Symposium 2026: Translating Human Genetics into Better Drug Development Decisions

Translating Human Genetics into Better Drug Development Decisions

DATE

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

TIME

13:00 – 15:00 EDT

VENUE

HoneyRose Hotel, 355 Blvd. De Maisonneuve Ouest, Montréal, Quebec H3A 1L6

WHY IT MATTERS

Human evidence is most valuable when it changes action

01

Target selection

When is human evidence strong enough to support advancing a target?

02

Direction of modulation

How can genetics help determine whether to inhibit, activate, or otherwise modulate a target?

03

Biomarker strategy

How can causal evidence inform target engagement, disease activity, and patient stratification?

04

Indication & patient population

How can human evidence identify where a mechanism may have support beyond the initial indication?

05

Early clinical strategy

How should genetic evidence inform safety monitoring, patient selection, and trial design?

06

Portfolio & BD decisions

How can human evidence support in-licensing, program prioritization, and capital allocation?

PERSPECTIVES

Confirmed Speakers

Brent Richards, MD, MSc

Host · CEO and Founder, 5 Prime Sciences

Robert Plenge, M.D., Ph.D.

Keynote · Executive Vice President, Chief Research Officer, Bristol Myers Squibb

James L. Trevaskis, Ph.D.

Vice President, Obesity and Complications, Eli Lilly and Company

Sally John, Ph.D.

Senior Vice President, Information and Predictive Sciences, Bristol Myers Squibb

Mark McCarthy, M.D.

Principal Fellow & Executive Director, Human Genetics, Research Biology, Genentech

Panelists

Pradeep Natarajan

Panelist · Vice President, Global Research, Amgen

Gosia Trynka

Panelist · Group Leader, Wellcome Sanger Institute & Science Director, Open Targets

PROGRAMME

Agenda

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2026

1:00 – 1:10 PM

Welcome

Brent Richards, M.D., M.Sc. · CEO, 5 Prime Sciences

1:10 – 1:15 PM

Partner perspective

What works, what does not, and what makes human genetic evidence actionable inside pharma. A translational biologist’s perspective.

James L. Trevaskis, Ph.D. · VP, Obesity & Complications, Eli Lilly

1:15 – 2:10 PM

Pharma perspectives

Translating genetics evidence to action inside large pharma. Sally John, Ph.D., BMS

Making the case for human genetics and truly causal inference in drug development. Mark McCarthy, M.D., Genentech

Making high-stakes drug development decisions, even in the absence of data. Keynote: Robert M. Plenge, M.D., Ph.D., BMS

2:10 – 2:55 PM

Panel discussion

Translating human evidence into better drug development decisions. With the confirmed speakers.

2:55 – 3:00 PM

Closing remarks

Brent Richards

3:00 – 4:00 PM

Networking

Light snacks, beverages, and continued conversation

EVENT DETAILS

When & where

DATE

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

TIME

13:00 – 15:00 EDT

CITY

Montréal, Canada

VENUE

HoneyRose Hotel, 355 Blvd. De Maisonneuve Ouest, Montréal, Quebec H3A 1L6, Canada

CONTEXT

Opening day of ASHG 2026

FORMAT

In-person, with virtual access available