Women in Pharma® Editorial: Jennifer Lauria Clark, CPIP
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Women in Pharma® Editorial: Risks & Rewards
As a part of taking care of yourself, one must risk something. For me, taking a risk can be scary. I get nervous, anxious, and, at times, begin to doubt myself. Then I remember why I’m taking a risk and what the potential rewards will be, and confidently move forward with my decision.
Message From the Chair: Jörg Zimmermann
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Message From the Chair: The Return to Live Conferences
The unprecedented speed in the development and global rollout of vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 over the last two years has made it possible to get back to a new normal. The 2022 ISPE Facilities of the Future Conference in February brought us together in person again and included a virtual...
Emerging Leaders Editorial: New Approaches, New Tools
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Emerging Leaders Editorial: New Approaches, New Tools
Now that the year is underway and people continue to learn how to live with COVID-19, there appear to be some areas where life and work will be changed for an extended period. Adapting and coming up with new tools and approaches will be key.
Jörg Zimmermann
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Message from the Chair: ISPE News, & More
Pandemic or no pandemic, the pharmaceutical industry is growing at an unprecedented pace, and it is very gratifying to be part of that process. COVID-19 has brought our industry to the daily news, and while the public is getting a better grasp of how we work and need to work, there are still so...
Emerging Leaders Editorial: Building Connection & Support
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Emerging Leaders Editorial: Building Connection & Support
The past two years have turned things upside down and forced change in a way that has made many aspects of our lives become unfamiliar. The unforeseen stresses of these changes have pushed many people and companies to their breaking points. Some of these challenges were expected, but came on like a...
Women in Pharma® Editorial: Jennifer Lauria Clark
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Women in Pharma® Editorial: Starting a Journey Focused on Your Total Self
ISPE Women in Pharma® (WIP) wants to kick off the new year by focusing on your journey in taking care of your total self. Whether it is your professional or personal mission to better yourself, Women in Pharma® will provide programming and support this year. We are supporting women and men globally...
Message from the Chair - Jörg Zimmermann
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Message from the Chair: COVID-19 - A Catalyst for Change & Progress
Who would have thought at the beginning of the pandemic that we would have several highly effective vaccines against the coronavirus and billions of doses administered by the end of 2021? I am still amazed what we as the pharmaceutical industry have achieved.
Finalists and Winners Announced for Two Article of the Year Awards
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ISPE Briefs: Finalists and Winners Announced for Two Article of the Year Awards
Pharmaceutical Engineering® has announced the finalists and winners of the Roger F. Sherwood Article of the Year for 2019 and 2020. The 2019 award finalists and winner were not announced last year due to the pandemic. Winners of both awards are being recognized at the 2021 ISPE Annual Meeting &...
ISPE Launches ATMP Community of Practice
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ISPE Launches ATMP Community of Practice
“The only constant in life is change.” This quote is as true today as it was 2,500 years ago when Heraclitus laid out his philosophy. In the last five years, the word “cure” has been used to describe new therapies targeting many different cancer and hereditary diseases. The potential of these...
Emerging Leaders Editorial: John Clarke
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Emerging Leaders Editorial: What a Year It Has Been!
The 2021 ISPE Annual Meeting & Expo brings my year as ISPE International Chair of Emerging Leaders (EL) and Emerging Leaders representative on the ISPE International Board of Directors to an end. I would like to say thank you to all the Emerging Leaders members and volunteers for the hard work...
Message from the Chair: The Greatest Spectacle in Pharma
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Message from the Chair: The Greatest Spectacle in Pharma
I live in Indianapolis, Indiana, truly a great place to live. It is not difficult to understand why I like Indy so much: humble, down-to-earth people, farming (I grew up on a farm), readily available participant sports, and many spectator sporting event opportunities including football, soccer,...
Emerging Leaders Editorial: John Clarke
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Emerging Leaders Editorial: Connecting in the Virtual World
Optimism is in the air as we move through the summer months and the restrictions that have become second nature are slowly lifting. As I continue the second half of my year as the Emerging Leaders (EL) Chair and representative on the ISPE International Board of Directors, I realize that my...
Message from the Chair: Joanne R. Barrick, RPh
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Message from the Chair: Remembering Pharma’s “Why”
Remembering the “why” of our pharma industry is so important and, for me, also very personal. My sister Linda was 69 and her four grandchildren were the light of her life. In November 2017, she was diagnosed with appendix cancer (a rare cancer, closely related to colon cancer). After four months of...
Women in Pharma® Editorial: Alice Redmond, PhD
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Women in Pharma® Editorial: Making Mentoring & Recognition More Meaningful
Organizations wanting to ensure the well-being and growth of their employees need to invest in robust mentorship and recognition programs. Mentoring has played a key role in my career development. In the 1990s and early 2000s, I worked in Novartis and engineering services companies where I was part...
Emerging Leaders Editorial: John Clarke
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Emerging Leaders Editorial: A Winning Virtual Hackathon
2020 was a year for finding new ways of working for the entire ISPE Emerging Leaders (EL) community. In February, Emerging Leaders stepped up the challenge by holding the first fully virtual International Hackathon. With over 22 countries represented, the Hackathon required the participants to...
Women in Pharma® Editorial: Vivianne Arencibia
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Women in Pharma® Editorial: Fueling the Fire - Learning to “Just Speak Up”
This year’s Women in Pharma® (WIP) theme of “Fueling the Fire” harnesses the energy and passion that drive women to achieve career advancement, personal growth, and satisfaction. The 3 March webinar focused on the Diversity & Inclusion theme, where we discussed what we as leaders can do to drive...
Message from the Chair: Joanne R. Barrick
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Message from the Chair: Signs of the Times
I used to think “home detention” was no punishment at all, but this last year has dramatically changed my thinking. Despite working from home for over a year, my house is a wreck! Like many of you, I feel busier than ever, despite not traveling and not driving to and from work. Disruption used to...
Women in Pharma® Tanya Sharma Banner
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Women in Pharma® & Entrepreneurship
The ISPE Women in Pharma® (WIP) theme for the month of March is entrepreneurship. This word can mean different things to different people, but WIP defines it as the creation of value. Communications, events, and activities during March will focus on supporting small businesses and encouraging...
Emerging Leaders Editorial John Clarke Banner
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Emerging Leaders Editorial: Pharma 4.0™ - The Pillars for Success
Understanding and utilization of Pharma 4.0™ technologies will be critical for students and Emerging Leaders (ELs) as they develop in their careers in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. To learn more, I spoke with Edoardo Schiraldi, an Emerging Leader based in Florence, Italy, who...
Message from the Chair Joanne R. Barrick banner
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Message from the Chair: Better Days Ahead
The last 12 months have felt like the slowest and fastest of times. The days drone on, yet the months fly by. I have now been working from home for a year—5% of my time at Lilly. I feel sadness for so many families who have lost loved ones and/or spent the holidays alone. Dogs and cats appearing in...
Women in Pharma®: Lessons Learned
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Women in Pharma®: Lessons Learned
My parents always told me when I was growing up that I could be anything I wanted to be. They strongly steered me in the direction of engineering at North Carolina State University, so that I would be able to earn a degree that would ensure my future was my own. When I was eight years old, I was...
Emerging Leaders Editorial: Celebrate the Emerging New Year
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Emerging Leaders Editorial: Celebrate the Emerging New Year
I think everyone will join me in celebrating the start of 2021! With all the challenges brought by 2020, last year also demonstrated the resilience and innovative thinking of ISPE members. With collaboration and perseverance in mind, I was delighted to begin my tenure as ISPE International Emerging...
Message from the Chair
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Message from the Chair: WIP - A Key Part of ISPE Professional Career Development
I was a skeptic. When the Women in Pharma® (WIP) program started in 2016, I had previously attended several other professional women’s programs and usually left disappointed, as these programs did not provide the information I was seeking. The ISPE Women in Pharma® program is different. The program...
Young Professional: LeAnna M. Pearson
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Young Professional: From Young Professional to Emerging Leader
As this is my last Young Professional (YP) column for Pharmaceutical Engineering®, I wanted to start with a quote from Winston Churchill that I feel summarizes my two-year journey as the International Young Professional Chair: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to...
Women in Pharma® Editorial: Alice Redmond
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Women in Pharma® Editorial: A Year of Mentoring, Education, and Collaboration
2020 has been a super-busy year for ISPE Women in Pharma® (WIP). We started 2020 with aggressive goals, including to set up global Mentor Circles; start a monthly Women in Pharma® newsletter, The Bridge; and begin a column in Pharmaceutical Engineering®. Women in Pharma® has met and exceeded goals...
Frances M. Zipp - Board Chair
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Message from the Chair: That Was the Year That Was
Given the events that have transpired over the last 12 months, I have penned the title of my final column as ISPE Chair to reflect the temperament of our times. Coincidentally, and please pardon my digression, the title also happens to be the name of a hit album of topical songs by Tom Lehrer,...
Young Professional: Editorial Times Are Changing
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Young Professional Editorial: Times Are Changing
As many of you read this, I am sure your social and work life have been turned upside down, flipped around, and now are possibly settling into “the new normal.” I personally cringed when I wrote that—I was so tired of hearing that phrase about three weeks into the pandemic.
Women in Pharma® Editorial: Pandemic Coping Strategies
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Women in Pharma® Editorial: Pandemic Coping Strategies
Because of the global pandemic, we have experienced unexpected joys, learned new skills, adjusted to long days of video conferencing, and dealt with drops in income and potential job losses. At the same time, we have also experienced an increased sense of urgency, collaboration, and pride because...
Message from the Chair: Pandemic Problem or Solution Opportunity?
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Message from the Chair: Pandemic Problem or Solution Opportunity?
How many times have you heard phrases like these over the last several months: unprecedented marketplace disruptions, staggering economic conditions, or maybe insurmountable business challenges? If you’re like me, probably more than you can count.
Young Professional Editorial: Career Development - Goes On
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Young Professional Editorial: Career Development - Goes On
I wanted to take a break from my usual column and highlight a few Young Professionals (YPs) around the world. These individuals have not let COVID-19, or anything else, get in the way of their career development. Each joined ISPE at a different time in their career and is using the ISPE Communities...
Jennifer Lauria Clark
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Women in Pharma® Editorial: Virtual Connections
How is your calendar looking these days? As I write this, we have all been living a bit differently today than we were one year ago. I’ll bet you have seen an increase in webinars, virtual trainings, and video conference calls, and likely having far fewer face-to-face interactions.
Message from the Chair: The Next Normal - Workforce of the Future
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Message from the Chair: The Next Normal - Workforce of the Future
Since January, nothing has been normal. Nothing, especially when we try to compare it to anything we have experienced in the recent past. So how do we begin to move forward as the efforts of both the public and private sectors combine to offset the advance of the impact to businesses due to...
Women in Pharma® editorial banner
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Women in Pharma® Editorial: Find the Light, Be the Light
Did you know that Women in Pharma® (WIP) has launched a program to initiate Mentor Circles around the globe? While great strides have been made to support women in the workplace, women are still significantly underrepresented in upper management in the pharmaceutical industry. The ISPE Women in...
Message from the Chair: The Future Belongs to All of Us
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Message from the Chair: The Future Belongs to All of Us
Spring is finally here, signaling a time of new beginnings. Today finds me thinking about International Women’s Day (IWD, observed annually on 8 March), a global day of celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This year, International Women’s Day has the...
Brazil Affiliate
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Benefiting from Growth Opportunities: ISPE Brazil Affiliate
Brazil’s regulatory authority is working hard to make the nation a larger player in the global pharmaceutical market, and these efforts appear to be working: the life sciences industry has expanded in recent years, and market projections are positive. These ongoing developments represent...
Frances M. Zipp is the 2020 ISPE International Board of Directors Chair and President and CEO of Lachman Consultant Services, Inc.
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Message from the Chair: What’s Trending in the Pharma Industry?
What’s Trending? This is a very common phrase, one that’s become part of the lexicon. You’ve probably heard it or read it countless times during the past year. I know I have. So, from my perspective, it’s natural to ask the question about regulatory...
LeAnna Pearson Marcum is a Senior Project Manager at PharmEng Technology and the 2019–2020 ISPE International Young Professionals Chair
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Young Professional Editorial: Know Your Worth
I recently had dinner with a friend and colleague who was looking at taking on a new job role. She asked me what I thought about her salary request as part of this new opportunity. I asked, “Is that what you think you are worth?” She looked very confused by my response, and I realized that many of...
Celebrating the First Global ISPE Hackathon
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Celebrating the First Global ISPE Hackathon
On 26–27 October 2019, the first Global Student & Young Professional Hackathon was held at the 2019 ISPE Annual Meeting & Expo. Thirty-six ISPE Young Professional and Student members came from around the world to participate in the two-day event that demonstrated innovative thinking, collaboration,...
Frances M. Zipp - Board Chair
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Message from the Chair: Making the Connection
As I sit at my computer to write my first column as ISPE International Board Chair, my thoughts are centered on how I can personally help drive our unifying vision, “Connecting Pharmaceutical Knowledge,” and how we as members of ISPE have an outstanding opportunity in the year ahead to provide...
Strategic Plan
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Introducing ISPE’s New Strategic Plan
The pharmaceutical industry is ever-changing, as we saw demonstrated during the 2019 ISPE Annual Meeting & Expo, and at other ISPE conferences around the world. In fact, change is accelerating—and to support the trends and developments in the industry, ISPE has developed a new three-year Strategic...
Tracy Clemmer
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Multiple ISPE Roles: Lead to Unlocking Potential
Tracy L. Clemmer’s experience has spanned the globe, and she has an impressive list of ISPE roles on her résumé. In addition to being a past President and Chair of the Training and Education Committee of the ISPE Singapore Affiliate, she was a Board Member and Chair of the Training and Education...
Article
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Leading at All Levels of Your Career
I was recently meeting with one of the individuals I am lucky enough to call a mentor and friend. During our dinner, we talked about various topics from general life items to questions about work. One of the questions she asked that inspired me to write this article was, “If leaders are people with...
Pharmaceutical Engineering Online
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Pharmaceutical Engineering - Giving Thanks & Reflecting on 2019
The November-December issue of Pharmaceutical Engineering is published in the months of the Thanksgiving holiday in the US and the year-end holidays celebrated around the world, so it seems appropriate to note the many changes to the magazine this year and give thanks to those who have contributed...
Jon Youles
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Strong Leadership for Uncertain Times: Jon Youles & ISPE UK Affiliate
In his 17 years as a member of the ISPE United Kingdom Affiliate, Jon Youles has worn many hats, including Editor for the newsletter, Chair of the Southern region’s committee, and Secretary and Vice Chair of the Affiliate. Now, as Chair of the Affiliate, he leads an engaged membership that is...
Article
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Networking in a Digital Age
In a world dominated by social media and online profiles, the art of getting to know someone has been transformed. So, in this age, when you can connect with someone by “swiping right” on a dating app, how do you build a professional network? Face-to-face interactions remain a great starting point....
A Year of Change
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Message from the Chair - A Year of Change
As I write my last Chairman column for Pharmaceutical Engineering, I reflect on what has happened over the past year globally and within ISPE. The pace of change in the industry has accelerated and will continue to accelerate with new technologies and business models being deployed.
Article
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Technology Innovations and the Pharmaceutical Industry
Many of us have heard of Moore’s Law, named after Gordon Moore, cofounder of IntelIntel. “Fueling Innovation We Love and Depend On.” Accessed 22 May 2019. https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/silicon-innovations/moores-law-technology.html. Moore’s Law predicted that computing would increase in...
John Clarke
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ISPE Europe Young Professionals Show a Passion for Development
I’ve been to numerous ISPE conferences in the United States. This was my first ISPE Europe Annual Conference, held 1–4 April, and it did not disappoint! The Young Professionals (YPs) were an integral part of the conference in Dublin; they led tracks, hosted and participated in the ISPE Europe...
Backing Biosimilars
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Backing Biosimilars
Initially, the American College of Rheumatology urged caution around the use of biosimilars. Information about the manufacturing process for a branded biologic is proprietary; a biosimilar manufacturer will not have access to the details of the process, so how could they guarantee their product...
Article
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The “F” Word: How Failure Leads to Success
From the time when we were young, we have been taught to avoid failure. You are told to get the best grades in school, which will lead to getting into college. And when you graduate, you’ll get a good job, work hard, and the promotions will come. At no point did anyone ever tell us to fail! But...
Women in Pharma Roundtable Session
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Challenges, Strategies, & Successes at Women in Pharma Roundtable Session
Six women shared stories about building their diverse pharmaceutical industry careers, including challenges encountered along the way and their recommendations for other women in the profession, during a roundtable session on Women in Pharma®. The Roundtable opened the second day of the 2018 ISPE...
Millilis Family banner
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Family Ties: Meet the Millilis
Many members think of ISPE as a family of professionals, colleagues, and friends. Two of ISPE’s active members, George and Peter Millili, have taken this a step further; they’ve made ISPE part of their family.
Article
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The Medium and the Message
Teamwork and collaboration are becoming increasingly critical in today’s professional arena. The drive to produce innovative, disruptive products calls for interdisciplinary teams. To function effectively, these diverse groups require creative problem-solving, conflict resolution, and interpersonal...
Article
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How to Start Managing Expectations
I have always held myself to a high standard and kept high expectations for myself. I always thought that setting this high bar for myself would push me harder, make me better, and ultimately help me succeed. However, when I didn’t meet the expectations that I had set, I was so hard on myself. I...
Article
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ISPE Ireland Affiliate: 30 Years & Growing
It is an exciting time for the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries in Ireland. The country has firmly established itself as one of the world’s centers of excellence and the number one European location for pharmaceutical and life science investment. It is equally exciting for ISPE’s Ireland...
Article
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Message from the Chair: ISPE & Information Sharing
I hope 2019 is bringing exciting challenges and fulfillment to your personal and career goals. Like 2018, 2019 will have its uncertainties and opportunities but our industry will continue to evolve to bring new life-saving therapies to patients around...
Article
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Teamwork Unlocks Success - Lessons from the Lacrosse Field
Across industries, the trend is toward speed to market. - Whether it’s meeting consumer expectations for instant service or being the first to bring an innovation to shelves, companies have plenty of incentives to make products and services available faster.
Article
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Fishing for Biopharma Success
Maritime discipline took the Boston Area Chapter President from a trawler to the boardroom. - It might seem odd to connect commercial fishing to the study of chemical engineering— and perhaps even more unlikely to connect commercial fishing to a career in the biopharmaceutical industry. But for...
Article
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A New Year Begins for Young Professionals in 2019
Happy 2019! The last time I saw many of you was at the ISPE 2018 Annual Meeting & Expo in Philadelphia, where I started my tenure as the ISPE International Young Professionals Chair.
ISPE 2018 Annual Meeting Banner
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Vision to Reality: 2018 ISPE Annual Meeting & Expo Highlights
Over 2,000 attendees from more than 28 countries gathered in Philadelphia for the 2018 ISPE Annual Meeting & Expo on 4–7 November. Highlights below show the many ways that presenters captured the conference theme of “Vision to Reality”: in strides against disease, ISPE’s advancements over the last...
Article
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ISPE’s New Year: Our Story in Action
On sitting down to write my first Chair’s column, I reflected on the events at our Annual Meeting & Expo in November. First, I want to commend the entire ISPE organization, and offer particular thanks to the 2018 Annual Meeting planning committee, for...
Article
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Just so You Know Info from This Issue
JSYK: JUST SO YOU KNOW Info from this issue 50% Percentage of FDA Warning Letters that cite data integrity issues, 2017–Q1 2018 Data Integrity 40% - 50% RFT error rate for paper-based laboratory records 15% - 25% How much...
Article
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Aeration Equipment in Aerobic Fermentation Processes
A wide range of pharmaceutical products is produced using two complex fermentation processes. Anaerobic fermentation takes place in the absence of oxygen, and aerobic fermentation requires oxygen, supplied via blower and compressor systems, to yield microorganisms and produce the desired product....
Article
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From Concepts to Reality - Meet Young Professional Richi Sethi
Richi Sethi, a Design Engineer for Biocon, India’s largest biopharma company, knows that process engineering involves constant adaptation. “We have to be very dynamic,” she explained. “People want to try new things, and we have to be on the forefront.”
Article
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Six Sigma Quality & Consortia - 2018 Continuous Manufacturing Workshop Recap
Six Sigma is an approach for pharmaceutical manufacturing quality that can help to eliminate drug shortages and recalls and improve performance issues. Lawrence Yu, PhD, Deputy Director, Office of Pharmaceutical Quality, FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), provided an overview of...
Article
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Welcome to the New Pharmaceutical Engineering Online
In November, ISPE introduces PE Online, a new web-based reading platform for Pharmaceutical Engineering. It is your central place for PE content, including information on trends, developments, technology, and scientific research. PE Online is part of the...
industry demands
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ISPE Foundation Launch: New Ways to Address Key Pharma Industry Needs
On 19 June, ISPE officially launched the ISPE Foundation. The philanthropic arm of ISPE "will enhance ISPE's ability to support its members and the pharmaceutical industry as they prepare to address new and evolving industry demands," according to Michael A. Arnold, ISPE Foundation Board Chair, and...
Message from the Chair - A Year of Achievements
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A Year of Achievements
I write my final "Message from the Chair" article full of a range of thoughts and emotions. Perhaps the best way to sum up my feelings is just to say, "Time flies when you're having fun."
Article
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More Advice from the Top
My conversation with six members of ISPE's Board of Directors continues this month.
Article
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Time Flies: A Look Back—and Ahead
I am pleased to have another opportunity to share some thoughts and provide a quick update about the progress of ISPE. It is hard to fathom that we are halfway through 2018, and summer is upon us (at least those of us in the Northern Hemisphere). ISPE had a very busy first half of the year, with...
Preparing the Workforce of the Future - Chalkboard
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Preparing the Workforce of the Future
In our industry, as in many others, the most important goal is developing and delivering a product that satisfies our customers. In our industry, the end customer is the patient.
Article
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Overview of the ISPE GAMP® Guide: Records & Data Integrity
The importance of ensuring data integrity is reflected in guidance, citations, and public comments of regulators and health agencies. A number of companies have suffered serious regulatory and financial consequences as a result of unacceptable...
Evolution of the Pharmaceutical Industry
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Evolution of the Pharmaceutical Industry
As this is my first Pharmaceutical Engineering editorial, let me introduce myself. I have been in the pharmaceutical industry for the last 41 years. Over time, I became the global head of quality for three major pharmaceutical companies. I’ve lived and...
Article
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GAMP 5: Ten Years On
Ten years after its publication, the ISPE GAMP® 5 Guide: A Risk-Based Approach to Compliant GxP Computerized Systems is regarded as the definitive industry guidance on GxP∗ computerized system compliance and validation for companies and suppliers and is...
Article
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Three Things That Will Change Medicine In 2018
Vasant Narasimhan Digital technologies and big data tools are changing every aspect of how companies operate, across myriad industries. Healthcare is no exception. We...
Article
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Pairing Knowledge with Imagination
Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. —Albert Einstein
Article
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How to Develop Your Career as a Pharma Young Professional
As part of my tenure as International Young Professionals Chair, I have the amazing opportunity to be a member of the ISPE International Board of Directors. At a recent board meeting, I sat down with six directors to ask them for advice on how to develop...
Article
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Job Seekers: Observations From A Career Event
Biogen recently partnered with ISPE student chapters to host an evening of conversations about careers in the industry. During the event, I talked about job searching with some of the more than 200 attendees. Applications One frustrated student told me...
Article
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ISPE Regulatory Volunteer Operations Part 2
In my last column,1 I introduced the Regulatory Steering Committee, which was convened to provide guidance and oversight for ISPE’s regulatory committees and initiatives. This column focuses on the committees and groups that carry out this important...
Article
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Sustainability and the Way Forward
This issue highlights a variety of voices and points of view on matters ranging from sustainability to serialization, Pharma 4.0 to viral contamination, and EMA’s new location to game theory. In our cover story, Scott Fotheringham, PhD, interviews...
Article
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First Quarter Update
Fellow members, it is my pleasure to provide a short update on some of ISPE's accomplishments, its strategic plan, and ongoing activities.
Article
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The Value of Travel, The Benefits of Diversity
I was inspired to write this editorial after attending the YP and Student Brunch at the 2017 ISPE Annual Meeting & Expo, where Kelly Keen, a member of the ISPE Board of Directors, shared her story. In particular, she emphasized that traveling had been an...
Article
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Young Professionals Workshop: A Strategic 4.0 Road Map
Which road map to Industry 4.0 (I4.0) should the pharma industry follow? We explored this question during the YP workshop held during the Verona conference, leveraging “gamification” (a learning technique that incorporates game elements) to determine a...
Article
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ISPE Europe Pharma 4.0™ Conference: A First-Person Report
From November 23 to 24, over 230 participants from 19 countries gathered in Verona—located in Italy’s high-tech corridor—for a conference focused on the challenges and opportunities of Pharma 4.0™. Organized by ISPE Italy and the Pharma 4.0™ Special...
Article
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To Temp or Not to Temp?
Organizations often augment their workforces to address temporary work requirements. These appointments can range from long-term consulting engagements for complex projects to short-term coverage for employee absences. Over the years, I have spoken with...
EMA Moves to Amsterdam
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European Medicines Agency (EMA) Moves to Amsterdam
The United Kingdom's (UK) "Brexit" vote to leave the European Union (EU) by March 2019 has created challenges for the European pharmaceutical industry. Among the first important decisions resulting from the impending departure was where to relocate the European Medicines Agency (EMA), currently...
Article
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Tapping the Network: Meet Young Professional Thorsten Böhle
We all know the saying: There’s no reason to reinvent the wheel. It is likely that someone else has already come up with a workable solution to your particular challenge. We also know the quickest way to conquer challenges is to find that person, learn...
Article
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A New Year, A New Dawn
One year ago, I wrote about the industry’s collective pathway to hope, lit by the desire to alleviate human suffering. One year on, extraordinary forms of hope became reality with the approval of CAR T-cell therapy, emergence of CRISPR technology, and...
Italian Biopharma (Infographic)
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Italian Biopharma
$38B of manufacturing value, 71% of which is exports 2nd in Europe for pharmaceutical production Italy exports 85% of the API it produces 42% of employees are women; 52% in R&D 40% of companies are Italian owned Exports have grown 52% since 2010,...
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Creating Member Value Through Innovation
  One of my key takeaways from the ISPE 2017 Annual Meeting & Expo is that as an industry, we need to focus on innovation. Keynote speakers from Pam Cheng and Roger Connor to Enno de Boer and Glenn Pierce reminded us that innovative thinking must come...
ISPE Pharmaceutical Engineering
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Medical Ethics: Conflicting Obligations
Beginning in 1932, the US Public Health Service conducted an infamous research project—the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment—designed to follow the course of untreated syphilis. The unwitting participants were poor African-American men in Alabama, who were...
Article
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Transitions Our Members & Pharma Industry are Making
The end of a year, the start of a new job, a groundbreaking scientific development: These are events that give us pause, moments that help us transition to a new mind-set, focus, or even a new career. Managing these moments is as important as being a...
Article
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Using Social Media in Your Job Search
Most companies leverage social media as part of their recruiting strategy, so if you don’t use it in your job search you put yourself at a huge disadvantage. First, determine your brand: How do you want others to see you? Who do you want to find you?...
Article
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Microbiome Treatments for Recurrent C. Difficile Infections
Roughly 29,000 Americans die of Clostridium difficile infections every year. This gram-positive bacterium produces severe intestinal disease, with fatality rates ranging from 6% to 30%. Because the spores are hard to kill and can remain viable for years,...
Article
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Heroes Make Us Strong
A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. — "The Hero's Adventure," in 'The Power of Myth', by Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers, 1988
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The New Normal in the Pharma Industry
Many spend their summer relaxing, perhaps traveling, but generally trying to “put their feet up.” Others change the course of health care as we know and practice it. Gilead’s 28 August purchase of Kite Pharma, one of the companies developing chimeric...
Article
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Acing the Photo Interview
Hi David, I've had a few phone interviews recently, but I never go any further in the process. What am I doing wrong?
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Tips for Graduates Transitioning to Pharma Industry
Congratulations, Class of 2017! You have worked hard to become an engineer. Here are a few tips to smooth your transition to industry and allow you to become a contributing member of the pharmaceutical industry. 1. Establish a code of ethics Hold...
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Insights
Great Lakes Chapter Brings Training & Information to Midwest
The Great Lakes region in the American Midwest is home to several pharmaceutical hubs, giving ISPE’s Great Lakes Chapter a deep potential membership pool. And this vast territory also presents the Chapter’s greatest opportunity: to engage more than 800...
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New Technology, Ambition, & Patient Safety
Technology is not new. Biotechnology is not new; it’s new-ish. Yet when the two come together to look at how they can transform medicine, its creation, delivery, and access, well, that is new and can be extraordinary. Extraordinary enough that the FDA...
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Epigenetics in Diseases of Aging
A vibrant avenue of research and drug development has opened up with the discovery that epigenetic changes affect gene expression, alter cellular development, and can lead to disease. Epigenetics are chemical modifications that affect gene expression,...
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Advancing Innovative Technologies
Over the past several years, I’ve presented on various topics aligned with “emerging technology” in our industry. I routinely concluded those presentations stating, “He who has technology wins!” At that time, of course, I was referring to pharmaceutical...
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Diabetes and the Internet of Things
Megan was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2007 when she was five months pregnant with her first child. She began the routine, familiar to many of the 415 million diabetics worldwide, of measuring her blood glucose levels with finger pricks, followed by...
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Mastering the Art of Supply Chain Management
Michael Schmitz is Vice President, Planning and Logistics, of Vetter Pharma- Fertigung GmbH & Co. KG. In this position he is focused on logistics operations, production resources, OEE measures and customer service levels,...
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Matthew Kennedy on Disruptive Innovation
Manufacturing therapeutic proteins such as monoclonal antibodies, while potentially lucrative, is fraught with uncertainty. A company can have a number of biologics in the pipeline, each requiring an estimate of future need for a variety of indications,...
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ISPE Italy Affiliate Poised for Leadership
A country best known for its artists, food, and fashion designers, Italy is also home to a thriving pharmaceutical industry. Along the country roads that stretch from Milan to Bologna, Florence, deep into Rome and Naples, idyllic hillsides are dotted...
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26th Annual ISPE Aseptic Conference
Already in its 26th year, ISPE’s annual Aseptic Conference continues to be the place to go to for the latest and greatest in barrier/isolation technology, small- and large scale aseptic manufacturing, and disposables. The conference presents fantastic...
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My First Year as a Consulting Engineer
Leaving the familiarity of a college environment, and beginning your career can be both exciting and intimidating. It’s a time when you are expected to put your years of education into practical use. However, even with a degree in hand, you still face a...
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What is "Industry 4.0" & Are We Ready for It?
“Industry 4.0” is the networking of information that became possible after several years of disruptive technological innovation. You may have heard related terms such as big data, real-time data, patient data, knowledge management, data analytics, and...
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ISPE Strategic Plan Update
"Local and regional relevance" is a key component of our strategic plan, and one that is critical to our success as an organization. It pledges us to "understand and shape strategy to the business, culture, and regulatory issues of local and regional markets." Here are a few ways in which we are...
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Compliance & Sustainability: Conflict or Harmony?
When we discussed assembling this month’s special report on sustainability, the idea of pairing it with an issue on compliance challenges was not an obvious choice. Despite those initial misgivings, the reality is that these two topics are a superb...
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Perseverance & Grit: Effort Counts Twice
Now that we’re all finding smart mentors and career coaches (see the YP State of Mind article in the January-February issue of Pharmaceutical Engineering), I want to reflect on an important skill: perseverance. Engineers and scientists by nature look...
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Partnerships: A Potential Game Changer
The Pharmaceutical Engineering November-December 2016 editorial, “Collaboration Key in the Quest for Quality,” written by editor in chief Anna Maria di Giorgio, said it well: Collaboration is a strength, and “ISPE members are its ambassadors.” Therein...
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Regulatory Changes Affecting Pharma Supply Chain
The global nature of the supply chain has meant that pharmaceutical manufacturers have to adhere to a hodgepodge of regulations in the diverse regions in which they operate. Efforts to harmonize standards and inspection procedures between countries...
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Where will New Antibiotics Come From?
William Fenical is frustrated that the pharmaceutical industry hasn’t developed new antibiotics for more than 20 years. Without them, it will be impossible to check the surge of superbugs—antibiotic-resistant infectious agents such as...
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The Promise of Hope
A new year typically begets resolutions and the promise of change from most people. The promise of hope, really. Industry does the same, as well, albeit under different monikers—better drugs, better access for patients, better facilities, and stronger...