CPhI’s Pre-Connect Congress, which brings together experts and thought leaders from the pharmaceutical industry to provide insights on major developments in the industry, will focus on the pharma value chain across contract services, drug design and delivery, pharma ingredients, biologics and biosimilars, finished dosages and generics, and pharma packaging.

The most significant contract services developments are in antibody drug conjugates (ADC) and advanced cell therapies, according to CPhI. Sessions will also explore multi-dimensional contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMO) business models, looking specifically at the changes in contract research organizations (CRO), CDMOs, and hybrid providers. The increasing development of contract services globally means pharma executives need knowledge of macro-trends, new technologies, and mergers and acquisitions to ensure they can react appropriately.

An afternoon of the congress will be dedicated to drug design and delivery, during which experts will look at the latest technologies, approaches, and developments for patient-centric therapeutics. Panel discussions will analyze special drug designation with small patient populations—looking at orphan drugs, breakthrough therapies, and highly potent APIs (HPAPIs) across discovery, development, and commercialization. Sessions on cutting edge innovations, model based technologies, and patient-centric design of combination products will complement the agenda.

The changing dynamic of global API manufacturing is forcing manufacturers to innovate and seek new approaches in formulation, sourcing, and manufacturing. Key trends include the tightening of GMP regulations, higher costs through user fees, more stringent requirements for API suppliers in Europe, and the changes continuous processing is bringing.

With a large number of biologics and biosimilars being developed, the biologics track will focus on innovative products and technologies addressing complex disease profiles. The congress will look at the global biosimilars sector including America, Europe, and other emerging markets. Particular emphasis will be placed on the development of Zarxio, the interchangeability of biosimilars, single-use technologies, personalized medicines, and ADCs.

A morning session of the congress will focus on serialization and pharma packaging, including presentations on improving patient care through tamper verification systems, the future of the serialization process, and accessible packaging—focusing on children and elderly patients. The track will also feature regulatory updates on Europe’s Falsified Medicines Directive, and patient adherence and compliance in pharma packaging.

The congress will also include a finished dosage formulation track that will explore the future of generics, the need for value-added medicines that improve health, and increasing patient access through finished dosage forms. The session will also discuss compulsory licensing as a means to increasing generics access.