CPhI Worldwide Begins with PreConnect Conferences

There are only a few days left as fine-chemical companies, contract manufacturers, and pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical companies gather next week at CPhI Worldwide, organized by UBM Live. The large exhibition featuring companies offering pharmaceutical ingredients and contract services will be held in Frankfurt, Oct. 22–24, with the exhibition starting on Tuesday Oct. 22 and the Pre-Connect Conference on Monday Oct. 21. The Pre-Connect conference will feature six modules covering six main topics: generics/supergenerics, drug delivery, biosimilars/biobetters, API sourcing in emerging markets, strategic partnering, and pharmaceutical packaging and labeling.

Three other shows will be co-located with CPhI. The International Contract Services Expo (ICSE) features exhibitors offering contract services in drug development and formulation services, finished product manufacturing, clinical research, and pharmaceutical software/information technology. P-MEC is focused on pharmaceutical machinery and equipment, and InnoPack includes exhibitors focused on packaging solutions. 

CPhI Worldwide and its co-located exhibitions are expected to attract 30,000 attendees from 140 countries and 2200 exhibitors. Last year's installment of CPhI Worldwide in Madrid attracted 30,413 attendees, which included both visitors and representatives from exhibiting companies. Attendees from Europe accounted for the largest number of attendees at approximately 60%, followed by attendees from Asia at nearly 24%, and attendees from North America at 7.5%. Among visitors, innovator pharmaceutical companies accounted for nearly 16% of the total and generic-drug companies 23%, according to information by ABC, an independent audit firm.

The CPhI Pharma Awards will be announced on Tuesday Oct. 22. The awards recognize innovation in three main categories: formulation, process development, and packaging. The award for innovation in formulation will recognize advances in drug delivery, excipients, controlled release, stability or bioavailability. Innovation in process development involves developments in synthesis, crystallization, polymorphism, catalysis or green chemistry. The award for innovation in packaging will recognize advances in primary packaging, devices and technology, patient compliance, dispensers, or materials.