BelTox Annual Meeting 2024 on novel non-clinical safety testing strategies for the development of human medicinal products

The BelTox annual scientific meeting of 2024 (AM24) was organized together with the Belgian Environmental Mutagen Society (BEMS) and took place at the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering at Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent on the 5^th December 2024.

The theme of the meeting was “Novel non-clinical safety testing strategies for the development of human medicinal products”.

The meeting was introduced by a presentation on non-clinical testing strategies for different types of drug modalities (Sonja Beken, FAMHP) to make the audience familiar with the wide variety of therapeutics, followed by a presentation on novel non-clinical safety approaches for small molecule drugs (Jean-Pierre Valentin, UCB) and a presentation on a risk based approach for non-clinical evaluation of advanced therapeutic medicinal products (Sofie Peirs, FAMHP). After the coffee break there was a presentation on the preparation of a new ICH guideline on oligonucleotide safety testing with an industry perspective (Joel Parry, GSK – an EFPIA member), the BelTox General Assembly by the BelTox Chair Steven Van Cruchten and we had several elevator pitches from the YSC Posters preceding the Poster Session to wrap-up the morning session.

After lunch, there was a presentation on novel genetic toxicology approaches for New Drug Modalities (Caressa Van Dongen, J&J Innovative Medicine) and a talk on Genomic Safety Considerations and Challenges in Genetically Modified Cell Therapies (Parimal Pande, Janssen Pharmaceuticals). Before the afternoon coffee break, we had four oral presentations which were selected for the Young Scientist Competition. The afternoon continued with a presentation on the current state of and alternatives to NHPs in non-clinical safety studies (Fred Brouta, UCB and Peter van Meer, MEB) and a talk on platform approaches for mRNA vaccines (Claudia Lindemann, BioNTech). Steven Van Cruchten closed the meeting announcing the winners of the Poster and Oral Young Scientist Competition. . With over 100 participants, we had a fantastic day full of discussions, presentations, and networking activities we can call a real success.

Young scientist competition

As every year, BelTox organized during this meeting a young scientist contest for the best presentations and posters of PhD students. The two best presentations and two best posters received a prize.

Poster session

Beside the poster presentations within the context of the Young Scientist Competition also other posters were welcome.