Explore the Agenda

7:00 am Check-In, Coffee & Light Breakfast

7:50 am Chair’s Opening Remarks

Weighing Plasmid & Enzymatic Approaches in the Evolving Landscape of DNA Production

8:00 am Discussion: The Evolution of DNA Production: Insights to Guide Current Practices & Future Opportunities

Founder & CEO, DoriNano
  • Identifying where the industry stands today (plasmid dominance, emerging synthetic/enzymatic methods)
  • Exploring how different DNA production methods compare in terms of cost, scalability, regulatory readiness, andapplication suitability
  • Analyzing what trends and innovations are likely to shape the future, helping make informed decisions for pipeline development, manufacturing strategies, and modality selection

9:00 am Closed-End DNA as a Cell Free Template for mRNA Production

Senior Associate Scientist - Upstream Process Development, Pfizer
  • Enabling rapid, scalable cell-free DNA template production for mRNA manufacturing through closed-end DNA (ceDNA) technology
  • Achieving mRNA of similar quality to traditional plasmid DNA template methods with ceDNA templates
  • Generating starting templates, selecting process raw materials, and purifying ceDNA as key steps for ensuring high DNA and mRNA quality

9:30 am Speed Networking

Our dedicated speed networking session is the perfect opportunity to have in-depth conversations and forge long-lasting connections with fellow technical experts working with plasmid and synthetic DNA

10:00 am Morning Break & Refreshments

Unleashing Synthetic DNA Production with Novel Platforms & Streamlined Processes for Bacterial Contamination-Free Material

10:30 am Manufacturing & Application of DNA as Building Materials for DNA Origami Nanoparticles

Founder & CEO, DoriNano
  • Using DNA as structural building materials for DNA origami
  • Assessing key considerations for DNA origami nanoparticle manufacturing
  • Quantifying cargo loading on DNA origami nanoparticles

11:00 am Pure Synthetic DNA: Unlocking the Genetic Medicines Needs

  • Quality comes first – Ensuring high quality products and reproducible results
  • Faster Delivery Time – Accelerating access to DNA material through high performance manufacturing process
  • Scalability – Meeting any amount demanded: from R&D and clinical to commercial

11:15 am Roundtable Discussion: Comparing DNA Production Methods: Chemical, Cell-Free Amplification, Enzymatic, Biological & Beyond

Independent Cell & Gene Therapy CMC Expert, Independent Expert
  • Clarifying what “cell-free” production really entails and how it differs from enzymatic or synthetic methods
  • Comparing structural and impurity profiles across different DNA production approaches
  • Exploring scalability, process flexibility, and cost implications of each method
  • Sharing practical experiences and lessons learned from implementing different synthetic DNA platforms

12:00 pm Lunch & Networking

Refining Upstream Process Development, Plasmid Design & Fermentation to Maximize DNA Integrity, Stability & Yield

1:00 pm Mechanisms, Measurements & Mitigation of dsRNA in In Vitro Transcription

Independent Cell & Gene Therapy CMC Expert, Independent Expert
  • Analyzing mechanistic sources of dsRNA including self-priming and sequence context effects
  • Exploring analytical approaches for dsRNA detection and quantification
  • Identifying strategies to minimize dsRNA formation and its impact

1:30 pm Optimizing Synthetic DNA Template Design to Improve repRNA Yield & Quality

Director - Virology, HDT Bio
  • Comparing synthetic vs plasmid-derived DNA templates
  • Evaluating template quality and its correlation with RNA integrity
  • Mitigating amplification-induced artifacts
  • Establishing quality metrics for synthetic DNA-based IVT templates

2:00 pm Controlling Fermentation Environments to Reduce Variability for Reproducible, High-Quality Plasmid Supply

Unit head CMC DNA Process Development / mRNA center, Sanofi
  • Unpacking key challenges in upstream fermentation and parameters to monitor during fermentation
  • Reducing fermentation stresses to maintain plasmid robustness, sequence integrity and minimize batch-to-batch variability
  • Balancing growth and yield to maximize efficiency while preserving critical elements like polyA tails for mRNA and ITRs for viral vectors
  • Evaluating media formulation, feeding strategies and culture conditions for optimal plasmid recovery

2:30 pm Afternoon Break & Poster Session

This is an informal session designed to help you connect with peers in a relaxed atmosphere while exploring the latest innovations in DNA production, purification, and analytics. With an audience of experts eager to discuss advancements in plasmid quality, enzymatic synthesis, and analytical testing, you will have the opportunity to display a poster presenting your own research. Don’t miss the chance to connect, learn, and showcase your work in DNA production.

Enhancing DNA Recovery in Downstream Processing to Enable Efficient, Scalable Therapeutic Production

3:30 pm Controlling Variability in Downstream Processing to Produce Quality Plasmid DNA at Industrial Scale

Senior Scientist & Head - Process Development, GreenLight BioSciences
  • Understanding how downstream processes impact DNA isoforms (supercoiled vs nicked/linear)
  • Identifying the main causes of DNA damage during DSP: hold-up time and temperature during resuspension
  • Exploring how DNA quality impacts stability

4:00 pm From Template to Transcript: Impact of DNA Product Quality on mRNA Therapeutic Outcomes

Principal Scientist, GlaxoSmithKline
  • Designing DNA vectors to influence double-stranded RNA formation and improve downstream process performance
  • Engineering a plasmid that impacts polyA tail length to maximize product quality
  • Understanding the importance of pDNA as a starting material on mRNA product quality to inform plasmid design

4:30 pm Column-Free DNA Production: Tackling Scalability Challenges

, Independent Expert
  • Exploring poultry H5N1 vaccine breakthroughs using column-free processes with >95% supercoiled DNA and proven long-term stability
  • Learning GMP scale-up lessons from 50L to 1000L fermentation batches while navigating regulatory requirements for novel platforms
  • Analyzing process economics and applying real-world facility implementation strategies for resin versus resin-free production

5:00 pm Innovating DNA Purification with Next-Generation Chromatography, Membrane Systems, & Hybrid Workflows for Higher Quality

Senior Scientist - Process Development pDNA & RNA Production, CureVac SE
  • Selecting process strategies such as depth filters, tangential flow filtration (TFF), and other downstream systems to optimize DNA recovery
  • Exploring innovations in chromatography techniques monolithic resins, membrane absorbers, and anion exchange chromatography for removal of genomic DNA, RNA, and endotoxins
  • Maintaining cost-effectiveness while employing advanced purification methods to ensure sustainable DNA production

5:30 pm Chair’s Closing Remarks