CPHI Milan has confirmed its 2026 conference programme, which will bring together more than 260 speakers from across the pharmaceutical industry to address manufacturing transformation, AI, biomanufacturing, supply chain resilience and future therapies.
Running from 6-8 October, the programme will be headlined by Edgardo Hernandez, Executive Vice President and President of Manufacturing Operations at Eli Lilly.
Mr Hernandez will deliver the Day One keynote in the Manufacturing 5.0 Theatre, titled "Manufacturing for the Medicines of Tomorrow."
His session will look at how manufacturers are preparing for future demand through technology-driven modernisation and strategic redesign of global supply networks.
New for 2026, CPHI will also launch its inaugural Sustainability Summit, taking place on 5-6 October immediately ahead of the main event.
The two-day summit is expected to draw more than 300 sustainability leaders, pharmaceutical executives and supply chain stakeholders, with sessions covering sustainable manufacturing, supply chain decarbonisation, green chemistry and packaging innovation.
This year's programme is themed "Insights from leaders navigating real-world industry constraints," with speakers drawn from across the sector.
- Catalina Vargas, Senior Vice President of Bristol Myers Squibb's global business unit, will discuss embedding digital capabilities at scale, arguing that people, processes and operating models remain the true determinants of transformation success
- Steffen Saltofte, CEO of Zentiva and president of Medicines for Europe, will examine how geopolitical change and shifting regulation are redefining the global pharmaceutical landscape
- Elisabeth Stampa, CEO of Medichem SA, will explore moving API strategy beyond price-driven procurement towards recognising when active ingredients are critical to formulation performance and supply security
- Ronald T. Piervincenzi, CEO of the United States Pharmacopeia, will address how geopolitical fragmentation and resource nationalism are reshaping sourcing strategies and the challenge of translating policy ambitions into practical supply chain change
- AstraZeneca's Marco Farinelli will also feature on a panel, examining Europe's approach to medicine security and the difficulty of implementing coordinated policy across fragmented regulatory environments.
Tara Dougal, event director at Informa Markets, said the pharmaceutical industry is evolving at an unprecedented pace, spanning AI, next-generation therapies, manufacturing strategy and sustainability commitments,
"This year's conference programme has been designed to bring together the people leading those conversations, providing attendees with practical insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the industry."
Alongside an expanded conference programme, the introduction of the CPHI Sustainability Summit creates even more opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing and meaningful discussion across the pharmaceutical value chain.
"We look forward to welcoming the global pharmaceutical community to Milan this October."
CPHI Milan forms part of the wider global CPHI portfolio, providing an annual platform for manufacturers, biotech companies, regulators, consultants, suppliers and technology innovators to exchange expertise and discuss solutions to the scientific and operational challenges facing pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Registration for CPHI Milan 2026 is now open.
