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