Innovations and Emerging Tools in Peptide Science

Discover how today’s advanced peptide technologies are shaping tomorrow’s research, development, and manufacturing success.

In this symposium, you'll learn about:

• Scalable peptide API manufacturing and purification expertise for GLP‑1 class molecules
• Label‑free, real‑time cell‑based bioassays for peptide activity, optimization, and safety testing
• Non‑destructive Raman raw material identification through opaque containers to streamline GMP workflows
• Inert LC/MS strategies for enhanced peptide separation, impurity profiling, and molecular weight confirmation

This digital symposium explores the innovations shaping the future of peptide‑driven science, featuring modern analytical tools across cell analysis, chemistries, spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. Experts will reveal practical approaches for integrating these technologies to strengthen and streamline peptide analysis.

Attendees will gain a clear view of emerging technologies and practical strategies across modern research and applied science. Join the symposium to discover how to connect these advances directly to your own work.

10:00 - 10:05 - Intro

Vitan Blagotinsek, Agilent Technologies

10:05 - 10:20 - Highlight Talk - Scaling the GLP-1 Surge: Peptide API Development, Purification and Manufacturing at AAT

Wolfgang Schiek, BioVectra

As the paradigm shift in diabetes management and the surge in anti-obesity drug sales and development are propelling unprecedented demand for complex peptide APIs therapies, reliable high quality peptide API manufacturing and purification are critical. Agilent Advanced Therapeutics provides specialized expertise and scaling capacity for these GLP-1 Agonists. We support our customers from preclinical to commercial through swift, customer-focused implementation in state-of-the-art facilities and are continuously expanding capabilities, true to our commitment: Invested in Science, Invested in You!

10:20 - 11:05 - Talk 1: Accelerating Synthetic Peptide Discovery, Quality Control, and Safety Testing with xCELLigence Bioassay

Leyna Zhao, Agilent Technologies

Synthetic peptides and proteins are rapidly emerging as important therapeutic modalities, driving the need for robust approaches to evaluate biological activity, product quality, and safety throughout development. In this webinar, we will explore how Agilent’s label free xCELLigence Real Time Cell Analysis (RTCA) platforms can support synthetic peptide discovery, quality evaluation, and safety testing through functional, cell based bioassays. Selected case studies will highlight the use of real time, kinetic cellular readouts in peptide discovery and optimization workflows. Evaluation criteria for biological products will be reviewed in the context of ICH Q6B specifications, with emphasis on the role of bioassays in assessing biological activity. In addition, examples of toxicity testing using xCELLigence RTCA—including published vaccine related applications—will demonstrate how real time cell based assays can provide sensitive and reproducible QC results.

11:10 - 11:50 - Talk 2: Unlocking Deeper Insights into Peptide Purity and Impurity Profiling with LC/MS for GLP-1 RA Characterization

Holger Stalz, Agilent Technologies

Synthetic Peptide therapeutics are reshaping the biopharma landscape, and GLP-1 receptor agonists are at the center of that momentum—raising the stakes for purity assessment and impurity profiling. Join this webinar to see how Agilent’s advanced LC/MS workflows help scientists tackle these challenges with greater confidence and efficiency. You’ll learn how the InfinityLab Pro iQ Plus LC/MSD enables reliable peptide purity confirmation, while the Agilent BioQTOF high-resolution LC/MS/MS system supports detailed sequence confirmation and impurity identification. We’ll also show how OpenLab CDS and MassHunter BioConfirm software simplify complex data interpretation, helping QC and R&D teams move faster and make more confident decisions in peptide characterization.

11:55 - 12:35 - Talk 3: Raman Spectroscopy in Peptide Pharmaceuticals

Jan Wuelken, Agilent Technologies

Rapid, non destructive raw material identification (RMID) through all types of packaging. Reliable identity verification of peptides, amino acids, protected building blocks, and excipients is a critical step in peptide manufacturing. The Agilent Vaya Raman Raw Material Identity Verification System is specifically designed to identify raw materials directly through non transparent and opaque containers, without opening the package. By leveraging Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS), Vaya minimizes interference from container walls, liners, and fluorescence. This enables fast and reliable identification through typical peptide pharma packaging, including plastic drums, paper and multi layer bags, FIBCs, and amber glass containers. The through container measurement capability eliminates the need for sampling, significantly reducing the risk of cross contamination and protecting operators from hazardous, highly potent, or sterile materials. At the same time, it streamlines workflows by reducing handling steps and operator exposure. Agilent Vaya supports high throughput, GMP compliant raw material testing, accelerates release to manufacturing, and helps ensure a secure, efficient supply of materials for peptide synthesis and downstream processing—from early development to commercial production.

12:40 - 13:15 - Talk 4: Advanced Column Solutions to enhance your Peptide Analysis and Purification Workflows

Katrien Sabbe, Agilent Technologies

Whether you're optimizing existing methods or developing new ones, this session will equip you with the tools to streamline your peptide characterization and purification. LC analysis of peptides can be challenging due to their sensitivity to metal interactions within chromatographic systems, often leading to poor peak shape and reduced sensitivity. Agilent Altura HPLC columns with Ultra Inert technology overcome these challenges by minimizing metal-analyte interactions. We will illustrate how this innovation enhances resolution, reproducibility, and quantification in reversed phase and HILIC separations of therapeutic peptides such as GLP-1 receptor agonists. Furthermore we will explore preparative techniques and purification workflows, offering tips for achieving high purity and recovery in synthetic peptide purification.

Presenter: Vitan Blagotinsek (EMEA Marketing Program Manager Bio/Pharma, Agilent Technologies)

Vitan is the Agilent Marketing Manager for the Pharma and Biopharma markets across the EMEA region, covering a broad portfolio of all Agilent products with relevance to these markets. Prior to this role, he had started at Agilent as a Chromatography and Sample prep-focused Product Specialist targeting the Biopharma market in the DACH region. His scientific background is in Protein Biochemistry/Structural Biology. He graduated in Biochemistry from the University of Oxford in the UK and has a PhD from Marburg University in Germany (Department of Chemistry).

Presenter: Wolfgang Schiek (Director Business Development, BIOVECTRA, Agilent Technologies)

Wolfgang is the BD Director Europe for Agilent Advanced Therapeutics, where he specializes in bespoke CDMO solutions and a chemist by profession. With a 25-year track record at industry leaders like Evonik, Cambrex, and Novasep in a variety of technical, commercial and strategic roles, he has helped numerous clients bridge the gap from drug development to successful market launch. For the past four years at AAT, he has focused on the cutting edge of biologics and peptides, serving as one of the primary forces behind the company’s GLP-1 programs.

Presenter: Leyna Zhao (Product Marketing Director, Agilent Technologies)

Leyna is Product Marketing Director at Agilent Technologies, where she leads global strategy for cell analysis platforms, including xCELLigence Real-Time Cell Analysis (RTCA). With over 20 years of experience in molecular biology, immunology, and drug discovery, she bridges scientific innovation with market adoption. Her work focuses on advancing label-free, real-time technologies that support small molecule screening, immune cell function analysis, and predictive toxicology. She holds a PhD in Biochemistry and has been instrumental in aligning Agilent’s cell analysis solutions with emerging regulatory trends, such as non-animal testing methodologies.

Presenter: Jan Wuelfken (Product Specialist, Molecular Spectroscopy EMEA IDO, Agilent Technologies)

Jan graduated from the University of Hamburg in 1997 with a thesis about NMR-based conformation analysis of an antimicrobial peptide and in 2001 with his PhD thesis about CD4-binding peptides as inhibitors for HIV infection. He joined Varian Inc. in 2001 as a sale representative for molecular spectroscopy and with the takeover of Varian by Agilent 2010 he became a product specialist for molecular spectroscopy in the Agilent International Distributor Organization (IDO). Today his responsibility is the full Agilent Molecular Spectroscopy Portfolio which is UV-Vis, UV-Vis/NIR, Fluorescence, FT-IR and Raman Spectroscopy.

Presenter: Holger Stalz (LCMS Product Specialist, Agilent Technologies )

Holger has worked as a product specialist for LC/MS for Agilent in Austria and Switzerland since 2011. He leads a team of European BioPharma Specialists focusing on biopharmaceutical applications and has been coordinating the development of new analytical solutions and methods for protein therapeutics and oligonucleotide-based products.

Presenter: Katrien Sabbe (Biopharma Business Development Manager, Agilent Technologies)

For more then 25 years Katrien has been working in the field of Chromatography Columns and Supplies, first at VWR International and later at Varian Analytical Instruments, which was acquired in 2011 by Agilent Technologies. Currently, she is the EMEA Biopharma Business Development Manager at Agilent Technologies Chemistries and Supplies Division.