Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s Inaugural

Oligonucleotide and Peptide CMC and Manufacturing

Advancing Scalable, Sustainable Platforms to Meet Growing Demand

August 11 - 12, 2026 ALL TIMES EDT

Broadening applications of oligonucleotides and the explosive demand for GLP-1s are fueling urgent innovation in manufacturing approaches that balance both scale and sustainability. Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s Inaugural Oligonucleotide and Peptide CMC and Manufacturing conference convenes experts from the worlds of bioprocessing and process chemistry to explore the latest developments in synthetic, hybrid, and recombinant production platforms, as well as CMC and analytical strategies to improve the development and manufacturing of ASOs, AOCs, siRNAs, gRNAs, peptide therapeutics, related conjugates, and beyond. Sessions will highlight emerging developments in CMC, analytics, regulatory expectations, solid- and liquid-phase synthesis, upstream and downstream processing, continuous purification, green chemistry, drug product and formulation, and overcoming challenges with conjugated and non-canonical molecules.

Monday, August 10

4:20 pmNetworking Refreshment Break and Transition to Plenary Keynote

PLENARY KEYNOTE SESSION

5:00 pm PANEL DISCUSSION:

Manufacturing Complex Modalities

PANEL MODERATOR:

Ran Zheng, Former CEO, Landmark Bio

As the biotech industry addresses unmet medical needs and increasingly complex diseases, emerging modalities including multispecific antibodies, conjugated biologics, RNA therapeutics, oligonucleotides, and de novo designed proteins are introducing new challenges across CMC, bioprocessing, and manufacturing. This plenary discussion will examine how advances in AI, machine learning, molecular design, and novel chemistries are shaping the next generation of medicines, and the capabilities required to translate these complex therapies from discovery into scalable, commercially viable products.

PANELISTS:

Melissa J. Moore, PhD, Chair, Board of Directors, Waterfall Scientific; Board Member, Tessera Therapeutics

Jennitte L. Stevens, PhD, Chief Technical Operations Officer, insitro

Weichang Zhou, PhD, CTO, MediLink Therapeutics

6:00 pmWelcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing

Tuesday, August 11

7:30 amRegistration and Morning Coffee

8:15 amOrganizer's Welcome Remarks

CMC FOR COMPLEX OLIGONUCLEOTIDES

8:20 am

Chairperson's Remarks

Bao Zhong Cai, PhD, Vice President, Oligonucleotide CMC, GondolaBio

8:25 am

Quality Frameworks for Oligonucleotides and Peptides: USP Standards Supporting CMC and Manufacturing

Diane McCarthy, PhD, Vice President, Global Biologics, US Pharmacopeia

This presentation will outline the quality frameworks for therapeutic oligonucleotides and peptides, emphasizing how public standards strengthen CMC development and manufacturing. Challenges in impurity control, starting material characterization, and analytical consistency across product lifecycles will be discussed. Updates will also be provided on new and upcoming USP documentary and physical reference standards, including phosphoramidite, peptide, and impurity reference materials, that provide robust tools to help support regulatory expectations, enhance process control, and advance reliable, high-quality manufacturing.

8:55 am

CMC Strategies for Oligonucleotide Drug Products: Overcoming ATMP Licensing, Administration, and Viscosity Challenges

Andrei Hutanu, PhD, Senior Scientist, ten23 health

This presentation explores the unique challenges in CMC development for oligonucleotide drug products, including navigating ATMP manufacturing licenses, optimizing specialized routes of administration, and managing high formulation viscosity. Practical strategies to streamline development, ensure regulatory compliance, and enable patient-centric delivery will be discussed. Insights also highlight common pitfalls and offer guidance for efficient oligonucleotide product development and manufacturing.

AOCs, PEPTIDE CONJUGATES, SIRNAs

9:25 am KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:

A Phase-Appropriate CMC Strategy for Synthetic Oligonucleotide Therapeutics

Bao Zhong Cai, PhD, Vice President, Oligonucleotide CMC, GondolaBio

Synthetic oligonucleotide therapeutics, including antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), siRNAs, and conjugated oligonucleotide modalities, present unique Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) challenges due to their solid-phase synthesis, diverse chemical modifications, and complex impurity profiles. Implementing a phase-appropriate CMC strategy is critical to balancing development speed with increasing product and process understanding across clinical stages. This presentation outlines a risk-based framework for developing phase-appropriate CMC strategies and highlights selected case studies.

9:55 am POSTER PRESENTATION:

Identification and UV-MS Quantitation of Process Impurities and Degradants in Oligonucleotide Therapeutics

Uday K Velagapudi, PhD, Senior Scientist & Group Leader, Biologics, Pace Analytical Life Sciences

10:10 am POSTER PRESENTATION:

Engineering In Vitro Transcription for Robust mRNA Manufacturing

Marieke De Bock, Graduate Researcher, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In vitro transcription (IVT) for mRNA manufacturing lacks a validated, macroscopic rate law, limiting rational process design and driving costly empirical optimization. The field's benchmark model assumes IVT is always initiation-limited, resting on an aphysical elongation rate constant. We show IVT can be initiation- or elongation-limited across clinically relevant mRNA sequences, depending on DNA:polymerase ratio, with regime-dependent salt sensitivity. Extending to dsRNA formation, data reject an RNA-templated mechanism, yielding a quantitative framework for process and impurity control.

10:25 amCoffee Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing

SPEED NETWORKING

10:35 am

Speed Networking: How Many New Contacts Can You Make?

Kevin Brawley, Project Manager, Production Operations & Communications, Cambridge Innovation Institute

Bring yourself and your business cards or e-cards and be prepared to share and summarize the key elements of your research in a minute. Bioprocessing Summit will provide a location, timer, and fellow attendees to facilitate the introductions.

11:05 am

Novel Approaches to the Manufacturing of AOCs and Oligo-Peptide Conjugates

Robert Dream, PhD, Managing Director, HDR Co. LLC

The manufacturing of Antibody-Oligonucleotide-Conjugates (AOCs) has emerged as a critical area of innovation in the development of targeted therapeutics and diagnostic tools. This novel approach is aimed at improving the efficiency, specificity, and scalability of conjugation strategies, addressing key challenges such as site-selective modification, linker stability, and product homogeneity by integrating advanced bioconjugation chemistries, optimized purification protocols, and automation-friendly workflows.

11:35 am

CMC and Process Development for Clinical siRNA Molecules

Debasis Patra, PhD, MBA, Senior Vice President, CMC, OliX Pharmaceuticals

RNA interference has emerged as a powerful modality for modulating gene expression and addressing diseases with limited therapeutic options. This presentation will highlight advances in our clinical programs that utilises RNAi platform technologies designed to improve delivery, stability, and target engagement across multiple disease areas. Emphasis will also be placed on the process development, manufacturing, and analytical considerations required to translate the siRNA candidates from discovery through clinical development, supporting scalable production and consistent product quality.

MANUFACTURING OLIGOS AND PEPTIDES, ENZYMATIC SYNTHESIS

12:05 pm

Designing GMP Facilities for Oligonucleotide and Peptide Manufacturing

Jim Love, Chairperson, Oligonucleotide and Peptide Facility Guide, ISPE

This presentation will explore considerations in designing GMP facilities for oligonucleotide drug substance manufacturing. This will be seen through the lens of automation, solvent usage, and regulatory compliance. Drawing on industry benchmarks and project experience, the talk will discuss how capital facility cost is derived from these elements and highlight the future impact to oligonucleotide manufacturing facilities through emerging technologies such as enzymatic ligation and de novo enzymatic synthesis.

12:35 pmAttend Concurrent Luncheon Presentation

1:15 pmRefreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing

2:00 pm

Chairperson's Remarks

Robert Dream, PhD, Managing Director, HDR Co. LLC

PROCESS DEVELOPMENT OF ASOs

2:05 pm

CMC and Process Development of Complex ASOs

Satya Kuchimanchi, PhD, Senior Vice President, Technical Operations, CMC, Camp4 Therapeutics Inc.

Many genetic diseases result from insufficient protein expression. CAMP4 is developing antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) designed to upregulate gene expression and restore healthy protein levels using insights from the RAP Platform. This presentation will highlight the discovery strategy alongside key CMC considerations, including oligonucleotide design, manufacturability, analytical characterization, and quality attributes required to advance ASO therapeutics that increase gene expression into clinical development.

2:35 pm

Challenges and Strategies of 2’-NMA Chemistry in Oligonucleotide-Synthesis Process Development

David Cho, Scientist I, ASO Process Development, Biogen

ASOs with unique n-methylacetamide (NMA)-modified chemical backbones can potentially improve efficacy, allowing patients with long-interval dosing. However, NMA chemistry is not straightforward and comes with many challenges that are unique to this moiety. In this presentation, the challenges associated with NMA ASOs will be discussed along with the developmental work to optimize the process. Moreover, a next-generation starting material will be discussed for ASOs with NMA chemistry.

3:05 pm

Enhancing Control of Endotoxins during Oligonucleotide Purification

Sanjeev Jeyabalan, Engineer II, Technical Development, Biogen

Endotoxins are glycolipids shed from gram-negative bacterial membranes. Regulatory agencies require stringent control of endotoxins in drug substance and product with tighter control for intrathecally-administered drugs. Conventional endotoxin removal relies on positively charged filters that bind negatively charged endotoxins. However, these approaches are incompatible with highly anionic antisense oligonucleotides, causing yield loss. Here, we demonstrate a hydrophobic interaction–based separation strategy that removes endotoxins from ASOs while preserving high product recovery.

3:35 pm POSTER PRESENTATION:

Oligo, Peptide, VHH, and Conjugate Manufacturing Using Ajiphase and Corynex

Yohei Yamada, Vice President, Business Development, Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services

4:05 pmRefreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing

WOMEN IN SCIENCE MEET-UP

4:10 pm

Women in Science Meet-Up in the Exhibit Hall

Chervee Ho, CoFounder & CEO, Biochromatographix

Kruti Soni, PhD, Senior Scientist, Biologics Drug Product Development, Biogen

Join us for an inspiring Women in Science Meet-Up, an inclusive meet-up designed to connect, uplift, and celebrate women across all stages of their scientific careers. Engage in meaningful conversations, share your journey, and gain insights from trailblazing women shaping the future. Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned professional, this is a chance to build a supportive network, foster mentorship, and discuss opportunities and challenges unique to women in the field. Our Women in Science programming invites the entire scientific community to discuss these barriers as we believe that all voices are necessary and welcome.

PERSONALIZED AND INDIVIDUALIZED GENETIC MEDICINES: N-OF-1 MANUFACTURING

4:41 pm

Chairperson Remarks

Susan D'Costa, PhD, CTO, Genezen

4:41 pm

Scaling Personalized CRISPR Therapy: Regulatory, Manufacturing, and Platform Strategies

Kok-Seong Lim, PhD, Principal, Eight Crest Strategies; Member, USP Biologics Cell and Gene Therapy Expert Committee

In 2025, Baby KJ became the world's first patient to receive personalized CRISPR therapy in just six months. The critical next step is translating this breakthrough into scalable, cost-effective standard care for thousands with rare genetic diseases. This presentation explores the strategic and technical foundations for building scalable gene editing platforms, examines regulatory innovations that enable rapid deployment, and discusses how industry is reshaping the economics of personalized CRISPR therapy.

5:10 pm PANEL DISCUSSION:

Personalized and Individualized Genetic Medicines: N-of-1 Manufacturing

PANEL MODERATOR:

Susan D'Costa, PhD, CTO, Genezen

  • Regulatory expectations and emerging guidance for demonstrating comparability, control, and product-specific quality in highly personalized manufacturing runs.​
  • Strategies for designing ultra-flexible manufacturing platforms that can pivot from batch to batch while maintaining GMP compliance for individualized therapies. 
  • The evolving role of the patient as a central “input” to manufacturing
  • Approaches to supply-chain orchestration for N-of-1, including scheduling, raw-material readiness, and minimizing vein-to-vein variability.
PANELISTS:

Jenn McNary, Co-Founder and CEO, Canary Advisors LLC

John E. Schiel, PhD, Program Manager, Scalable Solutions, ARPA-H

Chris Williams, Co-Lead, Viral Vector, NIIMBL

Kok-Seong Lim, PhD, Principal, Eight Crest Strategies; Member, USP Biologics Cell and Gene Therapy Expert Committee

5:40 pmInteractive Breakout Discussions

Interactive Breakout Discussions are informal, moderated discussions, allowing participants to exchange ideas and experiences and develop future collaborations around a focused topic. Each discussion will be led by a facilitator who keeps the discussion on track and the group engaged. To get the most out of this format, please come prepared to share examples from your work, be a part of a collective, problem-solving session, and participate in active idea sharing. Please visit the Interactive Breakout Discussions page on the conference website for a complete listing of topics and descriptions.

TABLE 6:

CMC Strategies for Oligonucleotide and Conjugated Therapies

Robert Dream, PhD, Managing Director, HDR Co. LLC

  • Discuss the unique CMC challenges associated with oligonucleotide therapeutics and emerging conjugated modalities, including antibody oligonucleotide conjugates
  • Explore critical considerations for synthesis, conjugation, purification, and analytical characterization
  • Highlight strategies to control product quality, impurity profiles, potency, stability, and batch consistency
  • Examine how evolving regulatory expectations are shaping CMC development for increasingly complex oligonucleotide-based therapies

6:30 pmClose of Day

Wednesday, August 12

8:00 amRegistration and Morning Coffee

PEPTIDE MANUFACTURING AND FORMULATION

8:30 am

Chairperson's Remarks

Nico Lingg, PhD, Senior Scientist & Area Lead, Health Biotechnology, ACIB

8:35 am

Biopharmaceuticals Manufacturing for Peptides, Lifestyle, and Longevity Medicines

Alois Jungbauer, PhD, Professor & Head, Biotechnology, Institute of Bioprocess Science and Engineering, BOKU University

This presentation explores longevity and lifestyle medicines as a growing market, focusing on challenges in large-scale biopharmaceutical manufacturing and cost-reduction strategies. It highlights advances in peptide bioprocessing and beyond, examining whether these innovations can meet rising market demands for longevity biopharmaceuticals. Emphasis is placed on optimizing production efficiency and scalability to align with consumer expectations for effective, accessible, lifestyle and longevity therapies.

9:05 am

A Platform Approach to Disulfide-Bonded Peptide Production: Advancing Microbial Manufacturing with CASPON Technology

Nico Lingg, PhD, Senior Scientist & Area Lead, Health Biotechnology, ACIB

Manufacturing disulfide-bonded peptides in Escherichia coli offers a scalable and sustainable alternative to chemical synthesis but remains limited by proteolysis, complex folding requirements, and peptide-specific downstream development. CASPON technology provides a platform solution enabling high-titre soluble expression, affinity capture, and precise, scar-free tag removal suitable for biopharmaceutical production. By integrating outer membrane engineering, controlled peptide release into the culture medium further simplifies recovery and reduces downstream processing complexity. This combined approach minimizes process customization, shortens development timelines, and enables robust, scalable manufacturing of high-quality disulfide-bonded peptides for industrial applications.

9:35 amAttend Alternative Talk

10:05 amCoffee Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing

10:45 am

Biomanufacturing Therapeutic Peptides at Scale with an Expanded Genetic Code

Robert Salmon, PhD, Head, Bioprocess, Constructive Bio

Today’s peptide therapeutics increasingly rely on chemistries beyond the 20 canonical amino acids to achieve exceptional pharmacological functions. Their manufacture relies on chemical methods, generating on average 13,000 kg of waste per kg of peptide, of which >50% is organic solvents. This talk will demonstrate how genetic code expansion enables the scalable biomanufacture of peptides and proteins that incorporate multiple non-canonical amino acids, in a reprogrammed E. coli host.

11:15 am

Peptide-Peptide Interaction Studies in Co-Formulations

Yingmei Gu, Advisor, Research and Development, Bioproduct Analytical Development, Eli Lilly and Company

Peptide co-formulation represents a strategic approach to simultaneously modulating complementary biological pathways while reducing injection burden for patients. Successful development requires an understanding of interactions of the co-formulated products to identify potential challenges in the formulation development. This presentation focuses on the thought process of studying peptide interactions in co-formulations using biophysical techniques.

11:45 amAttend Concurrent Luncheon Presentation

12:20 pmRefreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing

12:30 pmClose of Oligonucleotide and Peptide CMC and Manufacturing Conference





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