The CPHI North America agenda - see what's in store

CPHI North America will once again be held in Philadelphia this May. Philadelphia has been home to CPHI North America for several years and continues to be a hub for the US pharmaceutical market. 

This year, for content presented at the show, we are building out a packed agenda covering the hottest topics in pharma in the region and beyond, in a range of formats. 

Over the 7th to the 9th May content will be spread over 4 tracks, focusing on 4 key areas in the field. Track one, titled Sustainable Futures, will be going into depth on the use of green technology, sustainable supply chains, and the road to Net Zero. 

Track two looks at ‘Revolutionising Drug Manufacturing’ using tech transfers and exacting protocols to shore up the supply chain and be more inclusive of patients’ needs throughout the manufacturing process. 

On the second day the programme moves into Track three, on ‘Supply Chain Economy’. Here, experts discuss the use of data and external factors that can impact the supply chain, and how these can be used to make it more robust. It also has a specific focus on the US supply chain, and how reshoring and drug price negotiations are coming into play. 

The final track is called ‘Exploring Excipients’, and, as one would expect this delves into the world of excipients, how they are used in next generation drug development, and the advantages they can present in creating personalised medicines. 

James Reidy, Senior Content Producer – Pharma, who masterminded the agenda, commented: 

“Philadelphia is a huge hub for emerging biotechs and pharma, there’s a longstanding history ingrained in pharmaceuticals in the area, bringing with it a level of pride, which couples with a forward-thinking approach in novel therapies and fields. We’re excited to be able to host CPHI here once again, and the content agenda reflects these steps in innovation. We’re especially looking forward to hearing from our experts on the new discoveries in drug manufacturing, sustainability, and the world of excipients. We are looking forward to seeing even more attendees and exhibitors at this year’s event, and to see what discussions and partnerships we can foster.”

Track one – Sustainable Futures 

The track will open with a Keynote presentation from Jim Massey, Chief Sustainability Officer at Zai Lab on the journey to Net Zero, setting the scene for the current state of sustainable practices and where areas of improvement will come to light. 

The next session will be delivered by the Track’s sponsor – Thermo Fisher Scientific. Here, they will cover green chemistry from a CDMO perspective, how it should be given due importance, and how to better manage material demand to more sustainably support customers in the value chain. Further sessions look into renewables in the supply chain, with a view to making it more robust as well as environmentally friendly, as well as materiality when developing certain products, such as autoinjectors, delivered by experts from AstraZeneca and BioPhorum. 

The track closes with a fireside chat ‘Sustaining Progress through Uncertainty: Navigating the Unknown’ where experts will discuss how to manage unpredictable circumstances, best practices in an ever-changing landscape, and accepting questions from attendees – lots to look forward to! 

Track two - Revolutionising Drug Manufacturing

This track, sponsored by ATS Life Science Group, encourages delegates to ‘embrace the chaos’ surrounding drug manufacturing at the minute, take risks, and look for innovative ways to shape the future of drug manufacturing in the US, including the role of AI and smart manufacturing. Sessions delve into tech transfer and Process Performance Qualification, aiming to increase successful tech transfers, making these processes easier, building more robust operations, and ultimately increasing patient safety at the end of the drug manufacturing chain. 

The theme of patient safety will continue throughout the afternoon, looking into advanced technologies for personalised medicine and assessing risk and quality design in the current state of manufacturing. 

Concluding the day will be a panel: ‘Enhancing Efficiency: Strategies for Building a Cost-Effective Manufacturing Framework’ with experts from Haleon, Angels for Change, and Merck reviewing workflows and technologies and assessing the market opportunities for patient-centric approaches. 

Track three – Supply Chain Economy

Looking into the ‘broken’ supply chain that many players are dealing with at the minute, and how to fix it, are the US Pharmacopeia with their sponsored track. Focusing on all the different ways to assess the suitability of the supply chain, especially with increased use of data and analytics for more informed decision making, and how to improve overall efficiency with a knock on effect of reducing costs and improving customer service. 

Being hosted in Philadelphia, the track is designed to look more closely at the market in the USA. With this in mind, the agenda includes a presentation on how to navigate drug pricing dynamics in light of the changes that have come into play since the instigation of the Inflation Reduction Act, and the legislation affecting pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors as a part of this. 

The final panel for track three will look at options and dynamics surrounding reshoring in the USA. Our 5 experts will use case studies to highlight progress and the inevitable challenges associated with onshoring in the US, and speculate about the future effectiveness of hybrid tactics. 

Track four – Exploring Excipients

A highly anticipated track, this afternoon will be filled with everything you need to know about excipients and their importance in drug development. Takeda will deliver a presentation on harnessing excipient innovation for next-generation medicines, looking beyond traditional uses. This line of interest hopes to bring about better patient adherence and, through improving patient experiences, bring about a better quality of life for those patients. 

As the excipient field is so intricate, our content producers have developed a Lightning Round of rapid fire talks, with several speakers who are experts in specific niches, including cyclodextrins, co-processed excipients, and hot melt extrusion to whet the appetite.

The final content session of the event is a panel discussion: ‘Making Excipients Great Again’. Björn-Hendrik Peters, Principal Scientist, Bristol Myers Squibb, Nélio Drumond, Associate Director, Lead Process Scientist at Takeda, and David Schoneker, President/Owner/Regulatory & Quality Consultant of Black Diamond Regulatory Consulting, LLC will explore broadly the evolving landscape of excipients, their increasing importance in enhancing drug effectiveness and patient outcomes, and the shifting dynamics in this field.

CPHI North America will also be host to a new Start-Up Market, featuring companies from within the US and beyond, who are having an impact on the current and future pharma market. 

Make sure to plan your trip to include some of the sessions covered in our content programme, as well as taking time to visit the Start-Up Market.