Session Abstract – PMWC 2026 Silicon Valley
The PMWC 2026 AI for Emerging Therapeutics Showcase will provide a 15-30 minute time slot for selected companies to explore the transformative role of artificial intelligence in accelerating the discovery, development, and optimization of novel therapeutic modalities. From predictive algorithms for drug efficacy to real-time analysis in clinical trials, AI is revolutionizing the way we approach emerging therapies, including RNA-based treatments, gene editing, and personalized medicine. Industry leaders and experts will discuss AI-driven advancements, collaborative frameworks, and the challenges of integrating cutting-edge technologies into therapeutic innovation. Join us for an in-depth look at how AI is shaping the future of breakthrough therapeutics.
Confirmed Presenting Companies:
Speaker Profile
Ph.D., Director of BD, Therna Biosciences
Biography
Broad experience working in Pharma and Biotech both as a team lead and in Strategy and BD. Amir previously lead discovery teams at two Flagship Pioneering companies Repertoire Immune Medicine and Sail Therapeutics. He has also held positions at Ceptur Therapeutics leading their corporate development efforts as well as working to build Ginkgo Bioworks first product in Antibodies. He recently joined Therna Biosciences to lead their BD efforts around partnering for AIML powered RNA Medicine.
Talk
RNA Design by Intelligent Design.
Using a biology-guided, AI-powered platform, Therna is pioneering programmable RNA therapeutics. Thernas technology is engineered to enhance translation, durability, and precise tissue targeting, which unlocks new levels of safety and efficacy in RNA medicines.
AI for Emerging Therapeutics Showcase:
Therna Biosciences
AI/ML Powered RNA Medicines Therapeutics Company.
Speaker Profile
Ph.D., PHARMD, Founder & CEO, Origenity
Biography
Donnacha Fitzgerald works at the intersection of artificial intelligence, single-cell omics, and cellular engineering to enable the design of novel cell states for therapeutics and biomanufacturing. His work focuses on using generative and predictive models to move from analyzing biology to designing it, enabling programmable control of cellular behavior. Before founding Origenity, he trained and worked across drug discovery, clinical practice, and regulatory science. During his doctoral research at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, he combined single-cell and spatial omics to uncover cellular differentiation as a driver of tumor evolution. He also co-founded Nucleate Germany, now the countrys largest academic biotech entrepreneurship network, and advises the International Pharmaceutical Federation on emerging biotechnologies shaping pharmaceutical care. He is passionate about building technologies that expand humanitys capacity to engineer life.
Talk
AI-Guided Cell Design for Emerging Therapeutics
AI-guided cell design bridges single-cell omics, generative modeling, and cellular engineering to enable programmable control of biological function. This talk will outline how predictive models can guide the design and engineering of cellular states, unlocking new classes of genetic medicines and production cell lines while redefining the interface between computation and biology.
AI for Emerging Therapeutics Showcase:
Origenity
Origenity is building an AI-guided cell design platform that integrates single-cell omics, generative modeling, and cellular engineering to enable programmable control of biological function. The platform aims to unlock new classes of genetic medicines and optimized production cell lines for next-generation therapeutics and biomanufacturing.
Speaker Profile
CEO, Ordaos
Biography
David Longo is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ordaōs. As CEO of Ordaōs, Longo leads a strong scientific team to design novel mini-proteins that help drug hunters deliver safer and more effective treatments. Longo brings to Ordaōs, broad experience in innovation and technology, that compel him to approach protein design in a unique way. His expertise in AI and machine learning is incorporated into Ordaōs Design Engine, driving the rapid creation of never-before-seen mini-proteins with improved probability of more therapeutically effective candidates. Prior to Ordaōs, this entrepreneur led a series of companies which he grew into successful entities. Longo has a Master's in Biotechnology from Harvard University, graduate certificates in AI, Machine Learning, Innovation and Technology from Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and a masters Certificate in Music Production from Berklee College of Music.
Talk
Adversarial Harmony: The Skeptical Symphony of Biologics Design
This talk explores the Ordaos Design Engine's "skeptical symphony." By orchestrating hundreds of adversarial AI models grounded in diverse physical principles, we ruthlessly challenge every design assumption. This rigorous internal conflict forces consensus across varied datasets, ensuring generalizability and delivering robust, developable biologics that survive the skepticism of nature.
AI for Emerging Therapeutics Showcase:
Ordaos
Ordaos Bio is a techbio company that reimagines drug discovery as drug design by using a proprietary lab-in-the-loop generative AI engine to design novel mini-proteins and single-domain antibodies from scratch. Integrating diverse adversarial AI models with an ultra-rapid 5-day wet-lab validation cycle, the company engineers "true de novo" therapeutics that are optimized for function and developability against challenging, high-value targets.
