Designing for precision: A passion for innovation with Will Olughu

“We all know someone affected by cancer, so for me, there’s an urgency, especially when I think about the patient.”
Developing an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) is a technical challenge. Across Ipsen’s work in ADCs Will Olughu leads a team driving the chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) effort to bring this complex science into reality.

Will and his team approach work with the “end” in mind. They start by defining the quality target product profile and then work backwards to identify critical process parameters and considering necessary controls early. “You do not wait until the end to check quality,” he explained during his interview. “You build it into the process from the beginning.”

This philosophy is especially important when working with novel payloads and sensitive linkers. The science is unforgiving, and the stakes are high. Ipsen drives these stakes to the finish line, accelerating timelines while aligning data, decisions, and regulatory requirements in real-time.

Will’s interest in process optimization runs deep. His ongoing academic work explores sustainable manufacturing using biological systems—an approach that reduces energy and material demands while increasing efficiency and productivity. That mindset now informs his vision for the future. “I want to see personalized medicine mature,” he says. “To make this a reality, we need systems that can deliver viable therapies tailored to a single person at scale. That changes everything—from supply chains to regulatory thinking.”

For now, his focus is on building the foundation. Ipsen’s ADC efforts are advancing, but the process, platform, and principles Will has helped establish offer a model for what comes next: precision-guided medicines, built for patients from the onset.