Eli Lilly’s manufacturing chief to headline a three-day conference programme built around real-world industry challenges and trends, and a brand new two-day Sustainability Summit launches on Day 1 of the show.
“The conference programme covers manufacturing transformation, AI and technology, biomanufacturing, supply chain resilience, regulation and policy, packaging and drug delivery, and market insights.”
More than 260 speakers will take to the stage at CPHI Milan 2026, which takes place on October 6–8, 2026, at Fiera Milano (Rho, Milan, Italy). The conference programme covers manufacturing transformation, AI and technology, biomanufacturing, supply chain resilience, regulation and policy, packaging and drug delivery, and market insights, under the theme “Insights from leaders navigating real-world industry constraints“.
The Day 1 keynote in the Manufacturing 5.0 Theatre comes from Edgardo Hernandez, Executive Vice-President and President of Manufacturing Operations at Eli Lilly. His session, “Manufacturing for the Medicines of Tomorrow“, looks at how manufacturers are preparing for future demand through technology-driven modernisation, proactive capacity investment and the redesign of global supply networks.
“Supply security and geopolitics are a running theme through the line-up.”
Supply security and geopolitics are a running theme through the line-up. Steffen Saltofte, Chief Executive Officer of Zentiva and President of Medicines for Europe, presents, “New Rules of Global Pharma: When Everything Changes at Once“. Ronald T Piervincenzi, Chief Executive Officer of the US Pharmacopeia, addresses how geopolitical fragmentation and resource nationalism are reshaping sourcing strategies. Elisabeth Stampa, Chief Executive Officer of Medichem, argues for moving beyond price-driven API procurement towards a differentiated strategy that recognises when an API is a critical determinant of formulation performance and supply security, and when it can remain a commodity. Marco Farinelli of AstraZeneca joins the panel “From Policy to Practice: Europe’s Integrated Approach to Medicine Security“.
On the digital side, Catalina Vargas, Senior Vice-President, Global Business Unit at Bristol Myers Squibb, presents, “Building the Future of Manufacturing: The Leadership Behind Digital Transformation“, on what it takes to move beyond pilots and embed digital capabilities at scale.
INAUGURAL SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT
Brand new for 2026, the CPHI Sustainability Summit takes place on October 6&7, 2026, starting on Day 1 of the main show. It is expected to bring together more than 300 sustainability leaders, pharmaceutical executives and supply chain stakeholders for more than 20 expert-led sessions and over ten roundtables, working groups and interactive discussions.
Topics include sustainable manufacturing, supply chain decarbonisation, packaging innovation, green chemistry, regulatory developments and how to embed sustainability into day-to-day operations.
The summit grew out of the CPHI Sustainability Collective, an industry-wide initiative set up to connect sustainability leaders, manufacturers, suppliers, industry associations and solution providers.
The summit grew out of the CPHI Sustainability Collective, an industry-wide initiative set up to connect sustainability leaders, manufacturers, suppliers, industry associations and solution providers, which identified the need for a forum focused on implementation and measurable outcomes rather than ambition.
“Sustainability is no longer a future ambition for pharma industry; it is a business imperative … the CPHI Sustainability Summit is the next step in that journey.”
“Sustainability is no longer a future ambition for pharma industry; it is a business imperative,” said Silvia Forroova, Director of Partnerships and Sustainability at CPHI and founder of the Collective. “The CPHI Sustainability Summit is the next step in that journey, providing a dedicated space for industry leaders to move beyond discussion and focus on practical actions that can drive measurable change.”
Tara Dougal, Event Director at Informa Markets, said the programme had 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”.
Summit registrations include access to all three days of CPHI Milan.
FIND OUT MORE
CPHI Milan 2026 takes place on October 6–8, 2026, at Fiera Milano (Rho, Milan, Italy). Registration is open and the full conference programme is available now at: cphi.com/europe.
The CPHI Sustainability Summit takes place October 6 & 7, 2026, also at Fiera Milano. To register and find out more, visit: cphi.com/europe/sustainability-summit.
