Next Generation RNA Therapeutics Forum

Day 2

5th February 2026

8:50

IMAPAC Opening Remarks

8:55

Chairman’s Welcome Address

👤 Leab Sek, Associate Director, Global Regulatory Sciences CMC, Moderna, Australia

The Frontier of RNA Innovation: Circular, Self-Amplifying & Beyond

9:00

A New Approach to Autoimmune Diseases and Chronic Inflammation – Noxopharm’s Sofra Technology

  • The challenge of chronic inflammation across numerous diseases
  • Innate immune sensors, autoimmunity, and cancer
  • Novel Australian RNA therapeutics and related technologies

👤 Gisela Mautner, CEO & Managing Director, Noxopharm, Australia

9:25

Nucleic Acid Purification Strategies for Capture and Polishing Steps with a Novel Approach to dsRNA Removal

  • The importance of pDNA purity in dsRNA formation
  • Techniques to minimize dsRNA during in vitro transcription
  • Overview of a novel purification method for dsRNA removal, with examples across different size ranges

👤 Blaz Bakalar, Business Development Manager, BIA Management, Sartorius

9:40

Adaptivax: An Adaptable Platform for Multivalent Vaccines Targeting Enveloped RNA Viruses

  • A flexible manufacturing method for VLP vaccines made from multiple viral proteins
  • VLP vaccines that mimic the parent virus and trigger broad protective immune responses
  • A platform to produce combination VLP vaccines for multiple enveloped RNA viruses

👤 Joseph Torresi, Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Australia

10:05

Victoria’s mRNA Future: Building Asia Pacific’s Leading RNA Hub

  • Creating an end-to-end mRNA ecosystem in Victoria
  • Accelerating the pathway from research to patients
  • Building capability through strategic global partnerships and workforce development

👤 Phoebe Dunn, Chief Executive Officer, mRNA Victoria, Australia

10:30

Morning Break, Exhibition Viewing, Poster Presentations & 1-1 Attendee Networking

Scalable RNA Manufacturing & Platform Engineering

11:00

mRNA Manufacturing: Specificity, Speed, and Strategic Advantage in Modern Biologics

  • Leveraging mRNA technology to accelerate design, development, and manufacturing timelines
  • Comparing mRNA platforms with traditional biologics to highlight process efficiency and flexibility
  • Maximising the strategic value of mRNA manufacturing for rapid response and scalable production

👤 Olivier Briand, Head of mRNA Global Clinical Manufacturing, Sanofi, France

11:25

Building a Strong mRNA Manufacturing Ecosystem in Australia

  • Proven track record in manufacturing mRNA for clinical trials in Australia
  • Redesigning IDT to become the only end-to-end organisation in Australia, from API to finished dosage
  • Supporting sovereign manufacturing to keep the industry growing and resilient

👤 Robert Caunce, Director, Quality, IDT Australia

11:50

Building Australia’s RNA Ecosystem: From Concept to GMP Manufacturing

  • Why Australia is well placed for RNA and biopharma innovation
  • How to move RNA concepts into GMP manufacturing locally
  • Connecting ecosystems, precincts, and industry through RNA Australia

👤 Marc Fini, Executive Director, Strategic Projects, RNA Australia

12:15

Lunch Break, Exhibition Viewing, Poster Presentations & 1-1 Attendee Networking

RNA Therapeutics

Clinical Translation & Regulatory Updates

[Presentations in the RNA room]

2:00

IVX037: Promising RNA Oncolytic Immunotherapy for Common Solid Tumours

  • Immune checkpoint inhibitors help only a small group of advanced solid tumour patients; IVX037 aims to boost their effectiveness in hard-to-treat cancers like colorectal, gastric, liver and ovarian
  • Intratumoural IVX037 shows early biological and clinical activity in MSS-CRC (mono/with sintilimab), especially in KRAS/BRAF-mutant cases, and delivered a durable PR with strong CA-125 drop in a BRCA2-mutated ovarian cancer patient
  • IVX037 is a self-amplifying, positive-strand RNA virus designed to selectively kill cancer cells and trigger a strong systemic anti-tumour immune response

👤 Oksana Zdanska, Medical Director, ImmVirX, Australia

2:25

The First-in-Human Journey: Lessons from Early Clinical Development of Antisense Oligonucleotides

  • Designing first-in-human trials for antisense oligonucleotides
  • Translational challenges in ASO development
  • Navigating the evolving regulatory landscape

👤 Julie Monk, Director Clinical Development, RAGE Biotech, Australia

2:50

Advancing RNA Therapeutics: Clinical Development Pathways and Regulatory Considerations

  • Bridging preclinical promise with clinical outcomes in RNA therapies
  • Navigating regulatory pathways for RNA-based therapeutics in ANZ & globally
  • Case studies on safety, efficacy, and trial design for next-gen RNA platforms

👤 Lana Gregory, Senior Manager, Regulatory Sciences, Moderna Australia & New Zealand

3:15

Afternoon Break, Exhibition Viewing, Poster Presentations & 1-1 Attendee Networking

Commercialisation Pathways & Manufacturing Innovation for Advanced & RNA Therapies in ANZ

4:00

Medicine R&D Valleys of Death vs Pandemic Countermeasure R&D Tsunamis: What Should We Do?

  • Pandemic countermeasure R&D faces unique market failures, leading to under-investment in preparedness and rushed, uneven funding during crises
  • A collective R&D approach such as the 100-Day Mission can de-risk development by completing early stages and pre-approving later pathways
  • Prioritising commercially viable platforms and regionalised manufacturing improves sustainability, speed, and equity in future pandemic responses

👤 Lisa Bonadonna, Director, Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics, Australia

4:25

Bicycle Reaction: Accelerating mRNA Manufacturing from DNA Templates

  • The BASE mRNA Facility is Australia’s leading centre for mRNA technology development, offering end-to-end mRNA production and formulation services
  • The Bicycle Reaction enables cell-free, isothermal, single-pot manufacturing of mRNA medicines
  • Bicycle-produced mRNA shows equivalent quality and performance to conventional IVT, enabling scalable, decentralised, and cost-effective manufacturing

👤 Rachel Yoon Chang, Facility Lead, BASE, UQ, Australia

4:50

Chairman’s Closing Remarks

4:55

End of Conference

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