Drug Digest: Examining the Architecture of Next-Gen Biotherapeutic Modalities

This episode of BioPharm Drug Digest explores the evolution of multifunctional biotherapeutics in an interview with Eytan Abraham, PhD, chief commercial and technology officer at Minaris Advanced Therapies. In the discussion, Dr. Abraham highlights how emerging technologies are reshaping drug development and manufacturing strategies, emphasizing the increasing complexity and personalization of advanced therapeutic modalities.

According to Dr. Abraham, multifunctional approaches are expanding the capabilities of cell therapies by combining modalities such as antibodies or antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) with engineered cellular platforms. In parallel, cell therapies themselves are becoming more sophisticated, with multi-targeting designs that improve specificity and reduce the likelihood of disease evasion. These innovations are driving a shift toward highly personalized treatments tailored to individual patient biology, particularly in oncology, he notes.

Digital tools are also playing a growing role in improving manufacturing efficiency and product consistency. Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and real-time monitoring are being applied to optimize processes, reduce costs, and enhance quality control, he explains. These approaches are particularly relevant as developers seek to scale production while maintaining regulatory compliance and product integrity.

How are multifunctional modalities and digital tools transforming cell therapy development?

Dr. Abraham explains that advances in proteomics and AI are improving understanding of cellular mechanisms of action, which is critical for both drug discovery and manufacturing. These insights support more effective potency assays and better donor selection for allogeneic therapies, reducing variability and improving clinical outcomes.

“The cell itself is a delivery platform,” Dr. Abraham highlights.

He also notes that future scalability will likely depend on regional manufacturing models rather than fully centralized or point-of-care approaches. While early-stage production may occur in academic or hospital settings, commercial-scale manufacturing is expected to require dedicated infrastructure with the flexibility to support broader patient populations.

Overall, Dr. Abraham emphasizes that integrating advanced analytics, programmable biology, and scalable manufacturing strategies will be essential to realizing the full clinical potential of next-generation biotherapeutics.

Interview featuring

Eytan Abraham, PhD, Chief Commercial and Technology Officer, Minaris Advanced Therapies

Dr. Abraham has more than 20 years of experience in cell and gene therapy and biomanufacturing. He leads global commercial strategy and innovation to help clients accelerate development and scale manufacturing. Previously, he held senior roles at National Resilience, Lonza, and Pluristem. Dr. Abraham earned his PhD from the University of Maryland and completed postdoctoral training at Harvard-MIT and Harvard Medical School.

Sponsors

This episode of Drug Digest is sponsored by:

• Cygnus Technologies
• FUJIFILM Biotechnologies

About BioPharm Drug Digest

BioPharm Drug Digest is a video series with the BioPharm International® editors, who conduct in-depth interviews with industry experts around the latest research and pipeline developments as well as emerging opportunities, obstacles, and advances in the biopharmaceutical industry related to the manufacturing, distribution, supply, and regulatory compliance of biopharmaceutical products.

Upcoming episodes

May 2026: Large Molecule Manufacturing
June/July 2026: Partnering for Biopharmaceutical Success
August 2026: Regulatory and Quality Updates in Biologic Drug Development
September 2026: Targeting the Undruggable
October/November 2026: The Future of Biopharma Operations and Supply Chains
*No December 2026 episode