ELRIG is launching its first major US event, Drug Discovery USA 2026, at Pfizer’s Cambridge, Massachusetts facility on 16–17 June. The free-to-attend conference will bring together European and American scientists to explore next-generation approaches for tackling previously undruggable targets.
ELRIG, a not-for-profit organisation serving the global drug discovery community, has announced its first major event in the United States, aiming to bring together scientists from across academia and industry to tackle some of the most challenging targets in modern medicine.
Drug Discovery USA 2026, will be a two-day conference event taking place at Pfizer in Cambridge, Massachusetts, from 16–17 June. The event is designed to strengthen collaboration between European and American researchers, giving them the opportunity to share advances and developments in multifunctional small molecules and novel biologic approaches.
“ELRIG Drug Discovery USA expands the reach of our renowned, free-to-attend events, providing US-based scientists with easier access high-quality science and networking opportunities, while also acting as a bridgehead for international life science companies to engage with the wider community,” said Sanj Kumar, CEO of ELRIG. ”Our conference directors have put together an outstanding speaker line-up of world-leading scientists and we are delighted to have the support of our event partners, Pfizer and DDN to help connect the drug discovery communities in Europe and the US.”
Bridging global scientific communities
The conference will be led by Professor Aled Edwards of the Structural Genomics Consortium, Dr Marija Tadin-Strapps of Pfizer and Dr Swarna Balasubramanian of AstraZeneca. Together, they have curated a programme featuring leading voices from across the drug discovery landscape.
The event is being delivered in partnership with Pfizer and Drug Discovery News, enabling free access for attendees. This open-access model, long associated with ELRIG events, is intended to maximise participation and foster collaboration across borders.
The event is being delivered in partnership with Pfizer and Drug Discovery News, enabling free access for attendees
“DDN is excited to support ELRIG as it expands its renowned open-access events to the United States,” said Andrea Corona, Senior Editor at DDN. ”This forum will strengthen connections between the European and US drug discovery communities and highlight cutting-edge strategies for tackling challenging targets.”
Advancing next generation therapies
Recent breakthroughs in chemical biology and protein engineering have significantly broadened the scope of drug discovery, allowing researchers to target proteins previously considered beyond reach. The conference will explore how multifunctional small molecules and biologics are redefining early-stage research by moving beyond traditional inhibition methods.
Sessions will examine how these emerging approaches offer more flexible and precise ways to modulate difficult targets, potentially opening new pathways for disease treatment and precision medicine.
“Continued innovation in molecular design, delivery and mechanistic understanding will be critical to fully realise the promise of these next generation modalities,” said Professor Aled Edwards. ”We look forward to hearing the latest developments from foremost scientists in the field over the two-day conference.”
Opportunities for emerging talent
Alongside its scientific programme, the event will provide a platform for early career researchers and start-ups. A poster competition will recognise new work from emerging professionals, while an exhibition hall will feature a Breakthrough Zone where young companies can present their innovations.
Alongside its scientific programme, the event will provide a platform for early career researchers and start-ups
“This scientific conference provides a vital platform for the international drug discovery community to connect with peers across all levels of academia and industry and to share the latest ideas on how cutting edge small molecule and biologic approaches are redefining what is druggable and why this progress is vital for advancing transformative, life changing therapies,” said Dr Swarna Balasubramanian.
You can register for the event here.
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