Pre-Conference Workshop Day
Tuesday, July 15

8:00 am Check-In & Coffee

Early-Stage Development

Workshop A: Solving Out of Specification (OOS) Issues in Early- Stage Cell Therapy Manufacturing

  • Sean Smith Head of Quality, KSQ Therapeutics, Inc.
  • Jen Baerenwald Director - T Cell Immunology & Process Development, BioNTech

Synopsis

Out of Specification (OOS) results are a common and challenging issue in early-stage cell therapy manufacturing, where process variability can lead to delays and increased costs. This workshop will focus on identifying and addressing the root causes of OOS issues, as well as implementing proactive risk management strategies to ensure product consistency in the early phases of development.

  • Root Cause Analysis of Early-Stage Process Failures: Methods for identifying key process variables that lead to OOS results, including cell viability and expansion issues
  • Proactive Risk Management Strategies: Techniques for detecting and mitigating potential failure points early in process development to reduce the likelihood of OOS events
  • Implementing Corrective Actions for OOS Consistency: Best practices for defining and executing corrective actions that ensure long-term process stability and consistency in early-phase manufacturing

12:00 pm Lunch Break

Late-Stage Development

1:00 pm Workshop B: Implementing Cutting-Edge Technology in Cell Therapy: Balancing Early Adoption & Phase-Appropriate Strategies

  • Amanda Conerty Executive Director - Manufacturing, Advocacy & Engagement, Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc
  • Max Lee Process Development Senior Scientist, Arsenal Bio

Synopsis

In the fast-evolving world of cell therapy, companies must decide when to implement cutting-edge technologies like AI, automation, and advanced analytics, all while maintaining speed and regulatory compliance. This workshop will explore how to strategically adopt new technologies, from early-phase development to clinical trials, and navigate the challenges of balancing innovation with the need for process standardization and GMP compliance.

  • Deciding When to Implement New Technologies: Early vs. Later-Stage Adoption: Evaluating the risks and benefits of adopting cutting-edge technologies at different stages of development and scaling and balancing early-phase process flexibility with requirements for later-stage scalability
  • Balancing Process Agility and Technology Integration: How to maintain operational flexibility and scale-up while integrating technologies like AI, automation, and advanced analytics without compromising on quality or compliance
  • Successful Case Studies of Technology Implementation: Examining case studies where cutting-edge technologies were successfully implemented, and the lessons learned from overcoming regulatory and technical challenges

4:00 pm End of Pre-Conference Workshop Day