The 2024 Pharma & Device Forum was held on May 23-24 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC) in Victoria, Australia. This was an important gathering of pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical device industry professionals including business owners, quality managers, operations experts, product developers and cleanroom engineers.

This is a “for industry, by industry” life science education event that provides a valuable platform for knowledge exchanges, professional networking, and life sciences collaboration.

Hosted by PharmOut with the support of key industry Sponsors, the 2024 forum brought together industry leaders, innovators, quality management experts, cleanroom architects, and regulatory affairs professionals to discuss:

The latest trends and technological innovations
Industry challenges
Sustainable manufacturing requirements
Supply chain security and pharmacovigilance regulations
Impact of advancements in pharmaceutical & medical device manufacturing technologies including automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and data integrity regulations

Highlights video from the Pharma and Device Forum 2024

Event Overview

The Pharma & Device Forum 2024 (previously known as the GMP Forum) took place over two days, and featured an impressive agenda consisting of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and technical presentations. It also provided industry professionals with an opportunity to get first-hand knowledge of new manufacturing equipment, cleanroom supplies, laboratory testing services, high-level filtration devices, and more.

Importance of this event: This year’s forum addressed several pressing issues facing the pharmaceutical and medical device industries in current times. Its focus was primarily on sharing expertise in areas such as regulatory compliance, technological innovation, quality management, product testing, documentation/big data management, sustainable manufacturing and packaging, and other best practices in manufacturing.

Key Highlights

Day 1: Regulatory Compliance and Industry Standards

The Forum’s first day was dedicated to regulatory compliance and industry standards. Keynote speakers included renowned experts from regulatory bodies and leading pharmaceutical companies. They provided insights into the latest regulatory updates and shared best practices for ensuring compliance in manufacturing processes.

The stand-out presentations on day one included titles such as:

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: Sustainability Responsibilities (presented by leading cleanroom Architect Nic van der Nol)
What exactly is AI and how do we go about validating it? (presented by Matt Schoerie of QikSolve)
How to think outside the box and work inside it, an intensive critical-thinking workshop delivered by Jason Clark of MindsatWork
Device-Formulation Interfaces (delivered by Paul Wynne, Principal Scientist and Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC) Manager/Monash University
Mycoplasma Testing Made Simpler (by Sarah Gierz)

(Refer to the full list of outstanding presentations delivered at the 2024 Pharma & Medical Device Forum agenda and click on each of the two days).

Day 2: Technological Innovations and Future Trends

Day 2 of the forum focused on technological innovations and future trends impacting the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. Attendees were treated to a series of presentations on cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, plant-based medicines, and advanced automation in manufacturing.

A dedicated track for Medicinal Cannabis was another highlight of the 2024 Forum, with a panel discussion around plant-based medicines that included Tad Hussey from KiS Organics. During this discussion, Tad Hussey reflected on the guests he has interviewed over the years in his Cannabis Cultivation and Science Podcast series.

Notable Presentations

The forum featured a diverse range of presentations, each offering valuable insights into different aspects of the industry.

There were many notable presentations on Day 2 of the Forum, including titles such as:

Practical application of GCP to Trial sites for Investigational drugs and devices, presented by Suzanne Elliott, Associate Director of Clinical Trials, Gallipoli Medical Research
Down Stream Processing of ADC’s and mRNA (presented by Dr Anu Srivastava of IDT Australia)
Exploring Personalised Medicine: Understanding the Regulatory and Clinical Landscape, a panel discussion featuring Adele Hosseini (Executive Director, Innovation in Drug Development), Deb Cooper (Chief Operating Officer at Adjutor Healthcare), and Tina Soulis (Director of Alithia Life Sciences)
Cultivating Success: The Potential of Tissue Culture Techniques in the Cannabis Industry (Adel Zarei, COO PharmaCrop)
Unveiling US FDA Regulatory and Compliance for Topical Products, Mir Ali, Operational Quality Management/Quality Manager, Rationale)

View the full list of 2024 Forum Speakers

For a full list of outstanding presentations delivered on Day 2 of the Forum, click on the 2024 Pharma & Medical Device Forum agenda; then select the tab representing the 24th May agenda.

Sponsors and Exhibitors

The Pharma & Device Forum 2024 was supported by a range of outstanding industry sponsors, showcasing the latest products and services in the pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical devices, quality management, cleanroom equipment including filtration and laboratory equipment, contamination control, and product testing sectors.

Key sponsors of the 2024 Pharma & Device Forum (GMP Forum) included:

bioMérieux
Platinum Sponsor

Big thank you to our Platinum Sponsor for the second year in a row, Biomérieux!

Booth 20

Booth 23

Table 6

For a full list of event Sponsors click here,

Networking Opportunities

One of the key benefits of attending the Pharma & Device Forum 2024 was the opportunity to network with industry peers.

The event featured several networking sessions, including a welcome reception, coffee breaks; and a gala dinner and drinks networking event hosted by our Platinum event Sponsor, bioMérieux.
These sessions provided a relaxed environment for attendees to connect, share ideas, and build professional relationships and important life science industry collaborations.

Conclusion

The Pharma & Device Forum 2024 was a resounding success, offering a wealth of knowledge and insights to attendees responsible for medicinal product innovations, quality management, clinical trials, supply chain security, manufacturing sustainability, tech transfer, pharmaceutical-and-device interfaces, recall readiness, and patient safety.

The 2024 GMP Forum (Pharma & Device Forum) is renowned for its uniqueness in the sector, including being a for industry, by industry event. This Forum is known for having one of the best life science/pharmaceutical & medical device industry speaker lineups of any life science industry gathering, and for its support by highly-respected industry providers.

The important information shared at the 2024 GMP Forum/Pharma & Device Forum will help attendees navigate the future of manufacturing in this rapidly evolving life sciences environment, where new technologies including AI, and increasing demands for efficient and sustainable manufacturing practices and globally-available supply chains, are leading to a need for widespread industry changes in everything from drug development through to recordkeeping and distribution.

This educational event highlighted the importance of staying abreast of regulatory changes, embracing technological innovations, and adopting sustainable practices in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

With its diverse range of presentations, expert speakers, and valuable networking opportunities, the forum proved to be an essential event for industry professionals.

As we look forward to the next edition of the Pharma & Device Forum, it is clear that events like these play a crucial role in driving the industry forward. By fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing, the Pharma & Device Forum continues to contribute to the advancement of pharmaceutical manufacturing, ensuring a brighter future for the industry.

For more details on the presentations and speakers, you can visit the official event page here, the list of sponsors here, and the presentations here.