In early drug discovery the hardest part is rarely the science itself: it is knowing which evidence is enough to move forward, and when.
For European Biotech Week 2026, IRBM hosts an online session built around exactly that question, focused on the experiments, data and judgement calls that decide whether a target enters a full discovery campaign and which therapeutic modality it deserves.
The discussion will cover: target biology and disease relevance; tractability; modality suitability across small molecules, peptides, biologics and emerging modalities; translational biomarkers; early pharmacology; and go/no-go decisions where scientific evidence, portfolio priorities and funding realities meet.
Format: a short scientific introduction from IRBM, followed by a moderated panel discussion with discovery leaders from biotech and pharma, and an audience Q&A.
Who it is for: CSOs and Heads of Drug Discovery, VPs and Directors of Discovery Biology and Early Discovery, target validation and translational leads, programme and portfolio leaders, and business development professionals, investors and advisors evaluating early-stage discovery.
The session is broadcast online only. Programme, speaker line-up and broadcast time will be published on the IRBM event page and sent to everyone who registers.