Description of Talks

Dr Marc O'Reilly, VP of Molecular Sciences at Astex Pharmaceuticals
The Combined Use of Structural Biology and Biophysics at Astex for FBDD

Talk summary: Dr O'Reilly will talk about how Astex is continuing to evolve its fragment- and structure- based drug discovery (FBDD & SBDD) capabilities and how these are being deployed versus increasingly challenging and complex drug targets.
Dr Iris Alroy, CSO of Anima Biotech Inc.
Discovery of Small Molecule mRNA Drugs and their Mechanisms of Action using Phenotypic Screening with AI-driven MOA Elucidation

Talk summary: Anima’s mRNA Lightning platform has generated many novel chemical entities that modulate mRNA translation, further contributing to the expanse of the RNA-targeting small molecule field. Anima's phenotypic screening approach systematically evaluates the impact of small molecules on mRNA translation into proteins. Combined with AI-driven MOA elucidation, Anima has identified and validated compounds that are binding to proteins which regulate mRNA translation, offering an opportunity for both tissue-selective and target-specific modulation. Anima’s lead programs in fibrosis and oncology have demonstrated efficacy in animal and patient-derived models and are advancing towards preclinical development.