The Pennsylvania Convention Center plays host to the first ever CPhI North America this week, the latest regional pharma ingredients event looking to make its mark on our hectic tradeshow schedules.
Other CPhI events – India, China and South Korea – for example allow local API and excipient makers to showcase their wares, but with 80% of ingredients in US-made drugs being produced overseas, we asked CPhI North America & Informex brand director Joseph Marks why a US-based event is necessary.
“Since the launch of CPhI 26 years ago, the pharma landscape has continued to evolve, and the overall brand has evolved with it, as any brand needs to do in order to stay relevant in our fast changing times,” he told in-Pharmatechnologist.
“The event in North America will obviously be geared to US and non-US suppliers alike representing the entire pharma life cycle from fine and specialty chemicals to drug discovery, formulation, manufacturing and packaging, along with a strong content programme which reflects current pharma landscape, innovations, and challenges.”
He added the overall growth in the US pharma market was an important factor in bringing the franchise to North America and to create “the first truly end-to-end pharma event in the US” through its merger with the established Informex show.
“Our launch plays to the already established market, but more importantly a need we uncovered in early stage research that there was a need for a marketplace across the entire pharma value chain in North America.”
Exhibitors and attendees
According to Marks, 6,000 attendees are expected to be present in Philadelphia this week along with more than 600 exhibitors, representing a mix across all different zones in the pharma value chain.
One thing not envisioned by the planners of the event was the new US administration. Attempts to crackdown on travel from a number of Middle-Eastern and Asian countries coupled with rhetoric promises to stem the tide of pharma imports into the US could jeopardise a show focused on the global drug supply chain.
However, said Marks, “the political climate has had no visible effect on CPhI North America & Informex. We have a healthy presence of exhibitors Asia on the show floor as well as attendee registrations.”
He added: “Our pre-registration is approximately North American based 61% vs 39% outside North America. We expect more US attendees will likely verify resulting in a slightly higher onsite split (toward US).”