26th BioPharma Drug Discovery Nexus 2026

May 7th & 8th 2026

Philadelphia Airport Marriott, PA, USA

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Be A Participant

Driving Progress Across the Drug Discovery Landscape



The BioPharma Drug Discovery Nexus is an exclusive conference that brings together leading drug discovery scientists, R&D executives, and biotech & innovative technology partners from across the biopharmaceutical industry.

The conference agenda is meticulously curated to address critical challenges across the drug discovery continuum from target identification and validation to lead optimization and translational science. It highlights emerging scientific breakthroughs, evolving discovery platforms, and real-world strategies adopted by pioneering organizations that are shaping the future of therapeutic innovation.

A Premium, All-Inclusive Experience

Every delegate is treated as a VIP. From curated networking sessions to carefully designed experiences, the Nexus fosters both professional engagement and personal comfort, creating the ideal environment for productive dialogue and long-lasting connections.

Driving Conversations in Drug Discovery

This is not a conventional tradeshow. The Nexus is purposefully structured to bring together senior leaders in a focused setting that supports strategic discussions, peer learning, and professional exchange.

Curated One-to-One Engagements

Engage with fellow delegates through dedicated one-to-one meetings throughout the event. This flexible format allows you to explore strategic collaborations, exchange insights, and maximize every interaction.

Who Should Attend?

By Seniority Level

Top Management
(C-Suite, Presidents)
Senior Management
(VPs, Heads)
Middle Management
(Directors, Managers)
Others
30%
43%
22%
5%
  • Neuroscience and Preclinical Research
  • Research & Product Development
  • Precision Medicine
  • Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics
  • Drug Discovery Innovation
  • Biomarker Research
  • Stem Cell Genomics
  • Molecular Design
  • Translational Program
  • Nonclinical Development
  • Oligonucleotide Chemistry Research
  • Oncology Cell Therapy Innovation
  • Cell & Gene Therapy
  • Toxicology
  • Modeling & Simulation
  • Computational Designing
  • Target Biochemistry
  • Protein Engineering
  • Hit Discovery
  • Medicinal Chemistry
  • High-Throughput Protein Expression
  • Assay Development
  • Bioinformatics and AI/ML
  • Therapeutic Antibodies
  • Structural Chemistry
  • Neuroscience Research
  • DMPK
  • Process Analytical Development
  • mRNA Protein Therapeutics
  • Peptide Chemistry
  • Computational Biology & Data Science
  • Computer Aided Drug Design
  • Synthetic Biology
  • Vaccine Immunology
  • Small Molecule Research
  • Machine Learning
  • Protein Biochemistry

Our Industry Leaders

Meet the Innovators Driving the Next Era of Drug Discovery

Dariush Mohammadyani
Dariush Mohammadyani

VP of Commercial

Differentia Bio

LinkedIn
Eric B. Kmiec
Eric B. Kmiec

Chief Executive Officer

CorriXR Therapeutics

LinkedIn
Rosemary Bastian, PhD
Rosemary Bastian, PhD

Senior Director- Translational Science

BioNzTech SE

LinkedIn
Manjunatha Shivaraju
Manjunatha Shivaraju

Principal Scientist/Lab Head

Boehringer Ingelheim

LinkedIn
Satarupa Mukherjee
Satarupa Mukherjee

R&D Leader, AI/ML

Roche

LinkedIn
Nikolaos Tezapsidis
Nikolaos Tezapsidis

President & CEO

Neurotez

LinkedIn
Xiaofeng Li
Xiaofeng Li

Principal Scientist (Analytical Development)

Aurion Biotech

LinkedIn
Paya Arora
Paya Arora

Director (Global Translational Research and Precision Medicine)

Kyowa Kirin

LinkedIn
KENNEDY OKECHUKWU
KENNEDY OKECHUKWU

Senior Scientist

Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc.

LinkedIn
Olivier Bezy
Olivier Bezy

Senior Director - Head of Exploratory

Cellarity

LinkedIn
Tian Zhao
Tian Zhao

Vice President, R&D

OncoNano Medicine, Inc.

LinkedIn
Lital Magid
Lital Magid

Director, DMPK Team and Project Leader

Teva Pharmaceuticals

LinkedIn
Ernane Souza
Ernane Souza

Associate Director, Translational Medicine PKPD & DMPK

Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

LinkedIn
Satarupa Mukherjee
Vitalay Fomin, Ph.D.

CEO & Co-founder

Numenos AI

LinkedIn
Kambiz Shekdar
Kambiz Shekdar

Founder & CEO

Secondcell Bio

LinkedIn
Petrina Kamya, Ph.D.
Petrina Kamya, Ph.D.

Global Head of AI Platforms, VP Insilico Medicine

Insilico Medicine

LinkedIn
Tarek Al-Aydi
Tarek Al-Aydi

Technical Sales Specialist (NY/NJ)

NanoTemper Technologies Co.

LinkedIn
Ilayaraja Muthuramu
Ilayaraja Muthuramu

Principal Scientist

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine

LinkedIn
Raluca Budiu-Predoiu
Raluca Budiu-Predoiu

Director of Precision Medicine

AbbVie

LinkedIn
Alok Pandey, Ph.D.
Alok Pandey, Ph.D.

Chief Scientific Officer

PBL Assay Science

LinkedIn
Matthijs de Geus
Matthijs de Geus

Associate Business Development Manager - Northeast US

Biognosys

LinkedIn
Roshanak Tolouei Semnani
Roshanak Tolouei Semnani

Executive Director Translational Research

Precigen

LinkedIn
Raphael G. Ognar, MSc MBA
Raphael G. Ognar, MSc MBA

President & CEO, Co Founder - Chairman of the Board

NKILT Therapeutics

LinkedIn
Dr. Fengbo Ren
Dr. Fengbo Ren

Founder & CEO

Fovus Corporation

LinkedIn
Ajinkya Sase
Ajinkya Sase

Application Scientist

Vector Biolabs

LinkedIn
Laura Hong
Laura Hong

Co-Founder & CEO

Ala R7

LinkedIn
Matthew Clark
Matthew Clark

Vice President of Data Science

Ability Biotherapeutics

LinkedIn
LiMing Shen
LiMing Shen

Head of R&D Data Governance and Strategy, R&D Data Office

Sanofi

LinkedIn
Artem Evdokimov
Artem Evdokimov

VP - Head of Research

Orogen Therapeutics

LinkedIn
Abhijat Vatsyayan
Abhijat Vatsyayan

Head of Artificial Intelligence and Innovation

Taiho Oncology

LinkedIn
Ziv Kirshner
Ziv Kirshner

Senior Director, Head of Mass Spectrometry & Multiomics Innovation

Noveome Biotherapeutics, Inc.

LinkedIn
Pablo Lapuerta
Pablo Lapuerta

Chief Executive Officer

4M Therapeutics

LinkedIn
Alison Heick Varghese
Alison Heick Varghese

Principal Scientist

Pfizer

LinkedIn
Francine E. Lui, Ph.D
Francine E. Lui, Ph.D

Director, Drug Discovery and Translational Research

ProteinQure

LinkedIn
Kavitha Akula
Kavitha Akula, MSc, PhD.

Principal Scientist

Bristol Myers Squibb

LinkedIn
Dean Petkanas
Dean Petkanas

Chief Executive Officer

Neuropathix, Inc.

LinkedIn
Ari Allyn-Feuer
Ari Allyn-Feuer

Director of Artificial Intelligence Product

GSK

LinkedIn
Paulo Roberto Pascarella
Paulo Roberto Pascarella

Senior Scientist

Ferring Ventures

LinkedIn
Wu Du
Wu Du

SVP of medicinal chemistry

Hinova Pharmaceuticals Inc.

LinkedIn
Mark Feitelson
Mark Feitelson

CSO

SFA Therapeutics, Inc.

LinkedIn
Elena Diez Cecilia
Elena Diez Cecilia

Senior Director External Innovation DPDS

Johnson & Johnson

LinkedIn
Avery (Qinghong) Yan
Avery (Qinghong) Yan, PhD

Founder & CEO

Riboway Therapeutics

LinkedIn
Srijit Seal
Srijit Seal

Senior Research Scientist AI/ML

Uppsala University

LinkedIn
Zongmei Gao
Zongmei Gao

Senior Scientist II

Abbvie

LinkedIn
Sonia Agrawal
Sonia Agrawal, PHD, MS

Associate Principal Scientist Genomics

AstraZeneca

LinkedIn
Ainhoa Nieto Gutiérrez
Ainhoa Nieto Gutiérrez

Principal Scientist – Discovery Biology & Pharmacology

Pfizer

LinkedIn
Nicole Lykens
Nicole Lykens

CTO & Co-Founder

Valaya Bio

LinkedIn
Abhijeet R Patil
Abhijeet R Patil

Sr. Manager, Translational Data Science

Teva Pharmaceuticals

LinkedIn
Saurabh V. Laddha
Saurabh V. Laddha

Principal Computational Scientist

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine

LinkedIn
Kinkini Roy
Kinkini Roy, PhD

Associate Director, Drug Product Development

Aviceda Therapeutics

LinkedIn
Samuel Kaplan
Samuel Kaplan

Senior Scientist

Merck

LinkedIn
Sun Sook Chung
Sun Sook Chung

Bioinformatics Analyst

The Wistar Institute

LinkedIn
Maria V. Fawaz
Maria V. Fawaz, PhD

Associate Principal Scientist

Merck

LinkedIn
Dr. Cheng Fang
Dr. Cheng Fang

Sr. VP of Research & Development

Annovis Bio, Inc.

LinkedIn
Sandra Milasta
Sandra Milasta

Senior Principal Scientist, Head of Checkpoint Immunology

AbbVie

LinkedIn
Martin Akerman
Martin Akerman

CTO, Cofounder

Envisagenics

LinkedIn
Deidre Dalmas
Deidre Dalmas

Distinguished Research Fellow

Boehringer Ingelheim

LinkedIn
Johanna Hansen
Johanna Hansen

Senior Director | Vaccine Tech. | Bispecifics Antibodies

Regeneron

LinkedIn
Varun Shivashankar
Varun Shivashankar

Associate Director, Machine Learning

Parabilis Medicines

LinkedIn
Thomas Nittoli
Thomas Nittoli, Ph.D

Senior Director

Regeneron (Former)

LinkedIn
Michael Tolentino
Michael Tolentino

Co-Founder and Chief Development Officer

Aikium Inc.

LinkedIn
Akihiro Furukawa
Akihiro Furukawa, PhD

Director, Search & Evaluation

Daiichi Sankyo US

LinkedIn
Tuhin Das
Tuhin Das

Founder & CEO

Shristae Therapeutics

LinkedIn
Anmbreen Jamroze
Anmbreen Jamroze

Research Assistant Professor

Roswell Park Cancer Institute

LinkedIn
Nick van der Werff
Nick van der Werff

Technical Sales Specialist – MidWest

Nano Temper

LinkedIn

6 Reasons to Attend

Gain Insight into Cutting-Edge Science & Technologies

Discover the latest innovations in target discovery, novel modalities, and AI-enabled drug design.

Learn from Industry Trailblazers

Hear proven strategies and real-world insights from leading drug discovery and R&D experts.

Address Real Drug Discovery Challenges

Explore solutions to key challenges across target validation, optimization, and early development.

High-Value, Curated Networking

Connect with senior discovery leaders and solution providers in an exclusive, invitation-only setting.

Practical, Actionable Takeaways

Take home applicable frameworks and case studies to strengthen discovery productivity.

Stay Ahead of Market & Research Trends

Keep pace with emerging scientific, technological, and strategic trends shaping drug discovery.

What to expect at
the 2026 Edition

Our 2026 agenda is built around five core themes, each designed to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities in modern drug discovery and translational research. These themes guide scientific discussions, spark innovation, foster collaboration, and provide actionable strategies to accelerate R&D, enhance candidate development, and drive meaningful impact across the industry.

  • Novel Targets & Modalities
  • Antibody & Protein Therapeutics
  • Data, AI & Computational Discovery
  • Translational Biology, Biomarkers & DMPK
  • Enabling Platforms & Tools

Industry Leaders and Innovators Who Make Things Happen

  • Drive Innovation: Senior executives and innovators actively implementing new technologies, strategies, and operational solutions in supply chain and logistics.
  • Stay Ahead: Professionals seeking the latest insights on market trends, regulatory developments, and emerging best practices.
  • Collaborate Strategically: Leaders looking to form partnerships that solve complex supply chain and operational challenges.
  • Accelerate Performance: Experts focused on enhancing efficiency, optimizing processes, and driving measurable results across the supply chain.

Your opportunity to gain insights, practical strategies, and valuable industry connections.

  • Engage with Industry Leaders
  • Hands-On Learning
  • Shape the Conversation
  • Build Strategic Connections
  • High-level plenaries with leading drug discovery experts
  • Hands-on sessions exploring emerging technologies and innovative approaches
  • Targeted networking designed to foster collaborations and scientific partnerships

Our Partners

Our Previous Partners

Our Media Partners

Showcase Your Solutions at the 26th Drug Discovery Nexus Conference

Take advantage of exclusive opportunities to showcase your scientific expertise, present breakthrough research, and highlight innovative drug discovery solutions. Lead high-level discussions with senior researchers, biotech innovators, and pharma decision-makers, positioning your organization at the forefront of drug discovery and translational science.

At the Nexus, your participation is active, not passive. Engage directly with decision-makers through presentations, panel and roundtable discussions, solution demonstrations, and targeted 1:1 meetings. This is your chance to influence the conversation, showcase your capabilities, and build meaningful partnerships that deliver real operational impact.

Schedule At a Glance

08:00 am - 08:10 am
Registration
08:10 am - 08:15 am
Chairperson Address
08:15 am - 08:35 am
Presentation 1
08:40 am - 09:00 am
Presentation 2
09:05 am - 10:00 am
Panel
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Networking
11:30 am - 11:50 am
Presentation 3
11:55 am - 12:50 pm
Panel 2
12:50 pm - 1:30 pm
Lunch Break
Hot Buffet Lunch will be Served.
1:35 pm - 1:55 pm
Presentation 4
1:55 pm - 2:15 pm
Presentation 5
2:20 pm - 3:15 pm
Panel
3:15 pm - 3:35 pm
Presentation 6
3:35 pm - 3:55 pm
Presentation 7
3:55 pm - 4:15 pm
Presentation 8
4:20 pm - 4:50 pm
Closing & Roundtable Discussion
08:00 am - 08:10 am
Registration
08:10 am - 08:15 am
Chairperson Address
08:15 am - 08:35 am
Presentation 1
08:40 am - 09:00 am
Presentation 2
09:05 am - 10:00 am
Panel
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Networking
10:10 am - 10:40 am
Roundtable Discussion
11:30 am - 11:50 am
Presentation 3
11:55 am - 12:15 pm
Presentation 4
12:20 pm - 12:45 pm
Presentation 5
12:50 pm - 1:30 pm
Lunch Break
Hot Buffet Lunch will be Served.
1:35 pm - 1:55 pm
Presentation 6
2:00 pm - 2:50 pm
Panel
2:55 pm - 3:15 pm
Presentation 7
3:15 pm - 3:35 pm
Presentation 8
3:35 pm - 3:55 pm
Presentation 9
3:55 pm - 4:15 pm
Presentation 10
04:15 pm - 05:50 pm
Closing Remarks & Afternoon Networking Session

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Exhibitors

Testimonials

Venue

Philadelphia Airport Marriott

Name: Philadelphia Airport Marriott

Address: Philadelphia Airport Marriott, 1 Arrivals Road, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Parking: Discounted parking will be available for conference participants throughout the event days (Discounted Parking Rate will be $15 per day).

Hotel Reservation Link: A dedicated reservation link will be shared to help you secure your accommodation at a special discounted rate. The discounted room rate is $269 per night + tax, available on a first-come, first-served basis until the cut-off date of May 9, 2026. After this date, standard hotel rates may apply based on availability.

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

Secure your spot today.