BIO.NRW MEDICA Forum 2026

Antibodies (Ab) – Diversity and Specificity for Innovative Therapeutic Approaches

Experts from academia and industry will present and discuss this topic on Monday, 16 November 2026, from 13:30–15:00 at the BIO.NRW-MEDICA Forum at the North Rhine-Westphalia joint booth in Hall 3, Booth C80.
Antibodies (Ab) are an important part of our immune system. They are capable of recognizing and binding—in a targeted and highly specific manner—surface markers on microorganisms, harmful substances, and even cells. The interaction of an antibody with a specific antigen triggers various immune responses to eliminate the identified antigen.
This ability to recognize targets precisely—based on a lock-and-key principle—is harnessed in antibody therapy.
Antibodies are developed and produced outside the patient’s body to interact precisely with the selected target structures, the antigens. The precise, specific binding of antibodies to antigens triggers the immune system’s typical defense responses, thereby eliminating the antigens.
In addition, antibodies can also be linked to cytotoxic agents. These antibody-drug conjugates bind to their specific target cells, such as tumor cells, and are taken up by these cells. Once inside, the cytotoxin exerts its effect and destroys the cell. The fundamental idea behind antibody therapy is to treat a disease as precisely as possible.

To register for the event, contact Dr. Martina Weßling via m.wessling@bio.nrw.de
Those interested in attending the forum will receive a ticket to MEDICA.