ABSTRACT
Support is requested for a Keystone Symposia conference entitled Next Generation Antibody Therapeutics:
From Discovery to Patient, organized by Drs. Pamela Holland and James Wells. The conference will be held
in Banff, British Columbia, Canada, from February 19-22, 2023.
Therapeutic antibodies have become the predominant class of new drugs gaining FDA approval and are the
best-selling drugs in the pharmaceutical market for treating various human diseases, including cancer,
autoimmune, and infectious diseases. Over the past 30 years, major technological advances have facilitated
the discovery and development of monoclonal antibody therapies, and new strategies are continually emerging
to enhance their clinical potential. Though substantial progress has been made, new opportunities and
challenges continue to evolve in this rapidly moving field. Multiple advances in antibody technology to expand
antibody attributes have already translated into improved clinical activity in multiple therapeutic areas. Yet they
also unveil major challenges with respect to target validation, method of action, protein design, development
time, and managing increasing costs of antibody manufacturing. This conference will provide a diverse
program comprised of academic and industry scientists that addresses the challenges and opportunities
relevant to antibody drug discovery and development. Furthermore, it will include sessions which focus on
target identification and novel discovery platforms, as well as advances in protein engineering to improve
functional properties and new antibody modalities and delivery methods. There will also be topics that will
provide an overview of emerging clinical therapeutics in oncology, infectious disease and
autoimmunity/inflammation. Overall, this program will offer investigators a perspective on the full spectrum of
antibody therapeutic development from bench to bedside and will highlight cutting edge technological and
clinical advancements of interest to a broad spectrum of scientists. Finally, this conference is being paired with
another Keystone Symposia meeting on Multispecific Immune Cell Engagers for Cancer Immunotherapy. This
will allow participants at both conferences the chance to network and develop new collaborations through
shared sessions and meals. The conference will provide a stimulating environment where students, postdocs
and junior investigators can present and discuss their research with the best minds in the field.