DCAT Week, held annually each March in New York, is a key global industry event for companies engaged in pharmaceutical development and manufacturing. Organized by the Drug, Chemical & Associated Technology Association (DCAT), a global business development association composed of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies and suppliers of ingredients, development and manufacturing services, and related technologies, DCAT Week brings together DCAT members for high-level strategic meetings, networking events, and industry education programs.

DCAT Week is the flagship event of DCAT, and building on its success, DCAT is introducing new venues, services, and programs during DCAT Week ’17 (March 20-23, 2017) to provide further opportunities for its more than 400 corporate members to expand their business network of customers, suppliers, and colleagues as well as gain valuable industry knowledge. Here is a look at what is new for DCAT Week ’17.

Navigating the neighborhood
Due to the closing of the Waldorf Astoria for renovations, the organization has relocated its DCAT Week headquarters to the InterContinental Barclay and transitioned members that previously held meeting space at the Waldorf to surrounding hotels in the Midtown East Side Manhattan neighborhood—a map of the neighborhood and hotels is at the DCAT website, https://dcat.org/Hotels.htm. The hotels in the expanded list offer many conveniences, such as updated rooms, amenities, and technologies for business meetings as well as expected reduced wait times for elevators.

In addition, to help attendees plan their busy DCAT Week meeting schedule within the expanded DCAT Week neighborhood, the DCAT organization has created several useful tools.

The DCAT Week Mobile App will help attendees locate DCAT member companies and get real-time directions, communicate with other attendees, receive event notifications, schedule an Uber ride, or make a dinner reservation using OpenTable.

The DCAT Week Member Company Meeting Locator, available on the DCAT website at https://dcat.org/Locator.htm and at the DCAT Week Mobile App, lists the hotels where member companies have meeting space.

So that members can still tell their customers or suppliers to “meet me at the clock,” each of the Official DCAT Week Hotel lobbies will have a clock stand, continuing the tradition of the famous clock at the Waldorf Astoria and providing a visible landmark to meet up with colleagues.

Powering relationships
In addition to the private meetings held in business meeting spaces, DCAT Week offers a variety of opportunities for members to expand their business network through impromptu meetings and networking events.

Three new member lounges at the InterContinental Barclay, Lotte New York Palace, and Omni Berkshire Hotels offer members a respite between meetings where they can relax with colleagues, answer email, and enjoy a beverage. A quiet section in the lounge at the Lotte New York Palace will provide a space for those who need a quiet place to work.

A Late Night Comedy Club & Networking Event on Monday, March 20th, has been added to the schedule so that members can join colleagues and friends for a good laugh with two of New York City’s best comedians.

The DCAT Member Company Reception on Tuesday, March 21st (4:30 to 6:30 PM), a perennial member favorite, is attended by more than 700 member representatives and is conveniently scheduled in between the day’s business meetings and the evening’s customer dinners.

On Thursday morning, March 23rd, the DCAT Women’s Networking Breakfast will feature Alex Wallace, former senior vice president of NBC News (2008-2015), whose thought-provoking presentation encourages women to step out of their comfort zones, or “cover their strong eye” in order to overcome their weaknesses, strengthen their skills, and confidently rise to the next levels in their careers and in life.

The black-tie DCAT Annual Dinner is steeped in a rich history and tradition. After 90 years at the Waldorf Astoria, it is being relocated to the Grand Ballroom in the New York Hilton, which can comfortably accommodate all 2,200 DCAT members and their guests. Complimentary shuttle service between all eight Official DCAT Week Hotels and the New York Hilton will be provided for dinner guests. Always a much-anticipated part of the Annual Dinner, guest speakers this year will feature David Cameron, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and special guest Craig Ferguson, Emmy Award-Winning TV Host and Comedian.

Building industry knowledge
DCAT member companies represent the entire spectrum of the pharmaceutical manufacturing value chain, and the DCAT Week education programs, which are developed by member volunteers serving on the DCAT Education Committee and Task Forces, provide macro-level market data, trends, and analysis, as well as best practices in key segments and functions impacting the pharmaceutical company customer/supplier relationship. DCAT Week ’17 will feature six education programs that will be held from Monday–Wednesday, March 20–23 as well as a specialized professional skill-building session. 

The popular Pharmaceutical Industry Outlook program will feature a market outlook by QuintileIMS as well as an Executive Forum, featuring an on-stage interview with John LaMattina, former senior vice president, Pfizer Inc., and former president, Pfizer Global Research and Development, who will discuss the key issues impacting drug development and commercialization strategies.

The Pharma Outsourcing program will examine the drivers—innovation, technology, capacity—for contract development and manufacturing services for drug substances and drug products with a market overview and trend analysis and insight on new partnership models in pharmaceutical outsourcing, including for continuous manufacturing of solid dosage products.

New for 2017 is an education program focused on emerging pharmaceutical companies that will explore the specialized requirements of small pharmaceutical companies in the sponsor company/supplier relationship, including project management, and the role that CMC (chemistry, manufacturing and controls) readiness plays in investor valuations and partnering decisions by larger pharma companies.

Specific challenges faced by sourcing, procurement, and supply management professionals will be addressed in the program, The Future of Sourcing and Procurement, which will gain perspectives from leading pharma companies (Roche and Bristol-Myers Squibb) on the talent-development and management required for category and sourcing managers of the future. The program will also provide case studies in supplier-led innovation (Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceuticals) and materials management for complex supply chains using antibody-drug conjugates as an example (Pfizer).

A visionary look will also be provided by the Biomanufacturing 2027 education program with perspectives from leading biopharmaceutical executives (Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Kite Pharma). The future of formulation development and drug delivery will be examined in a separate program, looking at next-generation technologies, with presentations from Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck & Co., and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation among others. 

The Business Builder program is a professional skills-building session for DCAT member company representatives that will provide practical tools and insights on nonverbal communication to advance global business relations from body language expert, Chris Ulrich, a guest contributor on CNN and ABC’s Good Morning America, who recently provided expert commentary of the candidates during the US Presidential campaigns and debates.

Also, to kick off DCAT Week, DCAT will hold on Monday, March 20th, the DCAT Member Company Announcement Forum, which will consist of short presentations by senior executives of DCAT Registered Member Companies highlighting recent major activity impacting the pharmaceutical manufacturing value chain. 

For a complete schedule of programs and events, visit dcat.org/DCATWeek. To download the DCAT Week Mobile App visit iTunes or Google Play.