ISPE Boston Chapter Show Exceeds Expectations

Summary

On October 18, 2017, the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering ISPE Boston Chapter held its annual product show at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. As usual, the event was a great experience for end users, suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and others interested in learning more about the pharmaceutical and biotech products, services and other technologies. The ISPE Boston Chapter has been sponsoring this event for over 25 years; and starting from the very first event (held at what was then a Howard Johnsons Hotel in Cambridge) to the multi-faceted event it is today, it seems to get better and better every year.

While the first few events held had been excellent, they couldn’t hold a candle to the multi-faceted event that ISPE Boston runs today. Over 3,300 people attended, mostly from the New England Area, but the event also drew product and service suppliers, attendees, and world-class presenters from all over the United States.

Key takeaways include:

• · Pharma and biotech industries are growing in the area – attracted by the wealth of domain knowledge from the many universities and industry
• · We’re seeing a lot of construction in the Boston, Cambridge, and sur-rounding areas for the pharma and biotech industries
• · Projects need to progress faster from pilots, to clinical tests, to production to reduce tech transfer requirements and costs
• · New personalized medicines and biosimilars will increase demand for new products
• · Regulations continue to impact pharma and biotech industries heavily, with quality by design (QbD) still at the forefront.
• · The event featured a plethora of new sensors, flowmeters, analyzers and instruments with more sophisticated analysis capabilities
• · Islands of automation still exist, including many disconnected skid-mounted units. Connected plants remain the exception, rather than the rule
• · Pharma innovation still focuses on new products and product quality, as opposed to innovative ways to manufacture products
• · We’re just starting to see selected batch processes being converted to continuous processes and most plants are only consolidating and integrating some upstream or downstream processes
• · Modern manufacturing technologies like virtual and augmented reality and analytics are just be-ginning to emerge in these industries
• Lifecycle Impact on Operations/Design Exhibit Area (Photo: Michael Doherty)

Insights Galore!

The event included some excellent presentations, a young professionals networking event, a student development program, and over 40 biotech and pharmaceutical recruiters, in addition to the more than 375 tabletop exhibits and presentations by industry experts. It is a great venue to get insights from recognized experts on the latest technologies, evolving regulations, and the latest concerns within the industry, as well taking the “pulse” of the industry. The event can help practitioners learn about the latest technologies and solutions and how to implement these to solve problems.

Biotech 101

An old acquaintance, Jeff Odum, Global Technology Partner, CPIP, NNE., and long-time member of ISPE and teaching fellow in North Carolina’s bio-manufacturing program, presented “Biotech 101,” in which he provided his perspective on the implementation of newer regulations, changes in facilties design, and how the process needs to do more, faster, and at lower costs.

Quality Risk Management

Keith Gibbs, Ninja Project Management, gave an interesting presentation about using risk management software tools to help deal with the complexities of quality risk management programs.

Lab and Pharma Water Systems

Brian Hagopian, CPIP, of Clear Water Consulting, gave a presentation on water systems for pharma labs and processes – an always popular topic. Brian is an active ISPE member on critical utilities and one of the authors of the ISPE Practical Guide on Sampling of Critical Utilities. He discussed some of the water standards for pharma and different grades of water purity, related compliance issues, and more.

Networking Event

Did I also mention the terrific “after-party” that followed? This provided an excellent opportunity for networking (as well as to gather on the stadium field to try to kick a few footballs through the goal posts!).

Conclusion

As always, the annual ISPE Boston event provided industry professionals from across New England (and beyond) with an excellent opportunity to see and learn about some of the latest technologies, solutions, and approaches in pharma and biotech, gain new perspectives on rapidly evolving industry regulations, and network with their peers.

If you’re involved in the dynamic, exciting, and rapidly expanding pharma or biotech industries in the Boston area, ARC recommends that you add this event to your calendar for 2018. ISPE Boston 2018 will once again return to Gillette Stadium in Foxboro on Wednesday, September 26, 2018.

Keywords: Pharmaceutical, Biotech, ISPE, Pharma Lifecycle Management, ARC Advisory Group.