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Program

Now in the third year, this exciting event is expected to draw 800-1,000 attendees – venture capitalists, investment bankers, biotech and pharmaceutical scientific and business leaders, and academics interested in future of oncology drug development and entrepreneurship. Once again, Spotlight Sessions will feature talks from AACR’s leading corporate partners who will discuss their early oncology pipelines, research investment strategies, and unique approaches to innovation within their organizations.

This is the must-attend event for the oncology drug development and investment communities. This year’s conference will feature additional time for additional opportunities for presentations from major pharmaceutical companies as well as showcase presentations from biotech.

All sessions and events will be held at the San Diego Convention Center unless noted below. This event requires a separate registration from the AACR Annual Meeting 2026 and will be available as an in-person event only. Virtual participation is NOT available for this event.

* schedule and speakers subject to change

Thursday, April 16

Registration

7-8:30 a.m. | Ballroom 6A Lobby

Networking Breakfast

7-8:30 a.m. | Ballroom 6B

Welcome

8:30-8:45 a.m. | Ballroom 6A

Spotlight Session 1: Bayer ag

8:45-9:30 a.m. | Ballroom 6A

Spotlight Session 2: lilly

9:30-10:15 a.m. | Ballroom 6A

Spotlight Session 3: Pfizer

10:15-11 a.m. | Ballroom 6A

Break

11-11:30 a.m. | Ballroom 6BA

concurrent showcase sessions 1-2

11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

SHOWCASE SESSION 1

Ballroom 6A

SHOWCASE SESSION 2

Meeting Room 11

Networking Lunch

12:45-2 p.m. | Ballroom 6B

Spotlight Session 4: Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine

2-2:45 p.m. | Ballroom 6A

Spotlight Session 5: Merck

2:45-3:30 p.m. | Ballroom 6A

Break

3:30-3:45 p.m. | Ballroom 6B

Spotlight Session 6: company to be announced

3:45-4:30 p.m. | Ballroom 6A

Spotlight Session 7: Beone medicines

4:30-5:15 p.m. | Ballroom 6A

Break

5:15-5:30 p.m. | Ballroom 6B

concurrent Panel discussions a-b

5:30-6:30 p.m.

SESSION 1

Ballroom 6A

SESSION 2

Meeting Room 11

Reception

6:30-8:30 p.m.

Friday, April 17

Registration

7-8:30 a.m. | Ballroom 6A Lobby

Networking Breakfast

7-8:30 a.m. | Ballroom 6B

Spotlight Session 8: abbvie

8-8:45 a.m. | Ballroom 6A

Spotlight Session 9: bristol myers squibb

8:45-9:30 a.m. | Ballroom 6A

Spotlight Session 10: Gilead

9:30-10:15 a.m. | Ballroom 6A

Break

10:15-10:30 a.m. | Ballroom 6B

Spotlight Session 11: amgen

10:30-11:15 a.m. | Ballroom 6A

Spotlight Session 12: astrazeneca

11:15 a.m.-12 p.m. | Ballroom 6A

Spotlight Session 13: Company to be announced

12-12:45 p.m. | Ballroom 6A

Closing session

1-2 p.m. | Ballroom 6A

networking lunch

2-3 p.m. | Ballroom 6B