ELRIG, a volunteer-led nonprofit organization dedicated to the global drug discovery community, today announced Drug Discovery USA 2026. The inaugural event, to be held June 16-17 at Pfizer in Cambridge, Massachusetts, will provide the drug discovery community in Europe and the United States with an opportunity to connect and discuss new multifunctional small molecules and novel biological modalities against difficult-to-drug targets.
ELRIG has appointed Professor Aled Edwards (Structural Genomics Consortium), Ph.D. Mariya Tadin Straps (Pfizer) and dr. Swarna Balasubramanian (AstraZeneca) As a conference director, you will help put together a bespoke scientific program and secure top speakers from across academia and industry to share their insights. with pfizer Drug discovery news (DDN) has also partnered with ELRIG, allowing the organization to offer Drug Discovery USA on an open access basis for optimal access in this new region.
Recent advances in chemical biology and protein engineering are expanding the limits of which proteins can be modulated pharmacologically. The two-day conference program will highlight emerging multifunctional small molecule and biological approaches that reshape early-stage drug discovery by providing versatile and accessible platforms for modulating difficult targets through mechanisms beyond simple inhibition, and discuss how these open new avenues for disease intervention and precision medicine.
There will also be poster awards for early career professionals, an exhibition hall with a breakthrough zone for startups to showcase their science, and opportunities to network with the global drug discovery community.
ELRIG Drug Discovery USA expands the reach of our famous free-to-attend events, providing easy access to high-quality science and networking opportunities for U.S.-based scientists, while also serving as a beachhead for international life sciences companies to engage with the broader community. ”
Sanji Kumar, ELRIG CEO
Professor Aled Edwards, CEO of the Structural Genomics Consortium, commented: “Continued innovation in molecular design, delivery, and mechanistic understanding will be essential to fully realize the potential of these next-generation modalities. We look forward to hearing the latest developments from leading scientists in this field throughout the two-day conference.”
Dr. Swarna Balasubramanian, Director of Respiratory and Immunology BD Search and Evaluation at AstraZeneca, said: “This conference provides an important platform for the international drug discovery community to connect with colleagues at all levels of academia and industry to share the latest ideas about what cutting-edge small molecule and biological approaches are redefining drug discovery potential and why this advancement is essential to advancing transformative and life-changing treatments.”
Andrea Corona, senior editor at DDN, said: “DDN is excited to support ELRIG in expanding its renowned open access event to the US. This forum will strengthen connections between the European and US drug discovery communities and highlight cutting-edge strategies for tackling difficult targets.”
