iSpeak Blog

Biomanufacturing Trends & Technologies for the Next Decade

Antonio R. Moreira, PhD
Biomanufacturing Trends and Technologies for the Next Decade

The biopharma industry is changing at a fast speed in response to the real pressures that it currently faces for producing an increasing number of complex therapeutic molecules, faster, with consistent high quality, and cost-effective manufacturing systems. In addition to the establishment of monoclonal antibody production as a routine manufacturing technology platform, with several products reaching multi-billion-dollar market value each, the last decade has witnessed the advent of exciting new treatment modalities such as cell and gene therapies, antibody-drug conjugates, and oligonucleotides. Personalized medicines are becoming more common place in the field. At the same time, new technologies such as single use systems, continuous manufacturing, process automation, use of robotics in manufacturing, 3-D printing, and innovative process intensification strategies have become pervasive tools throughout the industry.

For those of us who have been around for several decades, today’s manufacturing facilities are like night and day when compared with the facilities that were built just ten years ago. The new decade of 2020 promises to continue these trends at an ever accelerating pace; we will be challenged to keep up with the scientific developments, to implement regulatory strategies for the new modalities and to develop a skilled workforce that can manufacture the break-through products that will be in the pipelines.

How will you be preparing to stay at the forefront of these exciting times in the biopharma industry?

I hope I have just the answer for you! Plan to spend the week in Boston, MA participating in a series of events on biomanufacturing ISPE is organizing to give you the knowledge you need to take back to your companies.. The week will start with the 2020 ISPE Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Conference, on 1-3 June, the 5th in this series of conferences. Immediately following that conference, you will be able to attend the 2020 ISPE Continuous Manufacturing Workshop, as well as several relevant training courses, on 3-5 June.

The 2020 ISPE Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Conference will continue to build on the successes of past conferences in the series. Through plenary sessions, focused topic sessions, and panel discussions, experts from industry, regulatory agencies, and academic institutions will share their knowledge and experience with the development and commercialization of exciting and sorely needed new therapeutic modalities. These are the result of unimaginable scientific breakthroughs that bring new hope for a better tomorrow to the global patient population.

The following is a small sample of the topics that you will learn about at the 2020 ISPE Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Conference:

  • Manufacturing of new treatment modalities
  • GMPs for cell and gene therapy and biologics
  • Regulatory updates on biotechnological and biological products
  • Design, construction, and operation of facilities and associate equipment for tomorrow’s products
  • Advances in analytical techniques for quality control and manufacturing applications
  • Automation and digitization
  • Workforce needs for tomorrow’s biopharmaceutical manufacturing operations
  • A new era with continuous biomanufacturing

The format for the conference provides for both formal and informal discussions on these topics with the presenters while allowing for ample networking opportunities among the participants. An Exhibit Hall and several facility tours to state-of-the-art biopharma facilities located in the vicinity of the conference site will provide for gaining additional insights into the current industry trends.

I have had the privilege of attending and participating in the planning for all the past conferences in this series. I have left these events fully energized by the amazing progress that our industry has made, by any measure, with the continued improvement of current products and process technologies as well as the truly amazing scientific innovations that lead to developing the products of tomorrow. We save lives, improve the quality of life, and bring hope to patients worldwide on a daily basis!

I can’t wait to attend this year’s conference! I hope you will feel the same way and I invite you to join us in Boston for another inspiring conference. See you in Beantown!

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