Securing the future of mRNA: strategy, science, and resilience in 2026

Wednesday 08:00 PDT / 11:00 EDT / 16:00 BST / 17:00 CEST

Sponsor

Securing the future of mRNA: strategy, science, and resilience in 2026

As momentum in the mRNA field shifts from pandemic response toward chronic disease applications, developers face converging pressures: funding constraints, evolving regulatory expectations, and growing investor and public skepticism. This panel brings together perspectives from established mRNA companies, emerging biotechs, and CDMO leaders to provide a frank, data-informed assessment of where the field stands – and, critically, what organizations can do about it.

Attendees will gain practical frameworks for navigating the current landscape, from de-risking clinical timelines to making informed decisions about when to partner with a CDMO versus building in-house capacity.

Attend this panel to:

Apply a practical de-risking framework to identify which R&D programs are most vulnerable to funding volatility and regulatory shifts, and take away a diagnostic checklist to assess pipeline resilience
Gain ready-to-use messaging frameworks for addressing skepticism from institutional investors and the broader public as the mRNA narrative pivots from pandemic response to chronic disease
Evaluate the strategic case for CDMO partnerships as a tool for externalizing manufacturing risk and reducing overhead during funding dry spells, with guidance on structuring agreements that preserve flexibility
Take away a structured strategic playbook for aligning scientific, operational, and business priorities in a high-scrutiny environment, informed by the experiences of mRNA leaders and start-ups

Register now to gain the tools and perspectives needed to build a more resilient mRNA program ahead of 2026.

Ajay Gupta, PhD

President, Chairman and CEO at Celestial Therapeutics Inc.

Ajay Gupta, PhD, is Co-founder, President, Chairman & CEO of Celestial Therapeutics Inc. Dr Gupta is an accomplished executive, scientist and an entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical/biotech/CRO industry. Dr Gupta received his PhD in synthetic organic chemistry from the University of Waterloo. He has extensive experience in executive management of both private and publicly traded companies, entrepreneurship, business development, medicinal chemistry, drug, device & mRNA vaccine discovery & development, design and conduct of pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, analytical, bioanalytical chemistry, toxicology, cGMP manufacturing, formulation development, regulatory affairs, business development, establishing licensing agreements as well as interactions with the FDA, EMA and Health Canada.

Rebecca Antoine

Senior Manager, Manufacturing at Genentech, a Member of the Roche Group

Rebecca Antoine is a Senior Manager of Manufacturing at Genentech with over a decade of experience in the biotech industry. Leading a multidisciplinary team, Rebecca provides mRNA and pDNA to support a diverse portfolio encompassing R&D, Process Development, and Phase 1 clinical programs. Over the last six years, she has led the expansion of internal manufacturing capabilities, scaled up complex production processes, and enhanced internal testing capabilities. Working in conjunction with research and analytical colleagues, Rebecca’s team has developed processes for new molecules of interest; optimizing product quality while increasing production yields and reducing operational costs.

Prior to her focus on internal manufacturing, Rebecca spent four years in CAR T cell research developing both autologous and allogenic therapies for multiple solid and liquid tumor indications. She holds a BSc. in Microbiology from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.