On Track at CPHI NA 2024: Sustainable Futures with Thermo Fisher Scientific

On the 7-9 May 2024 in Philadelphia, CPHI NA will be presenting an unmissable agenda, filled with content across 4 main tracks. In the following interview the Sustainable Futures Track sponsor, Thermo Fisher Scientific gives an overview of what to expect. 

Could you please give an overview of Thermo Fisher Scientific and your key priorities as an organisation? 

Thermo Fisher Scientific is a trusted and reliable contract development and manufacturing organisation and clinical research organisation (CDMO/CRO) partner with end-to-end solutions focused on speed, scalability, and innovation to support our customers across the drug development journey from molecule to medicine, ensuring the faster delivery of high-quality medicines to patients.

Through our global network and continued investment in advanced capabilities and capacity, and with a focus on manufacturing excellence and quality, we are enabling our customers to push the boundaries of innovation for the patients they serve through the scale and production of new cell and gene therapies, mRNA therapies, and many more innovative new treatments that are changing patients’ lives.

As medicine advances at a fast pace, with new, life-saving medicines and vaccines developing from emerging areas of science, Thermo Fisher is driven by a patient-centric approach and is committed to staying at the forefront of pharma innovation, consistently evolving to meet current and future market demands.

The North American market has been experiencing many changes recently, do you see these changes offering potential for the market? 

The North American market has experienced a number of impactful events in the last year and is poised for several others during the remainder of 2024 as the industry regains momentum following the post-pandemic lull. Some of these changes are likely to drive even further scrutiny on the creation of secure and effective supply chains. This enhanced focus combined with new and improved tools and techniques will lead to improvements for the market as a whole, aimed at ensuring that the medicines reach the patients who need them.

Thermo Fisher Scientific is uniquely positioned to provide our clients with an effective and secure supply chain through our diverse network of manufacturing facilities located in North America, Europe and Asia, as well as our team of procurement experts located across the globe to ensure sourcing from a diverse network of suppliers. 

Have you encountered any challenges in these market changes? How did you overcome them? 

The supply logistics disruptions associated with the pandemic, from conflicts across the globe, and from adverse weather events have demonstrated the fragility of physical movements of material. Regional impacts to supply chains have crippled supply networks. At Thermo Fisher, we have strived to continually assess the risks within our supply networks and to strengthen them through increased diversification. Our global sourcing team of procurement specialists is critical in this endeavour.

Thermo Fisher Scientific is sponsoring the Sustainability Track at CPHI NA, why is this track so important, and what is Thermo Fisher hoping to bring to Philadelphia with this track? 

Our commitment to the environment is deeply rooted in our Mission. By championing a healthy planet that sustains human health and natural resources, we can build a brighter future for generations to come. Through our culture of continuous improvement, we manage risks, minimise adverse impacts and unlock opportunities through collaborations that help our customers achieve their environmental sustainability goals.

We recognise the urgency of addressing our changing climate and understand the power of innovation to create a better world. We innovate to provide our customers with the solutions to develop greener technologies, ensure safe air and water quality, and advance climate research.

How can green chemistry be used in sustainable API development and manufacturing? 

The principles of green chemistry can be implemented in the development of and execution of greener and more sustainable synthetic processes. This implementation must be considered and introduced in a holistic manner from the very beginning of the development process throughout the lifecycle of the product. Additionally, the considerations must also extend up the supply chain through the raw materials and key reagents.

Historically, the focus of Thermo Fisher’s API offering was on improving the sustainability of the manufacturing process as it approached the commercial phase of the product; however, we now offer the expertise of our Process Research team in Germany to assist our clients in this activity in the initial phases of route selection.

How can green chemistry be used to meet demand for customers long term, and will this have a wider impact on their processes and business? 

Embracing green chemistry principles is not only beneficial for its environmental impacts, but it also frequently leads to simpler production processes, reduced waste generation, and lower raw material inputs. All of these factors lower the cost of goods sold (COGS) for our customers, which enables them to provide a more accessible product to the patients. 

Which other sessions in the Sustainability Track are you most looking forward to and why? 

Sustainability for autoinjectors – such a relevant topic given the impact on the industry being seen by the recent GLP-1 launches into diabetes and weight loss indications.

How do events like CPHI NA help to highlight these topics and why is it beneficial? 

Events like CPHI NA are an opportunity to bring together the collective industry and remind everyone that there are challenges that we must face together. Many of these challenges will only be overcome as we leverage the resources, creativity, and capability of the entire industry – and the world is depending on us to do just that.

About Matt Hancock

Matt Hancock is an industry veteran of over 20 years focused on the efficient development and manufacture of pharmaceuticals. Currently, he is the business management director for API at Thermo Fisher Scientific whose mission is to enable their customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer.  Matt has a PhD in organic chemistry and focuses his passion for drug development in the areas of small molecule API manufacturing, amorphous spray drying, and sterile fill-finish.

To see the full track agenda at CPHI NA, click the button below.