The Medicinal Chemistry, Drug Discovery & Development India 2026 (MCADDI 2026) is bringing together more than 200 professionals, researchers and industry experts for a six-day programme at the University of Hyderabad from October 25 to 30, 2026.
Organised by the Federation of Asian Biotech Associations (FABA) in collaboration with the University of Hyderabad, Biocon Academy, Aragen Academy and Science Gurus, the programme brings together international faculty and industry practitioners to examine developments in pharmaceutical research and development (R&D).
With 31 lectures, case studies and interactive sessions, MCADDI 2026 covers the drug discovery process, from medicinal chemistry and target identification to computational drug design, biologics, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), oncology, immunotherapy and emerging therapeutic modalities.
Experts from organisations including Novartis, AbbVie, Pfizer, Merck, Aragen, Sun Pharma, Aurobindo and biotechnology companies are contributing perspectives from different stages of drug discovery and development.
The programme opened with sessions on medicinal chemistry and drug discovery. Prof. Thomas Prisinzano of the University of Kentucky, USA, is addressing the principles of medicinal chemistry, while Manjunath Ramarao, EVP and Chief Scientific Officer, Aragen, is covering target identification and validation, as well as high-throughput, virtual and phenotypic screening approaches.
Ralf Glatthaar, Executive Director, Global Discovery Chemistry, Novartis, Basel, is contributing sessions on hit-to-lead and lead optimisation. These discussions address approaches to improving early-stage discovery and increasing the probability of advancing molecules into development.
Computational science and artificial intelligence (AI) also feature in the programme. Sessions on molecular interactions, in-silico tools for medicinal chemists, applications of in-silico approaches in drug discovery and AI-based drug design examine the integration of computational capabilities into drug discovery workflows.
Vincent Stoll, Senior Research Fellow, AbbVie, USA, is contributing to discussions on molecular interactions and structure-based drug design, while Rachel Lagkallos, US Head of Digital Medicinal Chemistry, Novartis, is addressing in-silico tools and their application in drug discovery.
The programme examines the use of digital and computational approaches to identify, design, evaluate and progress molecules through the discovery process.
MCADDI 2026 also covers biologics and therapeutic modalities. Sessions on biologics, developability, biopharmaceutics and formulation are complemented by discussions on ADCs, including their principles, next-generation approaches and case studies.
Rustam Mody, Consultant – Biologics, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., and Jagath Reddy Junutula, Co-founder, President and CEO, Aavrık Therapeutics, USA, are among the experts contributing to this part of the programme.
The sessions on ADCs examine the convergence of targeted biology, antibody engineering and drug delivery in oncology drug development.
Oncology is another theme, with sessions and case studies covering pancreatic cancer, breast cancer therapy and drug discovery. Perry Carter, CEO of BlueSphere Bio, USA, is delivering the CEO Conclave keynote on advances in breast cancer therapy, while other sessions examine approaches in cancer therapeutics.
The programme also covers targeted protein degraders, molecular glues, immunotherapy and direct-acting antivirals, focusing on mechanisms and therapeutic modalities beyond conventional small-molecule approaches.
MCADDI 2026 combines scientific discussions, industry experience and case-based learning to examine how scientific advances translate into drug discovery and development programmes.
The programme also features a CEO Conclave and FABA Innovation Awards. The CEO Conclave brings together industry leaders to discuss drug discovery and development and the innovation ecosystem.
For India, the programme comes as the country seeks to expand its role in the pharmaceutical value chain beyond manufacturing and generic medicines. The next phase of growth will require capabilities in original research, discovery chemistry, computational drug design, novel modalities, translational science and product innovation.
Developing these capabilities requires interaction between academia and industry, exposure to global scientific practices, access to emerging technologies and a pipeline of researchers and drug discovery professionals.
MCADDI 2026 addresses these requirements by bringing international expertise and Indian scientific and industrial capabilities into one forum.
The vision, leadership and efforts of Prof. P. Reddanna, Executive Director and President, FABA, have been central to bringing MCADDI 2026 together as a platform for scientific exchange and collaboration. The efforts of Dr. P. Ratnakar, Secretary General, FABA, and the wider FABA team, together with the University of Hyderabad, Biocon Academy, Aragen Academy, Science Gurus, the organising committee, faculty, sponsors and institutional partners, have contributed to the programme.
As the six-day programme progresses, MCADDI 2026 highlights the convergence of chemistry, biology, computation, artificial intelligence, data science and clinical understanding in drug discovery.
For India, developing these capabilities could support the next phase of pharmaceutical growth, expanding its contribution from the global supply of medicines to the discovery and development of medicines.