Driving Clinical Success in Antibody-Drug Conjugates
Designing the Magic Bullet
5/14/2026 - May 15, 2026 ALL TIMES EDT
The antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) field continues to advance rapidly, marked by notable new approvals such as datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd), gemcitabine intravesical system (Inlexzo), and fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (T-DXd; Enhertu). These approvals exemplify a new generation of ADCs leveraging next-generation linker–payload technologies to deliver broader therapeutic windows, paving the way for pan-cancer applications and earlier treatment sequence opportunities. Cutting-edge developments in ADC engineering—including multi-payload designs, novel conjugate formats such as bispecific ADCs, antibody–oligonucleotide conjugates (AOCs), and peptide–drug conjugates (PDCs)—are reshaping the landscape of targeted therapeutics to enhance efficacy while minimizing off-target effects. Join Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s 16th Annual Driving Clinical Success in ADCs conference to explore these innovations and the strategies propelling the next wave of ADC success.

Sunday, May 10

Recommended Pre-Conference Short Course

SC5: Safety & Efficacy of Bispecifics and ADCs

*Separate registration required. See short course page for details.

Thursday, May 14

Registration Open

Entrepeneur Breakfast

Panel Moderator:

From Scientist to Start-Up: An Interactive Entrepreneurship Breakfast

Photo of Catharine Smith, Executive Director, Termeer Foundation , Executive Director , Termeer Foundation
Catharine Smith, Executive Director, Termeer Foundation , Executive Director , Termeer Foundation

Join us for an interactive breakfast conversation on the journey from scientist to entrepreneur, featuring founder, CSO, CEO, and investor perspectives. Panelists will share how they navigated the leap from postdoc to scientist to startup leadership, from securing initial funding and building teams to cultivating networks of mentors and advisors.

Transition to Sessions

Organizer's Remarks

ENGINEERING NEXT-GENERATION ADCs—BEYOND CYTOTOXIC PAYLOADS

Chairperson's Remarks

Horacio G. Nastri, PhD, Vice President, Protein Science and Technology, Incyte Corporation , Vice President , Protein Science and Technology , Incyte Corporation

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Moving beyond Pan-Cytotoxic Payloads for ADCs: Next-Generation ADCs with Novel Targeted Payloads

Photo of Gail D. Lewis, Distinguished Scientist, Discovery Oncology, Genentech, Inc. , Distinguished Scientist , Discovery Oncology , Genentech Inc
Gail D. Lewis, Distinguished Scientist, Discovery Oncology, Genentech, Inc. , Distinguished Scientist , Discovery Oncology , Genentech Inc

Although ADCs with chemotherapy-like payloads have demonstrated impressive clinical benefit, serious toxicities remain a challenge. ADCs with targeted payloads may offer efficacious ADCs with an improved therapeutic index compared to traditional ADCs.  Approaches for developing novel ADCs with non-pan-cytotoxic payloads include investigating the following to determine candidates that would benefit from Ab-mediated delivery: cancer cell dependencies as payload targets; compounds with known or assumed safety liabilities; molecules with poor physicochemical properties that would benefit from Ab-mediated delivery, e.g., low permeability, poor bioavailability. The presentation will then focus on one selected intracellular target for an ADC payload and its applicability across multiple tumor types.

177Lu-Labeled ADC: A Dual-Mechanistic Treatment Modality in Solid Tumors

Photo of Kyoji Tsuchikama, Assistant Professor, University of Texas Houston , Asst Prof , Univ Of Texas Houston
Kyoji Tsuchikama, Assistant Professor, University of Texas Houston , Asst Prof , Univ Of Texas Houston

While ADCs have shown clinical promise, their efficacy is often compromised by variable antigen expression within tumors. Compared to single-drug variants, our ADCs co-loaded with Lu177 and MMAE exhibited superior antitumor effects in xenograft tumor models with low or heterogeneous HER2/TROP2 expression, highlighting its advantage in overcoming heterogeneity-driven resistance. These advancements support our platform's potential to enable more effective and safer therapies for breast cancer and other treatment-resistant malignancies.

Pharmacokinetic Strategies to Increase the Safety and Efficacy of ADC Therapy

Photo of Joseph P. Balthasar, PhD, Professor, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Buffalo, State University of New York , Prof , Pharmaceutical Sciences , SUNY Buffalo
Joseph P. Balthasar, PhD, Professor, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Buffalo, State University of New York , Prof , Pharmaceutical Sciences , SUNY Buffalo

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have ascended to a leading position among therapeutic modalities for oncology indications. However, great opportunities exist to engineer improvements in ADC safety and efficacy. This presentation discusses pharmacokinetic strategies that are under current development for increasing ADC distribution within solid tumors, decreasing off-target exposure to ADC payloads, and enhancing the selectivity of ADC delivery to cancer cells. Special attention will be paid to the use of physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modeling to guide engineering of multi-specific ADCs for increased selectivity and efficacy.

Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing

PLENARY FIRESIDE CHAT

Plenary Fireside Chat Introduction

Photo of Eric Smith, PhD, Executive Director, Bispecifics, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , Executive Director , Bispecifics , Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Eric Smith, PhD, Executive Director, Bispecifics, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , Executive Director , Bispecifics , Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Panel Moderator:

PANEL DISCUSSION:
How to Think about Designing Smart Biologics in the Age of GenAI: Integrating Biology, Technology, and Experience

Photo of Christopher J. Langmead, PhD, AI-Driven Molecular Design, Danaher Corporation , Vice President , AI-Driven Molecular Design , Danaher
Christopher J. Langmead, PhD, AI-Driven Molecular Design, Danaher Corporation , Vice President , AI-Driven Molecular Design , Danaher

Panelists:

Photo of Surge Biswas, PhD, Founder & CEO, Nabla Bio, Inc. , Founder & CEO , Nabla Bio Inc
Surge Biswas, PhD, Founder & CEO, Nabla Bio, Inc. , Founder & CEO , Nabla Bio Inc
Photo of Rebecca Croasdale-Wood, PhD, Senior Director, Augmented Biologics Discovery & Design, Biologics Engineering, Oncology, AstraZeneca , Senior Director Augmented Biologics Discovery & Design , Augmented Biologics Discovery & Design , AstraZeneca
Rebecca Croasdale-Wood, PhD, Senior Director, Augmented Biologics Discovery & Design, Biologics Engineering, Oncology, AstraZeneca , Senior Director Augmented Biologics Discovery & Design , Augmented Biologics Discovery & Design , AstraZeneca
Photo of Joshua Meier, Co-Founder & CEO, Chai Discovery , Cofounder & CEO , Chai Discovery
Joshua Meier, Co-Founder & CEO, Chai Discovery , Cofounder & CEO , Chai Discovery
Photo of Maria Wendt, PhD, Global Head (Vice President) of Digital and Biologics Strategy and Innovation, Large Molecule Research, Novel Modalities, Synthetic Biology and AI, Sanofi , Global Head and Vice President , Digital and Biologics Strategy and Innovation , Sanofi
Maria Wendt, PhD, Global Head (Vice President) of Digital and Biologics Strategy and Innovation, Large Molecule Research, Novel Modalities, Synthetic Biology and AI, Sanofi , Global Head and Vice President , Digital and Biologics Strategy and Innovation , Sanofi

Networking Luncheon in the Exhibit Hall and Last Chance for Poster Viewing

DUAL/MULTI-PAYLOAD ADCs

Chairperson's Remarks

Nimish Gera, PhD, Independent Consultant , Independent Consultant , MABS R US Consulting

Therapeutic Potential of CBB-120, a TROP2-Targeted TOP1i/ATRi Dual-Payload ADC

Photo of Dan Pereira, PhD, CSO, CrossBridge Bio , CSO , Crossbridge Bio
Dan Pereira, PhD, CSO, CrossBridge Bio , CSO , Crossbridge Bio

CBB-120 is a next-gen site-specific, Fc-silenced, dual payload ADC targeting TROP2 that utilizes proprietary EGCit linkers to conjugate TOP1i/ATRi payloads. This presentation will summarize CBB-120's superior pharmacology and toxicology attributes.

Novel Multi-Payload ADCs Assembled in One Step from Native Antibodies Show High Efficacy and Tolerability in Vivo

Photo of Philipp Probst, Director, ADC Research, Araris Biotech AG , Dir , ADC Research , Araris Biotech AG
Philipp Probst, Director, ADC Research, Araris Biotech AG , Dir , ADC Research , Araris Biotech AG

The Araris’ site-specific, one-step linker conjugation technology aims at generating stable, safe and highly potent ADCs without the need for antibody engineering. We present a novel Nectin-4 targeting triple-warhead ADC using a combination of MMAE and two different topoisomerase-1 inhibitors designed to treat a broad range of solid tumors, and demonstrate that a combination of multiple payloads in one ADC can lead to synergistic effects in mouse models while still being well tolerable.

Development of Next-Generation Dual-Payload ADCs

Photo of Richard Kendall, PhD, CSO, Catena Biosciences , Chief Science Officer , Catena Biosciences
Richard Kendall, PhD, CSO, Catena Biosciences , Chief Science Officer , Catena Biosciences

CatenaBio has developed highly stable, dual-payload ADC combination therapies, with tunable payload ratios. Our selective Multi-Payload Conjugate (MPC) conjugation platform allows the attachment of distinct payloads targeting different mechanisms of action at three unique sites on antibody scaffolds, replacing the unstable maleimide bond with a more stable C-Y bond. MPCs, targeted combination chemotherapies within a single molecule, deliver superior efficacy with reduced toxicities to address shortcomings in current ADCs.

Networking Refreshment Break

ANTIBODY-OLIGONUCLEOTIDE CONJUGATES (AOCs)

Next-Generation ADC for Targeted Immune Modulation: Oligonucleotide Payloads Differentiate from Cytotoxic Agents

Photo of Hong I. Wan, PhD, President, CEO and Co-Founder, Tallac Therapeutics, Inc. , President & CEO & Co Founder , Tallac Therapeutics Inc
Hong I. Wan, PhD, President, CEO and Co-Founder, Tallac Therapeutics, Inc. , President & CEO & Co Founder , Tallac Therapeutics Inc

Aiming to innovate beyond the traditional ADC approach to develop medicines with safer and more durable therapeutic profile, we established a next-generation ADC technology with novel oligonucleotide payloads, extending the therapeutic mechanism beyond cytotoxic agents. The presentation will highlight Tallac’s novel Toll-like Receptor Agonist Antibody Conjugate (TRAAC) platform which employs a novel immune modulating oligonucleotide payload. Preclinical to clinical translation is demonstrated by a case study of TAC-001, a toll-like receptor 9 agonist ADC designed for targeted immune activation for the treatment of cancer. 

Next-Generation Antibody Conjugates: Delivery of Oligonucleotides for Neurological Indications

Photo of Kerstin Hofer, PhD, Matrix & Science Lead, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG , Principal Scientist , F Hoffmann La Roche AG
Kerstin Hofer, PhD, Matrix & Science Lead, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG , Principal Scientist , F Hoffmann La Roche AG

Antisense-oligonucleotides are a promising drug modality for the treatment of neurological disorders, but their administration via intrathecal delivery is limiting the broader clinical application of ASOs. Our team’s research focuses on conjugating the ASO to a  Brainshuttle antibody that facilitates access to the central nervous system (CNS) via transcytosis at the blood–brain barrier. Our first results in wt mice suggest a broad biodistribution across brain regions. Promising in vitro activity and in vivo pharmacokinetic behavior of optimized Brainshuttle-ASO conjugates suggest that such designs have the potential to serve as a blueprint for peripherally delivered ASO-based drugs for the CNS.

Close of Day

Friday, May 15

Registration Open

Chairperson's Remarks

Gail D. Lewis, Distinguished Scientist, Discovery Oncology, Genentech, Inc. , Distinguished Scientist , Discovery Oncology , Genentech Inc

Panel Moderator:

PANEL DISCUSSION:
The Next Wave of ADCs: How China Is Shaping the Global Landscape

Jing Li, PhD, CEO, VelaVigo , CEO , VelaVigo

Panelists:

Xiaoqiang K. Kang, PhD, President & CEO, Leads Biolabs Inc , President & CEO , Leads Biolabs Inc

Yang Qiu, PhD, CSO & US GM, Duality Biologics , CSO & US GM , Duality Biologics

Ting Xu, PhD, Founder & CEO & President, AlphaMab Co Ltd , Founder & CEO & President , Alphamab Oncology Co.

Yongxin Robert Zhao, PhD, CEO & Chairman, Hangzhou DAC Biotech Co Ltd , CEO & Chairman , Hangzhou DAC Biotech Co Ltd

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: The Story of Daiichi Sankyo's Pioneering DXd ADC Pipeline

Photo of Gerold Meinhardt, MD, PhD, Vice President & Head, Global Teams Lead, Early Oncology, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. , Vice President, Head , Global Teams Lead, Early Oncology , Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.
Gerold Meinhardt, MD, PhD, Vice President & Head, Global Teams Lead, Early Oncology, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. , Vice President, Head , Global Teams Lead, Early Oncology , Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.

Trastuzumab deruxtecan, an ADC comprised of a HER2-directed antibody and a topo-I payload, was the first DXd ADC to achieve approvals globally in various HER2-expressing cancers. This presentation will cover the characteristics of trastuzumab deruxtecan leading to its clinical activity and expand on the DXd ADC platform, which consists of several ADCs that combine different antibodies with the same payload to target a broad range of cancers.

BISPECIFIC ADCs

Conditional Logic-Gated Bispecific ADCs: Harnessing Novel Dual-Antigen Fingerprints to Expand Efficacy and Minimize On-Target/Off-Tissue Toxicity

Photo of Tiffany Thorn, Founder & CEO, BiVictriX Therapeutics plc , Founder & CEO , BiVictriX Therapeutics Ltd
Tiffany Thorn, Founder & CEO, BiVictriX Therapeutics plc , Founder & CEO , BiVictriX Therapeutics Ltd

Conditional logic-gated bispecific ADCs offer a next-generation strategy for precise tumor targeting and improved efficacy in heterogeneous cancers. By exploiting unique dual-antigen expression fingerprints, they enable selective payload delivery to malignant cells, enhancing potency while minimizing on-target/off-tissue toxicity. This presentation will highlight key design principles, preclinical validation, and translational insights demonstrating how logic-gated ADCs can overcome the limitations of conventional ADCs and expand therapeutic opportunities across difficult-to-treat tumors.

Preclinical and Clinical Development of ABL/NEOK Bio’s Bispecific ADCs

Photo of Mayank Gandhi, CEO, NEOK Bio , CEO , NEOK Bio
Mayank Gandhi, CEO, NEOK Bio , CEO , NEOK Bio

Bispecific ADCs represent cutting-edge advancement whose design involves the intelligent choice of target antigens, antibody formats, linker, payload, and conjugation technology. We report on this dual-targeting strategy's potential to target a wider range of tumors, overcome drug resistance, increase internalization rates and cell killing, and improve the safety profile by increasing selectivity and reducing off-tumor toxicity

First-in-Class Bispecific ADC Programs from VelaVigo: CD79b/CD20 and CDH17/CLDN18.2

Photo of Jing Li, PhD, CEO, VelaVigo , CEO , VelaVigo
Jing Li, PhD, CEO, VelaVigo , CEO , VelaVigo

Two programs are showcased in this presentation. One is an FIC-bispecific ADC targeting both CD79b and CD20, with preclinical data demonstrating superior efficacy compared to Polatuzumab Vedotin (PV) in both PV sensitive and resistant models, and excellent tumor inhibition in PDX model of Richter's syndrome. The other is an FIC bispecific anti-CDH17/CLDN18.2 ADC therapy, potentially addressing the limitation of targeting CLDN18.2 or CDH17 alone. Both programs also show favorable PK and tox profiles in rat and cyno, and excellent developability, making it a strong candidate for further CMC development.

Networking Coffee Break

CELL-FREE ADC MANUFACTURING

STRO-004, a DAR8 Exatecan ADC Targeting TF

Photo of Hanspeter Gerber, PhD, CSO, Sutro Biosciences , CSO , Sutro Biosciences
Hanspeter Gerber, PhD, CSO, Sutro Biosciences , CSO , Sutro Biosciences

Exatecan-based ADCs have demonstrated superior antitumor responses across multiple tumor types compared with traditional tubulin inhibitors, yet their impact on progression-free survival (PFS) remains limited. At Sutro, we aim to extend these benefits using our cell-free ADC manufacturing technology to enhance ADC exposure and to integrate dual payloads with complementary mechanisms. This presentation will highlight clinical updates on STRO-004, a DAR8 Topo1i ADC targeting tissue factor, and preclinical data generated with our most advanced dual-payload ADCs, designed to transform strong initial responses into durable clinical benefit.

ULTRA-HIGH DAR PLATFORMS FOR LOW-POTENCY WARHEADS

Antibody-Drug Conjugates with Novel Payloads Are Enabled by an Ultra-High DAR Platform

Photo of Antonina Simakova, PhD, Executive Vice President, Research, Myris Therapeutics , Exec VP , Research , Myris Therapeutics
Antonina Simakova, PhD, Executive Vice President, Research, Myris Therapeutics , Exec VP , Research , Myris Therapeutics

Herein, we introduce a new antibody-drug conjugate class (HiDARs) featuring polymer scaffolds that carry 50–200 kinase inhibitor payloads via cleavable linkers. Anti-HER2 conjugates incorporating PI3K/mTOR inhibitors exhibit potent activity in breast cancer tumor cells and demonstrate in vivo efficacy in mouse models. This platform broadens ADC payload diversity, enhancing safety and expanding applications beyond conventional cytotoxic payloads.

Antibody-Bottlebrush Conjugates for Targeted Cancer Therapy

Photo of Bin Liu, PhD, Assistant Professor, Biology and Biochemistry, Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling, University of Houston , Asst Prof , Biology and Biochemistry , University of Houston
Bin Liu, PhD, Assistant Professor, Biology and Biochemistry, Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling, University of Houston , Asst Prof , Biology and Biochemistry , University of Houston

Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) have revolutionized cancer therapy but face limits in payload diversity and drug-to-antibody ratios (DARs). I will present antibody–bottlebrush conjugates (ABCs), which integrate antibodies with polymeric prodrugs to achieve ultra-high DARs without compromising antibody function. This architecture enables safe delivery of diverse payloads, yielding superior efficacy and reduced toxicity in tumor models. 

Close of Summit


For more details on the conference, please contact:

Mimi Langley

Executive Director, Conferences

Cambridge Healthtech Institute

Email: mlangley@healthtech.com

 

For sponsorship information, please contact:

Companies A-K

Jason Gerardi

Sr. Manager, Business Development

Cambridge Healthtech Institute

Phone: 781-972-5452

Email: jgerardi@healthtech.com

 

Companies L-Z

Ashley Parsons

Manager, Business Development

Cambridge Healthtech Institute

Phone: 781-972-1340

Email: ashleyparsons@healthtech.com


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