Unlocking the Promise of Protein Degraders: Molecular Glues, PROTACs, and the Path Forward
Wednesday 12 November 2025
1:30pm - 2:30pm GMT (UTC +0)
Virtual Thought Leadership Session held on Zoom
AGENDA OVERVIEW
1.30 pm Thought Leader Interview Stefan Schiesser
2.00 pm Panel Discussion: Accelerating the Future of Molecular Glues: Discovery, Development, and Translational Horizons
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Rational discovery of molecular glues: pitfalls, successful strategies, and target considerations
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Phenotypic vs. target-centred screens
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Expanding the toolbox: beyond CRBN-based glues
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Comparative insights: molecular glues vs. PROTACs
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Enabling technologies & AI: leveraging ternary complex structures for optimisation
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The impact of new technologies and machine learning
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Emerging frontiers & clinical translation: antibody–degrader conjugates
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Key considerations for moving PROTACs and glues into the clinic
THOUGHT LEADER & MODERATOR
Biography:
Stefan Schiesser is Director of Medicinal Chemistry at AstraZeneca. His work revolves around advancing innovative strategies for respiratory and immunological diseases. As part of the global chemistry leadership team, he co-leads an initiative on small-molecule RNA binders. He has driven academic collaborations, secured international funding, lectures at Gothenburg University, and is author of 23 publications, a book chapter, and two patent applications.
PANELLISTS
Benedict Cross, CTO & Head of Platform, Phoremost
Marta Carrara, Associate Director of Target Discovery & Validation, Amphista
Adam Yip, Director of Drug Discovery, TenaryTx
Power Up RNA Therapeutics with Early Formulation Screening for Customized Lipid Nanoparticle Solutions
Sponsored by Unchained Labs
Thursday 20 November 2025
4pm GMT, 5pm CEST, 8am PDT
Sponsor Webinar held on Zoom
Presented by Dr. Johanna Simon
Getting RNA therapeutics off the ground is no small feat—especially when faced with the complexity of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulation. With countless variables to consider, traditional screening methods can be slow, costly, and inefficient. That’s why Merck developed its Early Formulation Screening Service, powered by high-throughput tools Sunscreen and Sunshine, to help researchers rapidly identify and optimize the most promising LNP candidates.
In this webinar, you’ll see how these innovative platforms streamline early-stage formulation, reduce complexity, and generate more meaningful data—faster. Through real-world case studies, we’ll show how Merck is accelerating the development of safe, effective RNA-based therapeutics from discovery to clinical scale. If you're looking to speed up your RNA pipeline and make smarter formulation decisions, this is a session you won’t want to miss.
Key Learnings:
- Efficient Screening: Explore how high-throughput devices evaluate novel ionizable lipids to find the best formulation for RNA payloads.
- Precision Optimization: Understand the role of fine-tuning lipid ratios and composition in improving delivery efficiency and therapeutic outcomes.
- Real-World Applications: Review case studies highlighting successful LNP solutions that expedite RNA drug development.
SPEAKER BIO
Dr. Johanna Simon
Johanna Simon, PhD, is heading the Formulation Discovery and Analytical Characterization team within the Early Formulation Screening Service at Merck Life Science, KGaA, Darmstadt. Her work focuses on the preclinical formulation development of custom LNPs for nucleic acid modalities. After receiving her Ph.D. in Chemistry, Johanna has continued her scientific career as a postdoctoral researcher with a focus on developing lipid-, polymer- and antibody-functionalized nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery in vivo. She has authored 50+ peer-reviewed articles in leading journals in the field of drug delivery sciences.