Citation: “Interview: RDD Europe 2023 Review & RDD 2024 Preview”. ONdrugDelivery, Issue 154 (Nov 2023), pp 82–84.
Q This year saw RDD Europe 2023 held in Antibes, France. Looking back, can you give us a brief overview of the conference?
“Each of these Knowledge Space programme themes carried over to the lively poster and exhibition space, where 62 companies showcased their innovations alongside 55 posters.”
A RDD Europe 2023 was a very memorable conference, with more than 420 delegates assembling in Antibes this past May. Delegates travelled to the conference from 28 countries to learn and discuss the latest science and technology in the pulmonary and nasal space, which is vital to the development of successful inhaled and nasal drug products.
The Palais des Congrès Antipolis and the adjacent AC Ambassadeur Hotel, the primary hotel for the conference, ensured that those working in corporate R&D, business development and management roles all had opportunities to network with each other, along with academics, regulators, clinicians and consultants from across all facets of respiratory drug delivery.
Approximately 175 delegates participated for the first time, mingling with RDD regulars who have been attending for more than 30 years. Several of these first-timers expressed surprise at how vibrant and expansive RDD Europe 2023 was. Knowledge Spaces, a feature pioneered during the covid-19 pandemic and now a mainstay of RDD conferences, brought people and organisations with shared interests together, both in the conference centre and on the conference website.
Richard Dalby presents statistics about the delegates at RDD Europe 2023.
Q What are some of the key highlights that made RDD Europe 2023 stand out?
A To start with, the conference’s keynote speaker, Prof Martin Tobin from the University of Leicester (UK), shared up-to-the-minute analyses on how genes and pathways can influence pulmonary disease. Prof Tobin’s presentation provided a great introduction to the “Bench to Bedside” Knowledge Space. Further to this, speakers in the “Aqueous Agenda: Navigating Nasal”, “Inspiring Dry Powder Inhalation” and “Building a Sustainable Future” Knowledge Spaces presented insights on all the major inhalation and nasal platform technologies.
Elsewhere, low global warming potential propellants and inhaler sustainability were the focus of a lively “Explore with Experts” session. Additionally, alternative bioequivalence approaches dominated the “Advanced Inhalation: Data Driven Design” Knowledge Space, with Will Ganley of Nanopharm (Newport, UK) and Bryan Newman of the US FDA sharing their expertise.
Each of these Knowledge Space programme themes carried over to the lively poster and exhibition space, where 62 companies showcased their innovations alongside 55 posters. One of those posters was presented by Patricia Henriques, a PhD student at the University of Coimbra (Portugal), who was selected as the winner of the 2023 VCU RDD Peter R Byron Graduate Student Award for her poster and corresponding paper entitled “Benchmarking of particle engineering strategies for nasal powder delivery: Characterisation of nasal deposition using the Alberta idealised nasal inlet”.
RDD Europe 2023 was held at The Palais des Congrès Antipolis in Antibes, France.
Q To what extent was online access available to RDD Europe 2023?
A Twelve workshops, “Posters on the Podium” and a meeting of the AAPS Inhalation and Nasal Community rounded out a productive and busy conference with more content than could be absorbed in three days. Fortunately, in a continuation of measures put in place during the pandemic, many presentations, posters and workshops were accompanied by on-demand online versions that could be viewed by delegates long after the in-person conference ended. In addition, delegates are able to enjoy access to more than 2,800 peer-reviewed articles in the RDD library, including those from RDD Europe 2023. In fact, during the conference, anyone – not just delegates – had access to online company profiles from exhibitors, workshop presenters and conference supporters whose financial generosity made it possible to deliver the conference programme.
Q Looking forward, what can new and returning delegates expect to see at RDD 2024 in Tuscon, AZ, next year?
A RDD 2024 will be held at the JW Marriott Starr Pass in Tucson, from May 5 to May 9, 2024. Starting with an opening reception, the conference will have all the features expected of an RDD conference in a longer, four-day format. This means that delegates will have ample time at RDD 2024 to experience more in-depth presentations, deeper discussions of pioneering science and additional opportunities for networking in a collegial and business-friendly resort setting.
Initial programme topics include “New Targets & Treatments”, “Formulation & Device Innovation”, “Manufacturing & Industrialisation”, “Nasal Delivery”, “Regulatory Science”, “Advanced Data Analytics” and “Connectivity and Sustainability”. These will evolve into podium sessions as speakers are invited.
“Delegates will have ample time at RDD 2024 to experience more
in-depth presentations, deeper discussions of pioneering science and additional opportunities for networking in a collegial and business-friendly resort setting.”
Q Lastly, can you give use some more details on RDD 2024 and highlight upcoming submission deadlines?
A Delegate registration for RDD 2024 is now open. There will be two-day integrated poster and exhibition sessions covering all aspects of inhaled and nasal pharmaceuticals. The submission deadline for poster abstracts is January 22, 2024.
Sign up for exhibit tables and online company profiles highlighting resources, solutions and connections is now open. RDD 2024 will also feature delegate-selectable workshops that will provide practical and interactive demonstrations of innovative technologies, products and services.
Nominations for the RDD 2024 Charles G Thiel Award, which is given to a scientist who has pioneered significant developments in the area of respiratory drug delivery, are open until November 30, 2023. The VCU RDD Peter R Byron Graduate Student Award will also be awarded at the conference, with eligibility being automatic upon acceptance of a qualifying poster abstract.
Exhibitors, workshop presenters and conference supporters should sign up now to enjoy maximum company profile visibility on the conference website before the conference opens. We invite all members of the pulmonary and nasal pharmaceutical community to come together at this prestigious conference.
RDD 2024 will be held on May 5–9, 2024, in Tucson, AZ, US. To find out more about delegate registration and exhibiting, visit: www.rddonline.com/rdd2024.
RDD 2024 will be held May 5–9, 2024, at the JW Marriott Starr Pass in Tucson, AZ. Delegate registration is now open.