pharmaceuticals

Abstract

AUSTIN—As we wrap up the 2016 UPW Pharma, I would like to offer a few reflections.

This year’s UPW Pharma focused around the theme of “Optimizing the Pharmaceutical Water System Life Cycle”. The meeting featured a workshop format that allowed in-depth presentations and good discussion between speakers and delegates.

Keynote speaker Philip Sumner, a senior manager with Global Engineering at Pfizer Inc., began the conference by examining the topic of “Optimizing Pharmaceutical Water Systems”. His talk included a look at upcoming European Pharmacopoeia Commission plans for a revised monograph on Water for Injection due out next year. This change will allow non-distillation technologies.

We were happy for the good number of pharma industry representatives. Two endusers from Genentech—Amit Syal and Gurpreet Ganda— presented in our Enduser Perspectives session. Other delegates from the industry were Mr. Sumner (Pfizer Inc.), and Jay Breslin, Steve Garramone, Jake Gino, Jonnas Joseph, Trevor Mason, Justin Miller, Marissa Pels, and Whitney Wong (all of Pfizer Hospira).

One exciting takeaway was a strong interest for a separate training program on water system operations at future UPW events. Our staff will be exploring training options further. Lastly, it is always good to meet conference delegates and speakers and enjoy casual visits at meals and coffee breaks.

Acknowledgements

We appreciated the good presentations by our technical session speakers: Joe Manfredi, Dina Manfredi, and Dan Obercon (all of GMP Systems), and Dr. T.C. Soli (Soli Pharma Solutions Inc.), Ed Helmig (AECOM), Richard Godec (GE Analytical Instruments), Dr. Anthony Bevilacqua (METTLER-TOLEDO Thornton), Sharif Disi (MECO), Amit Syal (Genentech), Gurpreet Ganda (Genentech), and Elizabeth Dunn (ProPharma Group). Nik Krpan (Chemé Engineering) also presented and did a great job as a conference co-moderator. We also thank Tim Kirk’s (Avista Technologies) for serving as a Roundtable host, and the help Mukesh Yadav (Genentech) and Nissan Cohen (Start-up Business Development) provided during the conference planning stages.

Site Visit

After the conference, I and two colleagues visited the Pfizer Hospira facility here. We were grateful for the tour by our hosts Trevor Mason, Jay Breslin, Hieu Vu, and Philip Sumner. We were impressed with the care they and their colleagues take in treating the water used in their plant.

In closing, we welcome your suggestions as we look to organize future UPW Pharma conferences. Feel free to contact Yana Nazarova at yana.nazarova@globalwaterintel.com or me at mhenley@globalwaterintel.com.

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