08
May

08:00 AM EST

Medicinal Chemistry

Name: Medicinal Chemistry Strategy Meeting East Coast 2025 (Boston)
Start: 2025-05-08T08:00
End: 2025-05-08T18:00
Location: Crowne Plaza, London Docklands

Strategy Meeting East Coast USA 2025

Reinvigorating Productivity in Pharmarn Biotech Through Advanced Technologies and Innovative Techniques that Interrogate Activity and Mechanisms

Le Meridien Cambridge Boston

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A MEETING EXPERIENCE UNLIKE ANY OTHER

Fresh Medicinal Chemistry Insights

Tired of the same conference experience? Real discussions and genuine networking are often promised, but not always delivered. Proventa International’s R&D Strategy Meetings are designed to avoid the pitfalls of a typical conference, by providing the right environment to make those important connections through interactive roundtable discussions, exclusive networking and keynote panel debates. Join Medicinal Chemistry professionals from across the East Coast, in Boston MA, to discover new insights and take your company’s mission to the next level.

What makes our strategy meetings unique?

Roundtable Discussions

Intimate discussions led by renowned industry experts. Have your voice heard and debate alongside like-minded life science executives.

Unrivalled Networking

With senior delegation from big pharma and innovative biotech from across the East Coast, you can network with peers from different locations, all in one place.

Personalised Agenda

Choose the topics that matter to you. Reserve your place at the roundtable discussions and ensure your whole day delivers the insights you need to hear.

Solutions to your Problems

We've partnered with the best solution providers to solve your biggest challenges. Engage in pre-arranged, private meetings to address your specific needs and find a tangible solution.

Industry Researched Topics

We guarantee our agenda is up-to-date and mission critical because its designed by you. We speak to our extended network of senior decision makers to ensure the most important topics are discussed.

Senior Decision Makers

The entire strategy meeting is specifically tailored to the needs and challenges of senior life science professionals. Discover how your peers are dealing with the same challenges as you.

Meet Our Past Facilitators

Our panel of facilitators play a key role in shaping the agenda for the day. See who will be bringing their expertise to the table at our Medicinal Chemistry strategy meeting.

Alex Nivorozhkin

Chief Scientific Officer Cybin

Allen Hopper

VP Drug Discovery Lucy Therapeutics

Benoit Moreau

Head of Medicinal Chemistry Remix Therapeutics

Blaise Lippa

Chief Scientific Officer Morphic Therapeutics

Brian Sparling

Director, Head of Medicinal Chemistry Accent Therapeutics

Bruce Ellsworth

Head of Oncology East & BBRC Medicinal Chemistry Bristol Myers Squibb

Bruce was raised in upstate NY and completed his undergraduate studies in Chemistry at SUNY-Oswego in 1987, performing research with Professor Augustine Silveira Jr. Upon graduation, Bruce worked at Bethesda Research Labs (BRL) and Applied Biosystems, Inc. (ABI) synthesizing DNA monomers and oligomers for automated DNA synthesis and sequencing. In 1991, Bruce returned to academics to obtain a Ph.D. degree under the supervision of Paul A. Bartlett at the University of California at Berkeley followed by postdoctoral studies at University of California at Irvine with Scott Rychnovsky. In 1998, Bruce moved to Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) where he has experience in both medicinal chemistry and process chemistry. He is inventor of a marketed drug, Farxiga, for the treatment of diabetes that has also demonstrated benefits in heart failure and end stage kidney disease. He was awarded the 2021 ACS Heroes in Chemistry for this achievement. He also led the Fibrosis therapeutic area during the advancement of the LPA1 antagonist for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which is currently in Phase III clinical trials. He is currently Executive Director leading medicinal chemistry groups that work in all therapeutic areas at BMS.

Bulent Kiziltan

Vice President and Global Head of AI & Computational Sciences Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR)

Diane Joseph-McCarthy

Executive Director, Bioengineering Technology & Entrepreneurship Center Boston University

Dr. Tao Guo

SVP and Head of WuXi Chemistry – Research Chemistry Services Business Development and Integrated Program Management WuXi AppTec

Ed Olhava

Senior Vice President, Preclinical Development IFM Therapeutics

Over his nearly 20 year career in mid and early-stage biotech, Ed Olhava has invented and progressed multiple compounds through discovery and into clinical development. He has focused on discovering first-in-class small molecule modulators of new biological pathways, closely integrating medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, safety and CMC to enter clinical trials with these novel entities.
Before joining <a href="https://www.ifmthera.com/">IFM</a>, Ed was a strategic advisor at Third Rock Ventures, where he developed the strategic and operational plans for the drug discovery groups of two Third Rock seed companies, both of which were successfully funded and launched. Prior to Third Rock, he was a founding scientist at Epizyme, joining the company as the first medicinal chemist. He started the medicinal chemistry group and invented Epizyme’s first clinical compound and the first clinical histone methyltransferase inhibitor, EPZ-5676, leading activities from hit finding to filing the Investigational New Drug application. Before joining Epizyme, Ed began his medicinal chemistry career at Millennium Pharmaceuticals, where he co-invented NINLARO, approved in 2015 for the treatment of multiple myeloma, and MLN-4924.
Ed obtained his Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry from Harvard University and B.S. in chemistry from Stanford University. He is co-author/inventor on more than 40 papers and patents.

Hariprasad Vankayalapati

CSO Bioelexis Therapeutics

Hari is a co-founder, currently serving as Chief Scientific Officer of Biolexis Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage Biopharmaceutical company, discovering and developing novel, first-in-class small molecule targeted therapeutics for cancers, immune-mediated, auto-immune, inflammatory and metabolic diseases. Hari and his colleague Dr. David J. Bearss together developed the empirical-driven MolecuLernTM technology that has empirical/experimental data implemented in ML algorithms, accelerating drug discoveries, and successfully translating novel agents into clinical stage of development. Hari, after his decade of academic career, recently moved back to the pharmaceutical industry. Hari is the key in creating seven clinical agents: MP-470/Amuvatinib, SGI-1776, SGI-110/Guadecitabine, HCI-2577/SP-2577, HCI-2084/TP-0903, ARN-6039/BOS-172767/SLX-0528, ARN-3236/GRN-300 currently in various stages of clinical development. Hari received his Ph.D., and M. Pharm degrees in Medicinal Chemistry from the Institute of Chemical Technology (formerly UDCT) of the University of Mumbai and the University of Karnataka in India. His Postdoctoral training was in University of Sunderland in England and at the University of Arizona Cancer Center under Prof. Laurence H. Hurley. Hari is an author of ~100 plus publications, presentations, and he is an inventor of several issued/published US/WO patents.

Jennifer Petter

Founder & CSO Arrakis Therapeutics

Jeremy Edmunds

Executive Director Immunology Chemistry AbbVie

Dr. Jeremy Edmunds joined Immunology Discovery Research at Abbvie in December 2006. Here he leads the small molecule chemistry efforts directed towards creating therapeutics for autoimmune diseases. 
Jeremy is a chemist by training and as a medicinal chemist creates drugs, rather than hunting for them, and thus isn’t a drug hunter. At Abbvie Jeremy leads a multidisciplinary department of medicinal chemists, analytical chemists, and biochemists to create various small molecule compounds to treat autoimmune diseases. His expertise in the application of cheminformatics tools and techniques allowed the creation of a design synthesis orientated medicinal chemistry group that applies cutting edge technologies to the design of therapeutic compounds. As a member of the Immunology leadership team, he has advanced over a dozen small molecule inhibitors into clinical development.
Prior to joining Abbvie he worked for Pfizer for over 16 years and was responsible for small molecule drug discovery in the area of cardiovascular disease. There he led the multi-disciplinary acute coronary artery discovery team, which involved creating a portfolio of projects to modulate the underlying biology associated with plaque rupture or clot formation. This work led to clinical studies on thrombin inhibitors and factor Xa inhibitors. While there he also served as an adjunct Professor at the University of Michigan Pharmacy School, where he taught drug design, principally around cardiovascular disease. 
With over 30 years of drug discovery experience Jeremy has authored greater than 100 articles, patents and presentations related to small molecule drug discovery.

Kelly Barret

Director of Discovery Business Development Sai Life Sciences

Ken Lind

Senior Director, Head of Chemical Computing Sciences Jnana Therapeutics

Monica Schenone

Senior Director, Head Of Chemical Biology and Proteomics Pfizer

Muneto Mogi

Global Head, Global Discovery Chemistry Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR)

Patrick O’Mara

Associate Director of Research Informatics Photys Therapeutics

Rich Heidebrecht

Vice President of Research and Development Glycologix

Shankar Venkatraman

Executive Director, Chemistry IFM Therapeutics

Over his 20+ year industrial career Shankar Venkatraman has invented and progressed multiple compounds through discovery and into clinical development. He has focused on discovering first-in-class small molecule modulators of new biological pathways, closely integrating medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, and safety to enter clinical trials with these novel entities. Before joining IFM Therapeutics, LLC, Shankar was a Director of Chemistry at Vitae Pharmaceuticals. There he led number of programs including Menin-MLL, resulting in Revumenib (SNDX-5613), currently undergoing multiple clinical trials for ALL/AML with an anticipated NDA filing by the end of 2023. Prior to Vitae, he was a Senior Research Fellow at Merck, where he worked on number of modalities including HIV, neuropathic pain and schizophrenia, and delivered number of clinical candidates. Before joining Merck, Shankar began his medicinal chemistry career at Axys Pharmaceuticals, and worked on cathepsin K, with efforts leading to the identification of Odanacatib. Shankar obtained his Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry from University of Minnesota and B.S. in chemistry from University of Bombay. He is co-author/inventor on more than 60 papers and patents.

Suguna Rachakonda

Vice President, Head of Business Development Dewpoint Therapeutics

Vicky Steadman

Vice President Business Development and Integrated Partnerships Sai Life Sciences

Zev Wisotsky

Director, Drug Discovery New Modality Solutions Revvity Signals

PAST AGENDA

See Which Topics Are Discussed at the Strategy Meeting

08:30 - 09:00

Transforming Drug Discovery: The Convergence of AI, Machine Learning, and Computational Sciences

Bulent Kiziltan Vice President and Global Head of AI & Computational Sciences Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR)

09:00 - 10:00

Roundtable Tracks

AI/ML
Looking into the Pivotal Role of AI in Drug Discovery

-Diane Joseph-McCarthy
Executive Director, Bioengineering Technology & Entrepreneurship Center
Boston University

Innovative and Emerging Modalities
Challenges and solutions in the hit-tolead phase: ensuring efficacy and safety in drug development

-Benoit Moreau
Head of Medicinal Chemistry
Remix Therapeutics

Chemical Biology, Targeted Protein Degradation u0026 Undruggables
Molecular Glue Targeted Protein Degradation on Undruggable targets

-Hariprasad Vankayalapati
CSO
Bioelexis Therapeutics

Hit Identification / Lead Optimization
From Hits to Leads: Advanced Strategies and Technologies for Enhancing Drug Discovery in the Initial Phases

-Rich Heidebrecht
Vice President of Research and Development
Glycologix

Design u0026 Synthesis
Streamlining the hit-to-candidate process: Strategies to most effectively advance chemical matter from hit to clinical candidate

-Shankar Venkatraman
Executive Director, Chemistry
IFM Therapeutics

Integrated Drug Discovery
Addressing the Unmet Needs in CNS Drug Discovery: New Paradigms in Target Identification and Drug Development

-Alex Nivorozhkin
Chief Scientific Officer
Cybin

11:10 - 12:10

Roundtable Tracks

AI/ML

EXCELRA

Innovative and Emerging Modalities
Pioneering the Future: Harnessing Innovative Modalities in Medicinal Chemistry

-Zev Wisotsky
Director, Drug Discovery New Modality Solutions
Revvity Signals

REVVITY SIGNALS

Chemical Biology, Targeted Protein Degradation u0026 Undruggables
Targeted Protein Degradation

-Dr. Tao Guo
SVP and Head of WuXi Chemistry – Research Chemistry Services Business Development and Integrated Program Management
WuXi AppTec

WuXi AppTec

Hit Identification / Lead Optimization
Lead Optimisation for bRO5 Molecules

-Vicky Steadman
Vice President Business Development and Integrated Partnerships
Sai Life Sciences

SAI LIFE

Design u0026 Synthesis
Improving Efficiency in Design and Synthesys

-Kelly Barret
Director of Discovery Business Development
Sai Life Sciences

SAI LIFE

Integrated Drug Discovery

Sponsor

12:15 - 13:15

Roundtable Tracks

AI/ML
The application of Generative Design to advance drug discovery projects

-Jeremy Edmunds
Executive Director Immunology Chemistry
AbbVie

Innovative and Emerging Modalities
Strategic Innovations in Medicinal Chemistry: New Paradigms for Hit Identification and Lead Refinement

-Brian Sparling
Director, Head of Medicinal Chemistry
Accent Therapeutics

Chemical Biology, Targeted Protein Degradation u0026 Undruggables
Exploring the Current Formulation Challenges in Undruggable Leads

-Ed Olhava
Senior Vice President, Preclinical Development
IFM Therapeutics

Hit Identification / Lead Optimization
H2LOptimization: Oral Small Molecule Agonists/Activators

-Hariprasad Vankayalapati
CSO
Bioelexis Therapeutics

Design u0026 Synthesis
Transforming the Future of Drug Discovery: Integrative Design and Synthesis Approaches in Medicinal Chemistry for Novel Therapeutics

-Allen Hopper
VP Drug Discovery
Lucy Therapeutics

Integrated Drug Discovery
RNA as a Drug Target: Breakthroughs and Challenges in Small Molecule Approaches

-Jennifer Petter
Founder & CSO
Arrakis Therapeutics

14:40 - 15:10

Application of High Throughput Experimentation and Flow Chemistry to Accelerate Drug Discovery

PRESENTER: Dr. Tao Guo SVP and Head of WuXi Chemistry – Research Chemistry Services Business Development and Integrated Program Management WuXi AppTec

15:10 - 16:10

Roundtable Tracks

AI/ML
Leveraging Generative Modeling to Accelerate Drug Discovery – What are current state-of-art technologies?

-Muneto Mogi
Global Head, Global Discovery Chemistry
Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR)

Innovative and Emerging Modalities
Revolutionizing Healthcare: How Small Molecules are Shaping the Future of Emerging Therapeutic Modalities

-Bruce Ellsworth
Head of Oncology East & BBRC Medicinal Chemistry
Bristol Myers Squibb

Chemical Biology, Targeted Protein Degradation u0026 Undruggables
Unraveling Protein Targets in Disease: Proteomic Approaches to Drug Development

-Monica Schenone
Senior Director, Head Of Chemical Biology and Proteomics
Pfizer

Hit Identification / Lead Optimization
The Evolution of Hit-to-Lead Paradigms: Combining Traditional Approaches with Modern Innovations in Small Molecule Research

-Blaise Lippa
Chief Scientific Officer
Morphic Therapeutics

Design u0026 Synthesis

Integrated Drug Discovery
Integrating DEL Informatics for Accelerated Drug Discovery: Challenges and Solutions

-Ken Lind
Senior Director, Head of Chemical Computing Sciences
Jnana Therapeutics

See the full agenda and facilitator line-up Download the strategy meeting brochure for full details

DOWNLOAD THE BROCHURE

Reasons To Attend the Strategy Meeting

Discussions on the advancements in targeted protein degradation andrnpushing past its boundaries.

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in accelerating therndevelopment of new drugs

Discuss approaches to further understand the interactions of undruggablerntargets and different Protein Degraders such as PROTACs, Molecular Glues,rnetc

Focusing on advancing interrogative techniques to improve the Drug Delivery System/Discovery: Modified mRNA, Nanoparticle-Mediated siRNA, Antibody-Drug Conjugates, and more

Become an official strategy meeting partner Whatever your business needs, we can help. Get in touch for partnering opportunities

I'D LIKE TO PARTNER

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Hotel & Venue

Le Méridien Boston Cambridge

Le Méridien Cambridge-MIT’s elegant guest rooms and suites offer a place of luxurious sanctuary and unmatched comfort. Explore unique programs inspired by the brand’s European heritage. Born in a glamorous era of travel, Le Méridien believes everyone should explore the world in style.

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Medicinal Chemistry Strategy Meeting East Coast – Boston 2024

Medicinal Chemistry

Strategy Meeting East Coast USA 2025

<img class="lazy" decoding="async" src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201%201'%3E%3C/svg%3E" data-src="https://proventainternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/location.png" >Le Meridien Cambridge Boston

Fresh Medicinal Chemistry Insights

What makes our strategy meetings unique?

Roundtable Discussions

Unrivalled Networking

Personalised Agenda

Solutions to your Problems

Industry Researched Topics

Senior Decision Makers

Meet Our Past Facilitators

Alex Nivorozhkin

Allen Hopper

Benoit Moreau

Blaise Lippa

Brian Sparling

Bruce Ellsworth

Bulent Kiziltan

Diane Joseph-McCarthy

Dr. Tao Guo

Ed Olhava

Hariprasad Vankayalapati

Jennifer Petter

Jeremy Edmunds

Kelly Barret

Ken Lind

Monica Schenone

Muneto Mogi

Patrick O’Mara

Rich Heidebrecht

Shankar Venkatraman

Suguna Rachakonda

Vicky Steadman

Zev Wisotsky

PAST AGENDA

See Which Topics Are Discussed at the Strategy Meeting

Breakfast & Registration

Opening Keynote Presentation

Transforming Drug Discovery: The Convergence of AI, Machine Learning, and Computational Sciences

Roundtable ( Pharma/Biotech )

Roundtable Tracks

NETWORKING / 1-1 MEETINGS

NETWORKING / 1-1 MEETINGS

NETWORKING / 1-1 MEETINGS

Roundtable ( Solutions )

Roundtable Tracks

EXCELRA

REVVITY SIGNALS

WuXi AppTec

SAI LIFE

SAI LIFE

Sponsor

Roundtable ( Pharma/Biotech )

Roundtable Tracks

NETWORKING LUNCH

Networking / 1-1 Meetings

AFTERNOON KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

Application of High Throughput Experimentation and Flow Chemistry to Accelerate Drug Discovery

Roundtable ( Pharma/Biotech )

Roundtable Tracks

AFTERNOON REFRESHMENT BREAK

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

PANEL DISCUSSION

Drinks & Canapes Reception

Reasons To Attend the Strategy Meeting

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Thought Leaders

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Key Opinion Leaders

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