The field of complement drug discovery has never been riper with opportunities for therapeutic intervention in diverse clinical indications. 17 years after the clinical approval of the first complement-specific drug, eculizumab, we are witnessing a true resurgence of complement therapeutics in an ever expanding clinical landscape, propelled by a series of game-changing mechanistic, translational and clinical developments. The recent approvals of a set of mechanistically distinct complement inhibitors targeting the initiation routes, the central step of C3 activation or downstream terminal effector signaling have expanded the clinical arsenal of complement therapeutics bringing tailored complement intervention closer to fruition and bolstering confidence in the broader therapeutic scope of complement inhibition. In fact, a plurality of complement drug candidates are advancing through late-stage clinical development in various indications. At the same time, pathway-specific complement modulators serve as elegant molecular tools for dissecting the contribution of aberrant complement signaling to disease pathology.
Embracing these important developments, we are delighted to announce the 16th International Conference on Complement Therapeutics in Loutraki, Greece which will bring together leading experts and innovators from both academia and industry to share new data and discuss the latest developments in therapeutic design, clinical trials and new aspects of complement-driven pathophysiology in emerging indications. Topics will include: Molecular mechanisms and targets in complement-related diseases; Novel inhibitors & pipeline compounds; Hematological disorders; Organ & cell transplantation, I/R injury and chronic rejection; Kidney diseases; Neurological & ocular diseases; Acute and chronic inflammatory disorders; Infectious diseases & COVID-19; complement targeting in cancer immunotherapy; complement biomarkers in disease diagnosis and therapy; Novel and unexpected indications.
