Breakout Roundtable Discussions
Join us for a moderated roundtable discussion with interactive problem solving. These sessions bring together attendees from diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas and develop future collaborations around a focused topic, in an informal environment.
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
12:30 PM
BREAKOUT: Nucleic Acid Based Therapies for Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19: Pros and Cons
David Tabatadze, PhD, President, ZATA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- What is the feasibility of an RNA based COVID-19 vaccine? Why 20 years later, do we still not have a licensed RNA based vaccine against viruses?
- Is an oligotherapy a viable option for treatment of COVID-19? Against other infectious diseases? What are Pros and Cons?
- Are currently existing ON platforms versatile enough for the development and optimization of anti-viral drugs? Is there a need for new platforms?
- In addition to oligos, what other effective modalities are out there for the prevention and/or treatment of COVID-19?
BREAKOUT: Recent Advances in the Following Areas: The CNS, The Liver, Inhalation Drugs, Immuno-Oncology and Ocular Diseases
Moderator: Patrick Lu, PhD, President & CEO, Sirnaomics
- What kind of siRNA deliveries can allow us move beyond GalNAc?
- What delivery modality is most suitable for lung siRNA therapeutics?
- What delivery modality is most suitable for CNS siRNA therapeutics?
- How can we enhance immuno-oncology efficacy using siRNA therapeutics?
- Is naked siRNA good enough for CNS therapeutics
BREAKOUT: Examining the Safety and Toxicity of Nucleic Acid Therapeutics
Moderator: Steven Kates, PhD, VP, Regulatory Affairs, Dicerna Pharmaceuticals
- What tox studies are needed and when?
- How to assess your impurities (analytical methods)
- Discussing mutagenicity
- Examining ADA assays
BREAKOUT: Building a Robust, Targeted-Centered Development Program
Moderator: David Corey, PhD, Professor, Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern
- What are criteria for a disease that is an appropriate target for ASO or dsRNA drug discovery and development
- What controls are necessary?
- How can you tell a program that is built on a firm foundation from one that is not?
- What data does one look for when evaluating a program?
- What are red flags that might indicate that a company (or academic lab) is not built on a firm foundation of science