Natascia Leonardi
Research associate Philochem
Natascia Leonardi is a Research Associate Scientist in the Biology Department at Philochem AG, part of the Philogen Group, in Zurich, Switzerland. She is also pursuing an industrial PhD within the Life Science Graduate School Cancer Biology program, focusing on the development and preclinical evaluation of next-generation T-cell-engaging antibody therapeutics for solid tumors.
At Philochem, her research focuses on the novel engineering and characterization of bispecific and multispecific antibodies to identify more selective and effective therapeutic approaches for solid tumors.
Before joining Philochem in September 2025, Natascia worked as a Research Associate at Tubulis GmbH in Munich, where she contributed to the biological characterization of antibody-drug conjugates.
Seminars
Achieving sustained, long-lasting responses remains one of the most pressing challenges in T-cell engager development, with resistance and T-cell exhaustion frequently limiting clinical durability. This workshop will explore
how these mechanisms arise and how the field can move towards long-term efficacy.
- Delving into resistance mechanisms, including antigen loss, tumour heterogeneity and checkpoint upregulation, to predict and prevent patient relapse
- Uncovering how continuous T-cell activation leads to exhaustion and identifying practical approaches from dosing holidays to combination strategies for restoring T-cell fitness
- Assessing the potential of T-cell fitness biomarkers in predicting responsiveness, stratifying patients, and guiding treatment regimens
