The agenda. The decisions.
A detailed two-day programme examining how the drug-discovery ecosystem moves from promising scientific discovery to evidence-led programme decisions.
- When
- February 2027
- Where
- San Diego
- Status
- Working programme
From biological insight to discovery opportunity.
Day one examines target confidence, computational discovery, emerging modalities and the real-world problems confronting discovery teams.
Monday: Discovery
DiscoverRegistration & Executive Breakfast
Arrival, coffee and informal networking before the main programme.
Opening Remarks
Welcome to DrugAxis San Diego 2027 and introduction to the From Discovery to Decision framework.
The New Economics of Drug Discovery: From More Data to Better Decisions
Opening keynote examining how technology, data and scientific complexity are changing the way discovery organisations allocate attention, resources and risk.
The Drug Discovery Productivity Problem
Executive panel on productivity, programme attrition, evidence thresholds and where discovery organisations are still losing time and capital.
Networking Break
Coffee, refreshments and connections.
Target Confidence: Can We Trust the Target?
Human genetics, multiomics, functional genomics, CRISPR screening, target tractability and mechanism validation.
From Association to Mechanism: Raising the Bar for Target Validation
How discovery teams can connect genetic or molecular evidence with functional biological confidence.
The Wrong Target Problem
Why apparently compelling biological hypotheses can fail and what evidence should be gathered before major programme investment.
Computational Discovery: Can Computation Improve Decisions?
Generative AI, virtual screening, molecular design, computational chemistry, predictive ADME and closed-loop discovery.
Beyond the Model: When Does AI Actually Change a Programme Decision?
Moving the conversation from benchmark performance to practical discovery impact.
Executive Networking Lunch
Curated networking with pharma, biotech, TechBio, technology providers and investors.
Pharma Problem Room™
Senior pharma and biotech leaders present unresolved discovery challenges. Selected technology companies respond, followed by expert questioning.
Technology Showcase: Discovery Platforms Under the Microscope
Short, high-impact demonstrations focused on the discovery problem being solved—not a conventional product pitch.
Networking Break
Refreshments and curated introductions.
Molecules & Modalities: What Should We Build?
Small molecules, degraders, molecular glues, RNA therapeutics, biologics, ADCs and emerging therapeutic modalities.
Choosing the Modality: Biology, Tractability and Therapeutic Opportunity
How teams decide how best to engage challenging targets and biological mechanisms.
CEO / CSO Fireside: What Will Actually Change Drug Discovery by 2030?
A forward-looking discussion on technologies and scientific shifts that could meaningfully change discovery strategy.
Day One Closing: Three Decisions We Should Be Making Differently
Rapid synthesis of the strongest insights from Day One.
Executive Networking Reception
Invitation-led evening networking.
From discovery confidence to therapeutic confidence.
Day two moves into human-relevant validation, translational evidence, candidate advancement, investment and strategic partnerships.
Tuesday: Validation and translation
Validate and decideExecutive Breakfast Roundtables
Small-group discussions around the discovery bottlenecks participants are facing now.
From Biological Hypothesis to Therapeutic Confidence
Keynote examining how evidence accumulates across discovery and what separates an interesting hypothesis from a credible therapeutic opportunity.
Human-Relevant Validation: Does the Model Predict Human Biology?
Organoids, patient-derived systems, 3D models, human tissue, single-cell and spatial biology, functional assays and translational biomarkers.
Beyond Conventional Preclinical Models
Where human-relevant models can add evidence, expose uncertainty and improve translational decision-making.
Networking Break
Coffee, refreshments and networking.
Are Our Preclinical Models Predicting Human Biology?
Executive panel challenging assumptions around model selection, translational relevance and evidence quality.
DrugAxis Discovery Challenge™
Selected emerging TechBio companies have seven minutes to demonstrate how they solve a discovery problem that pharma still struggles with.
Executive Networking Lunch
Curated networking and optional 1:1 meetings.
Discovery → Development: When Should a Candidate Advance?
Candidate selection, lead optimisation, biomarkers, PK/PD, mechanism of action, preclinical risk and translational strategy.
What Evidence Is Enough to Move a Programme Forward?
Cross-functional discussion on evidence thresholds, uncertainty and programme advancement decisions.
DrugAxis Decision Room™
Invitation-only senior executive discussion. One difficult question. No presentations. No sales pitches.
Networking Break
Refreshments and meetings.
Capital, Partnerships & Platform Strategy: Can the Science Become a Business?
Licensing, pharma–biotech partnerships, platform companies, external innovation, investment and strategic capital.
What Makes a Discovery Platform Partnership-Ready?
Investors, pharma and biotech leaders examine the scientific and commercial signals that influence strategic engagement.
The Drug Discovery Decision of 2030
Closing panel connecting the strongest ideas from the two-day programme and asking what decision-making will look like as discovery technology evolves.
Closing Remarks & DrugAxis Executive Takeaways
Final programme synthesis and introduction to the post-event DrugAxis intelligence output.
Designed for participation, not passive attendance.
Decision Room™
12 to 15 senior leaders work through one difficult discovery decision and contribute to an anonymised executive brief.
Pharma Problem Room™
Real discovery problems are presented by industry leaders and challenged by technology providers and experts.
Discovery Challenge™
Emerging TechBio companies get seven minutes to demonstrate a solution to a meaningful industry problem.
Curated 1:1 meetings
Purposeful introductions between relevant buyers, partners, investors, innovators and scientific leaders.
Executive roundtables
Small-group discussions designed around practical discovery and translational challenges.
Technology showcases
Short, focused demonstrations framed around the decision or discovery problem being solved.
A programme built around decisions.
Every session moves the conversation from technology and scientific possibility toward evidence, confidence and action.
Discover
Targets, mechanisms, molecules, modalities and computational opportunities.
Validate
Experimental evidence, human relevance, translation and risk reduction.
Decide
Advance, stop, partner, invest or change direction.
Programme status
This is the working programme for DrugAxis San Diego 2027. Session titles, speakers and timings will be refined as the advisory board, venue and speaker faculty are confirmed.
Be part of the decision.
Register your interest and tell us which conversations matter most to you.