13 Years of Recognizing & Celebrating the Top Caliber Achievements, Differentiation & Impact to the ADC Community
The World ADC Awards were created in 2014 to commemorate scientific excellence within ADC research and development. Since then, we have had the privilege to capture the individual, company, and ADC program successes, breakthroughs and turnarounds within the field.
With the industry continuing to boom and advance towards earlier-line patient therapies, the caliber of finalists, runners up and winners have only increased year after year, and we’re excited to see what 2026 has in store.
The long-term vision of the World ADC Awards is to bring together and bond the ADC community to recognize the prestigious leaders in space who have trailblazed their way to success and helped propel ADC therapies to become standard of care treatments for oncology patients and beyond.
Award Categories
Best ADC Platform Technology
Awarded to the best platform technology based on novelty and originality, as well as scientific and clinical validation of the platform in the past 12 months. This award is valid for technologies for any ADC component: antibody/targeting moiety, linker, payload, conjugation and beyond.
Best New ADC Drug Developer
Awarded to highlight a newcomer to the ADC field (founded ≤ 5 years) who has made progress with their preclinical pipeline. The winner is assessed through program novelty and innovation, along with data generated in the last 12 months.
Most Promising ADC to Watch
Awarded to the ADC candidate with the most promising and differentiated early clinical profile. Candidates with disclosed phase I data in the last 12 months are considered for this award.
Best ADC Clinical Impact
Awarded to recognize the best ADC program in later-stage clinical development beyond phase I. The winner is selected on clinical performance to date, ability to address unmet patient need, and commercial potential. Only clinical-stage ADCs and approved ADCs within the last 12 months are considered for this award.
Best Up & Coming ADC Solution Provider
Awarded to recognize an emerging solution provider making a notable contribution to the ADC field. Eligible nominees include companies offering ADC-related products, platforms, technologies, services, or expertise that have launched a commercially available ADC-focused offering, or entered the ADC market, within the last five years. Nominees are evaluated on novelty, differentiation, reliability, value, and market relevance within the last 12 months. To ensure fair comparison across different solution provider, judges will assess each nominee relative to its area of the ADC ecosystem.
Best Contract Development Manufacturing Organization (CDMO)
Awarded to the best provider of contract manufacturing services, applicable to all ADC manufacturing capabilities. Nominees are evaluated on service range, reliability, accepted regulatory history, and value to the market within the last 12 months.
Best Contract Research Organization (CRO)
Awarded to the best provider of contract research services, applicable to all CRO classes and expertise. CRO providers are evaluated on their service range, reliability, value, and uniqueness in the ADC market within the last 12 months.
Best ADC Preclinical Publication 2025
Awarded to the most impactful preclinical publication of the last year. Journal of publication, scientific influence, and citation record will all influence the winner’s selection.
Best ADC Clinical Publication 2025
Awarded to the most impactful clinical publication of the last year. Journal of publication, scientific influence, and citation record will all influence the winner’s selection.
Best Poster 2026
Awarded to the best poster across novelty and amount of scientific data displayed. This award is decided at the conference after the judges and attendees have reviewed the posters displayed across the Scientific Program days.
Outstanding Academic Investigator Award
Awarded to acknowledge the academic contributions to the ADC field and strengthen the collaborative environment between commercial partners and academic researchers to accelerate development of effective ADCs to patients.
The George R. Pettit Individual Input to the Field Award 2025
Awarded to the individual who has made the biggest contribution to the field in the last 12 months. This award is presented to the individual who has not just contributed to their company, but to the ADC field as a whole.
The Toshinori Agatsuma Long Standing Contribution to the Field Award
The most prestigious World ADC award dedicated to recognize and reward long standing contribution to the ADC field.
Explore World ADC San Diego's Agenda
Discover the latest industry breakthroughs and insights to be shared at the biggest ADC event, ahead of the awards' gala.
Partner With Us
Position yourself in front of the pioneers trailblazing ADCs to standard of care treatments.
View the 2025 Shortlisted
Have a look at the shortlisted candidates to be recognized this year because of their exceptional work propelling the ADC field to new heights.