Conference Day One
Thursday November 21
8:00 am Check-In & Light Breakfast
8:50 am Chair’s Opening Remarks
Advancing MRD Detection through Technological Innovation & Expanding Patient Access to Liquid Biopsies for Transformative Patient Surveillance
9:00 am How to Expand Global Market Access for Liquid Biopsies in Oncology Fields
Synopsis
• Evaluating approaches to standardize reimbursement for liquid biopsy diagnostics
• Identifying and overcoming specific challenges in obtaining reimbursement approval for non oncology companion diagnostics
• Leveraging best-case examples to streamline reimbursement processes for patients needing liquid biopsies
9:30 am From Biomarker Discovery to Breakthroughs: How Liquid Biopsy is Shaping the Future of Oncology Next-Gen Liquid Biopsy
Synopsis
- Next-Gen Liquid Biopsy: Precision for Every Stage – Explore how high-sensitivity, high-specificity ctDNA testing transforms therapy selection, response tracking, and resistance identification in drug development
- Advanced Biomarker Insights with CH and CN Loss – Learn how Foundation Medicine addresses complex biomarkers like clonal hematopoiesis and copy-number loss, using advanced ctDNA capabilities to enhance drug development
- Addressing Molecular Residual Disease – Discover how our MRD solution in development can shape future cancer treatment strategies
10:00 am Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Fireside Chat: Exploiting Liquid Biopsies to Boost Inclusivity in Clinical Trials to Elevate Patient Surveillance & Elevate Survival Rates in Oncology
Synopsis
• How could liquid biopsies provide better precision healthcare surveillance options for patients in economically deprived areas?
• How to utilize liquid biopsies to increase diverse populations in clinical trials to ensure comprehensive and equitable outcomes
• Analysing the impact of low-cost tests in enhancing the inclusion of diverse populations in clinical studies to improve accessibility to precision therapeutics
10:30 am Novel Liquid Biopsy ML Multigene mRNA Expression for Clinical Trials: from Discovery to Precision Medicine
Synopsis
- How liquid biopsies provide real-time insights into tumor biology and treatment responses
- How ML algorithms transform complex data into actionable results
- Examples of mRNA gene signatures for personalized treatment and disease monitoring
11:00 am Morning Break & Speed Networking
Synopsis
As the clinical biomarkers and Liquid Biopsy community unite once more, this valuable session will ensure that you can connect with your peers in the room to make new and lasting connections. All attendees will have the opportunity to meet and network with their industry peers.
Leveraging Liquid Biopsies to Optimize Patient Selection in Clinical Trials to Develop Safer & More Efficacious Drugs for Patients in Need
12:00 pm Challenges & Strategies of LBx Assays Clinical Validation for Cancer Surveillance
Synopsis
- Incorporating liquid biopsy (LBx) based surveillance in clinical settings: Implementation of LBx surveillance assays is beneficial for patient management
- Managing hurdles of clinical validation: As more LBx assays intended for surveillance are emerging, we must address various challenges associated with assay clinical validation
- Strategies to facilitate clinical validation: Let’s explore strategies to overcome these challenges and ensure robust clinical validation of LBx assays
12:30 pm ctDNA Detection & Intervention, Challenges & Opportunities
Synopsis
- Current Practices and Future Prospects in ctDNA Detection
- Evolving role of liquid biopsies indications in cancer therapy
- Leveraging MRD-Based Approaches to optimize therapeutic intervention
1:00 pm Association of Baseline ctDNA Genetics with Outcomes in Taxane-Naïve Patients with mCRPC Treated with [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 Versus Change of ARPI in PSMAfore
Synopsis
• Higher baseline ctDNA fraction was associated with shorter rPFS across both treatment arms
• Genetic alterations detected at >10% frequency in ctDNA were consistent with key driver alterations detected in tumor tissues from mCRPC patients reported in literature
• 8q amplifications, AR amplification, and TP53 deleterious alterations are prognostic biomarkers that were associated with shorter rPFS and decreased tumor response in the 177Lu-PSMA-617 arm
1:30 pm Lunch & Networking Break
Optimizing ctDNA Analysis for Tailored Dosage Regimens to Advance Precision in Clinical Decision-Making
2:30 pm Leveraging Liquid Biopsies for Precision Dosage Guidance & Oncology Surveillance
Synopsis
• Project Optimus: Explore how liquid biopsy data can be utilized to refine dosage strategies in clinical trials
• Exploring the limitations and emerging solutions in applying liquid biopsies across various tumor types
• Utilizing liquid biopsies as a surrogate endpoint to support RECIST readouts
3:00 pm Using Epigenomics & DNA Methylation to Advance Cancer Biomarkers: Technologies & Case Studies
3:15 pm Finding Value in ctDNA Monitoring for Decision Making in Early-Phase Drug Development
Synopsis
- Utility of ctDNA in drug discovery and optimizing decision-making
- Monitoring to better refine efficacy signals
- Monitoring for resistance to PARP inhibitors; assay details matter
3:45 pm Panel Discussion: Supercharging Oncology Therapeutics with Unprecedented Patient Surveillance to Provide Insights On Risk of Relapse & Improve Survival
Synopsis
- Leveraging MRD to act as a biomarker for patient relapse
- Developing surrogate endpoints using ctDNA
- Investigating the potential of multi-markers in advancing patient monitoring
4:15 pm Afternoon Networking Break
Harnessing MRD to Enhance Relapse Prediction & Strengthen Surveillance Strategies for Unprecedented Patient Care
4:40 pm Pioneering the Future of Cancer Care: Predicting Relapse with Biomarkers
Synopsis
• It is feasible of developing biomarkers from liquid biopsies in ALL and AML as evidenced from 2 projects in hematologic conditions
• MRD can be used as a prognostic indicator. Efforts are underway to develop biomarkers for progression from MGUS to Multiple Myeloma
• Inclusion of patient advocacy groups and patients with lived experience provides valuable insight into patient needs and needed data to improve patient outcomes
5:10 pm BioNTech, an Innovator in Immunotherapy – ctDNA Analysis in Clinical Trials to Identify Patients with CRC at Risk of Recurrence after Curative Intent Surgery”
Synopsis
• How to leverage new technologies to improve identification of patients and refine selection?
• Improving early cancer diagnostic testing accuracy
• Leveraging liquid biopsies to developing prognostic biomarkers