With the COVID-19 pandemic in the world’s ‘rear-view mirror’ to some degree, the future for the bio/pharma industry is expected to bring a plethora of opportunities. However, along for the ride with these opportunities, there will also be a unique set of challenges to overcome to ensure prospects are taken advantage of successfully.
Over the past few years, the bio/pharma industry has been experiencing a shift in focus. Of particular note are the increasing numbers of complex and biological therapies entering the development pipeline. These novel therapeutics can prove to be difficult to handle from formulation to manufacture and further along the supply chain.
Addressing innovation
The topic of novel therapies will be well covered in CPHI’s 2023 conference agenda, featuring a number of tracks aimed at assisting with the potential challenges the near future may hold (see ‘Future‑focused agenda’ for a full outline of the topics to be covered during the in-person event).
From 11:15 am on day one of the event (24 Oct. 2023), Lonza Capsules and Health Ingredients will be presenting on future formulation challenges in “Emerging Drug Delivery Technologies for Novel Formulations.” In this 20-minute session, the characteristics of developed products will be reviewed so that the required tools for drug delivery can be determined, and alternative delivery routes will be evaluated.
On the second day of the conference (25 Oct. 2023), Moderna is set to delve into potential applications of messenger RNA (mRNA). The session, “From COVID to Oncology—What’s Next for mRNA Applications?,” will run from 11:40 am for 20 minutes and will look at lessons learned from the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and the role of nanoparticles in vaccine efficiency.
Technological innovations have been filtering into the bio/pharma supply chain for a while, albeit at a slower pace than other industries have experienced. In a panel session, “Generating the Potential of Artificial Intelligence for Pharma Manufacturing,” held from 12:55 pm on the second day of the conference, experts will give their thoughts on how artificial intelligence can help to improve batch manufacturing, quality and regulatory compliance, and patient engagement. The panel will also assess the role of chatbots and where training can be improved within the manufacturing sector.
A new addition to the 2023 event will be the Start-Up Market, taking place across the whole three days of the event (24–26 Oct. 2023). The Start-Up Market will be located in Hall 3 of the conference centre and will provide a space for start-ups, innovators, and small enterprises to connect and exhibit their new products and solutions.
Future-focused agenda
A main element of change for CPHI each year is that of the conference agenda. For the 2023 event, key topics set to impact the industry over the coming years will be broached thanks to a host of thought leaders and experts of relevant fields.
An outline of the topics to be covered on-site at CPHI in Barcelona is as follows:
Next-Gen Biomanufacturing—this track will investigate the innovations helping to shape the biomanufacturing landscape.
Formulating the Future—for this theme, sponsored by Lonza Capsules and Health Ingredients, relevant experts will tackle the challenges facing formulators when dealing with therapies of the future.
Partnering for Success—in this section of the agenda, attendees will be able to learn about the intricacies of partnerships.
Creating a Circular Economy—for this SUDPACK Medica-sponsored track, experts will provide practical tips on ways to be sustainable.
Future Therapies—experts in this session
will highlight more personalized, precision, and novel therapies.
Manufacturing 4.0—the ability of digitalization to improve efficiencies, both in terms of cost and output, will be examined in this track, sponsored by Procaps.
Patient-Centric Development—patients take centre stage for this Gerresheimer-sponsored section of the conference, with experts talking about ways to improve the patient experience across the board.
Quality Management Fundamentals—the US Pharmacopeial Convention sponsors this track, which will focus on tools that can improve quality management throughout the supply chain.
For the latest updates on the conference agenda visit Europe.cphi.com.
—Felicity Thomas
Driving efficiencies
With high inflation also comes budgetary pressures. One way to alleviate the financial burden and improve the all-important return on investment is to accelerate molecules through the development pipeline to commercialization.
Tackling this very topic on the first day of the conference at 11:40 am will be Magnus Blomberg from AstraZeneca. In a 20-minute slot titled ’Speed to Market’—Pipeline Acceleration Strategies for Biologics Manufacturing, Blomberg will provide insights into strategies that can speed up biologics manufacturing and hence drive efficiencies.
Another tool that can drive efficiencies when implemented correctly is the use of a suitable contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO). Towards the end of the first day at 3:55 pm, Federica Fraschetti from Merck, Julien Laizé from Valneva, and Shilpi Ghosh from Roche, will all sit on a panel for “The CDMO Outlook,” where they will cover ways to determine what services a sponsor company may require, whether it is more economically beneficial to perform tasks in-house, ways to optimize communication with a partner company, and the times when outsourcing should be avoided.
Editor’s Note: This article was published in Pharmaceutical Technology Europe’s June 2023 print issue.
Sustainable goals
Sustainability is becoming an ever‑important aspect impacting day‑to-day life. The bio/pharma industry is not excluded from this shift, with expectations for more sustainable practices to be implemented throughout the life cycle of drug products.
During the Formulating the Future track on day one of the conference, Juan Colberg from Pfizer will detail ways in which companies can make their businesses greener. In “Green Chemistry Initiatives in APIs” at 12:05 pm, Colberg will broach greener alternatives for API production, investing in sustainability as a long‑term growth opportunity, and ways to incorporate sustainability into the production lifecycle.
After lunch on day one at 15:05 pm, Berta Mota from Anthesis Group will give an overview of the financial benefits that can be gained with a strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy. “Driving Profitability Through a Solid ESG Strategy” will cover topics such as how open transparency can aid in the identification of appropriate investors and lessons for pharma to learn from non-governmental organization green action schemes.
Much, much more
There will be many more sessions to enjoy while attending the event in person than those listed here. For up-to-date information on the conference agenda, visit the event website at Europe.cphi.com.
Furthermore, for the duration of the in-person CPHI event, the Fira Barcelona centre will also be home to a vast number of exhibitors, located across eight halls. If you would like to visit the Pharmaceutical Technology® Group team while attending the show, you can find us in Hall 3 Booth Q74.
Touring Barcelona
If you have never visited Barcelona before, or even if you visit the city regularly, take a look at our brief list of some key tourist hotspots to view when you are there for CPHI in October 2023. The article can be viewed by clicking here.
About the author
Felicity Thomas is the European/senior editor for Pharmaceutical Technology Group.
Article details
Pharmaceutical Technology Europe
Vol. 35, No. 6
June 2023
Pages: 32–33
Citation
When referring to this article, please cite it as Thomas, F. Planning the Future of Pharma at CPHI. Pharmaceutical Technology Europe 2023 35 (6) 32–33.
