A list of key virtual/digital events in the B2B pharmaceutical sectors.

Marketing departments need to keep working and focus on late 2020/early 2021 in a virtual capacity to keep momentum in this current climate.

The rise of virtual events is down to the effects of COVID-19 - not because there was a natural demand for virtual events. But now that more and more of us have been forced to engage with virtual events, we have seen the benefits. We are more inclined to attend those events alongside our other physical events throughout the year. Virtual events can demonstrate clearer ROI with content arguably available for long-term use.

More events will equal more opportunities. The investment you make in creating content and creating processes to promote your presence can be used over at no extra cost.

Here is a list of must-attend virtual events in pharma - one for each of the remaining months of 2020.

2020 VIRTUAL PDA ANNUAL MEETING

20th to 22nd July 2020

Running this week, this year’s PDA annual meeting aims to focus on Enhancing the Future with Innovative Medicines and Manufacturing.

Plenary sessions will aim to inspire delegates to focus on the importance of what we do every day to improve the quality of life for millions of people and these sessions will focus on key aspects of our work including getting personal with patients, understanding regulations, leveraging breakthrough designations, modernising facilities, strategies for developing next-generation medicines and protecting integrated systems from external threat. Interest Group sessions will also run, which offer participants a chance to hear from experts as well as engage in interactive discussions on a variety of important topics and specific disciplines. The virtual exhibition hall also provides opportunities for one-on-one interactions with service providers and vendors who will showcase their latest services and technologies.

“This virtual meeting is a ‘must-attend’ knowledge-sharing event for everyone, from corporate executives to those who have recently joined the industry, it is an ideal opportunity to accelerate your impact and position in your company as well as in the pharmaceutical industry,” said the PDA website.

Visit the website here.

THE BIOPROCESSING SUMMIT (VIRTUAL)

24th to 28th of August 2020

The 3rd Annual Bioprocessing Summit Europe will take place over the next few days - so if you haven’t registered to attend you can still do so. If you are based in the US, you have a little more time to prepare as the US-version runs in August where you will have the ability to network with bioprocessing professionals and discuss the latest developments and trends in cell culture, cell line, protein expression, recovery, purification, cell and gene therapy manufacturing, and new for 2020, analytical characterisation, formulation and aggregation.

Attendees will be offered one-to-one networking options as well as attend a range of keynotes and topic-specific roundtable breakout discussions.

Visit the website here.

ISPE EUROPE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

16th to 17th of September 2020

Europe’s most comprehensive event on the latest innovations in pharmaceutical manufacturing will this year be fully digital and delegates will receive access to the recording of all conference sessions for one year. New content focused on industry response and issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, delegates will still benefit from robust, content-rich, interactive sessions covering critical topics like digitisation, the FDA’s continuous manufacturing draft guidance, aseptic processing, Annex 1, small molecules and more.

The 2020 ISPE Europe Annual Virtual Conference has four tracks: Facilities of the Future, Pharma 4.0, Quality and New Trends in CQV and Impact on Project Delivery. “It's our priority to make this the best and most informative ISPE Europe Annual Virtual Conference to date, and we remain excited to host you in September. We will update the event page in the coming weeks with additional information,” said the ISPE website.

Visit the website here.

CPHI FESTIVAL OF PHARMA

5th to 16th of October 2020

For 30 years, CPhI has been bringing together stakeholders from around the world in pharma together under one roof and this year the event will take a virtual format.

The CPhI Festival of Pharma (5-16 October 2020) will be a ten-day, large-scale digital gathering for the global Pharma industry, featuring a dynamic mix of platforms and experiences, including an interactive digital marketplace for sourcing products and services, enhanced matchmaking for connecting with new and existing partners and world-renowned speakers for learning about the latest innovation and industry development.

“We have been working hard to make CPhI Worldwide in Milan a reality in 2020 but, with international travel only returning gradually post COVID-19, at present it is difficult to guarantee the usual quality of experience at what is a truly global event. Recognising the importance of the event to the industry, we have agreed with our key partners and stakeholders to adapt to a digital format in 2020, launching the CPhI Pharma Expo. This large-scale digital exhibition will mirror on-site offerings and provide our community with a powerful platform to access vital one-to-one client meetings and high-quality leads, which are critically important in these challenging times,” said Adam Andersen, Group Director, Pharma, Informa Markets.

Visit the website here.

PHARMA IQ LIVE: FUTURE OF CLINICAL TRIAL DESIGN

17th to 18th of November 2020

Pharma IQ online events feature keynote presentations from leading experts at the likes of GSK, Pfizer, Roche, Clarivate Analytics, Dassault Systemes amongst others.

Clinical Trial Design 2020 will be focused on improving the chances of success, and minimise the cost of failure by: leveraging artificial intelligence to improve patient recruitment, by matching the right patients to the right trials, using data to make faster go/no go decisions, engaging in adaptive and flexible trials in order to improve their responsiveness and chances of ultimate success. As well as enhancing integration and digitization in order to improve transparency and data sharing, utilising mobile technology in order to increase medication and protocol adherence and understanding how to use IoT and continuous patient data to provide real-time monitoring and feedback.

Visit the website here.

DDL2020

7th of December 2020

The Drug Delivery To The Lungs will provide an annual forum for scientists, academics, clinicians, regulatory and industry specialists involved in developing medicines for inhalation. It will have five themed sessions each with a combination of invited and submitted lectures given by experts in the field of inhalation and students working to advance respiratory science.

For this year’s DDL conference, the Scientific Organising Committee will present a series of Christmas Lectures which we will be looking forward to attending alongside one of our clients in the inhalation space.

Visit the website here.