On Track at CPHI Milan: Thermo Fisher Scientific Track Sponsor interview

With CPHI Milan just around the corner, we sat down with some of the sponsors for this year’s conference tracks to discuss the most pressing topics in pharma. 

1. What are the hallmarks of Pharma/Manufacturing 5.0? 

Pharma and manufacturing 5.0 is transforming drug development and production by ensuring and leveraging advanced, human-centred technologies. This combination should not only help the industry but also puts patients first. Incorporating technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning means more tailored therapies and faster, more efficient production processes. This can bring a stronger focus towards patient-centric solutions by combining the strengths of both human creativity and machine efficiency. Pharma 5.0 has the potential to drive innovation while maintaining a deep commitment to meeting individual patient needs.  

2. How does Manufacturing 5.0 build upon current tenants of Industry 4.0? 

Industry 5.0 represents a significant shift in how manufacturing processes are viewed and executed. Industry 4.0 has been around for a while, and it revolutionised production with advanced digital technology, automation, connectivity, and more. Industry 5.0 takes the industry further by reintroducing the human element into these processes. It emphasises the partnership between humans and technologies such as artificial intelligence, leading to a more personalised and value-driven approach to manufacturing. 

3. Why are we now seeing a shift towards a new manufacturing revolution? 

The landscape for bringing new pharmaceutical products to market is evolving with the growing complexity of novel therapies. Global supply chain uncertainties, increased competition, intensified regulatory scrutiny, and compressed timelines have forced pharma companies to search for new ways of working, including the integration of augmented or virtual reality technology for more efficient training, and the widespread adoption of continuous manufacturing to guarantee product safety and quality without sacrificing speed-to-market. Additionally, major trends such as personalised medicine and the rise of artificial intelligence are reshaping the market. This requires increased customisation and flexibility for pharma companies to remain competitive. 

4. How do events like CPHI help highlight these leaps in pharmaceutical innovation? 

Events like CPHI allow experts and executives in the pharmaceutical industry to come together from all branches from all over the world and collaborate on advancements and trends. CPHI gives an opportunity for the attendees to learn from other organisations who may have insights, experience, and share their knowledge and any applications about a certain market, or overcoming specific challenges. This collaboration is invaluable for advancing our industry and ensuring that medicines get to patients as quickly as possible. 

5. What does it mean for Thermo Fisher Scientific to sponsor the Manufacturing 5.0 track at this year’s CPHI Milan? 

The Manufacturing 5.0 track will explore the role of the Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) in pharmaceutical manufacturing and the way technological advancement is shaping industry trends. As a trusted CDMO partner, it’s important to us that there’s an opportunity to discuss such topics that have a great impact on the industry, such as regulatory compliance, quality control, the impact of artificial intelligence and machine learning, flow chemistry, continuous manufacturing, data analytics, digital twins, and more. Attendees will have the opportunity to attend various panels and presentations at this event on leveraging artificial intelligence for pharmaceutical development and manufacturing, and the impacts of technological advancement on patient care, as well as pharma manufacturing in emerging markets and economies. 

6. What are you most looking forward to at CPHI Milan? 

Personally, and as a company, we are looking forward to networking, as always. This is one of the industry’s biggest events and a great opportunity for industry representatives to come together. We are looking forward to strengthening existing contacts and relationships and building new ones. We’re also keen to learn about new topics and advancements from the companies that are represented at this event. Of course, we are excited to learn how organisations are applying and leveraging artificial intelligence to advance their drug development processes. It’s an exciting time for us to understand the technological advancements in the industry that impact everybody in healthcare. 

7. Where do you hope to see Manufacturing 5.0 develop in the next few years? 

Over the next few years, it is our hope that Manufacturing 5.0 will continue to emphasise the importance of patients as the priority of the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector. We also anticipate more approvals for life-saving therapies for difficult-to-treat diseases, like cancers and rare diseases. We believe this will revolutionise the research and development process and bring effective medications to treat these diseases to market.