strategies for Complex Modalities for ADA Assay Development/Validation" |
Session 3: Emerging Technologies & AI-based Optimization for Biomarkers LBA
Chair: Mr. Jad Zoghbi, Director Biomarkers & Systems Biology , Biogen| 11:30am-11:50am: |
Dr. Kai Wang, Director Biomarker & Bioanalytical Platform, GlaxoSmithKline "Comparative Analysis of NULISA Results: Advancing Quantitative Assays Through Superior Accuracy and Platform Benchmarking" |
| 11:50am-12:10pm: |
Dr. Sally Fischer, Senior Director BioAnalytical Sciences, Genentech "Leveraging Multiplex Technologies to Address Complex Challenges in Drug Development" |
| 12:10pm-01:10pm: |
Sit-down Hot Buffet Networking Lunch downstairs at Marsalis B Note: Lunch Desserts and Coffee/Tea are served in the Exhibit Room |
| 01:10pm-01:30pm: |
Dr. Arvind Kinhikar, Associate Director, Laboratory Head Clinical Biomarker, Novartis "Innovative new ligand binding technologies: what to look for and how to test them for drug development: Novel case studies, lessons learned" |
| 01:30pm-01:50pm: |
Dr. Melissa Taylor, Associate Director Immunogenicity & LBA, Moderna "Small tweaks, big consequences: four case studies in ligand binding assay development" |
| 01:50pm-02:10pm: |
Dr. Kai Wang, Director Biomarker & Bioanalytical Platform, GlaxoSmithKline
Dr. Sally Fischer, Senior Director BioAnalytical Sciences, Genentech Dr. Arvind Kinhikar, Associate Director, Laboratory Head Clinical Biomarker, Novartis Dr. Melissa Taylor, Associate Director Immunogenicity & LBA, Moderna "Panel Discussions on Emerging Technologies & AI-based Optimization for Biomarkers LBA" |
Session 4: Overcoming Challenges in Neutralizing Antibody Assay Format and Severe Issues with Target Interference
Chair: Mr. Reza Mozaffari, Director Immunogenicity, GlaxoSmithKline| 02:10pm-02:30pm: |
Mr. Mark Dysinger, Associate Director Bioanalytical Development, Alexion "A Case Study in Parallel Method Development of Cell-Based and Competitive Ligand Binding Neutralizing Antibody Assays" |
| 02:30pm-02:50pm: |
Mr. Gregor Jordan, Lead Proteins Bioanalytics & Biomarkers, Roche "Strategies for Mitigating Soluble Target Interference in Anti-Drug Antibody (ADA) Assays" |
| 02:50pm-03:10pm: |
Dr. Ying Wang, Director Regulated Bioanalysis, Pfizer "Immunogenicity Assay Evolution to Support Ponsegromab in Clinical Development" |
| 03:10pm-04:10pm: |
Networking Break with Afternoon Snacks, and Wine and Beer Reception in the Exhibit Room |
| 04:10pm-04:30pm: |
Mr. Mark Dysinger, Associate Director Bioanalytical Development, Alexion
Mr. Gregor Jordan, Lead Proteins Bioanalytics & Biomarkers, Roche Dr. Ying Wang, Director Regulated Bioanalysis, Pfizer "Panel Discussions on Overcoming Challenges in Neutralizing Antibody Assay Format and Severe Issues with Target Interference" |
Session 5: 2026 White Paper in Bioanalysis
| 04:30pm-05:30pm: |
Dr. Graham Yearwood, Senior Director Protein BioAnalytical and Material Sciences, Bristol Myers Squibb Ms. Andrea Van Tuyl, Director Bioanalytical Sciences, BioMarin Mr. Jad Zoghbi, Director Biomarkers & Systems Biology , Biogen Mr. Reza Mozaffari, Director Immunogenicity, GlaxoSmithKline "Recommendations on Ligand Binding Assays and Panel Discussions for 2026 White Paper in Bioanalysis" |
