CPhI 2009: Madrid Launch for BioPh Marks Pharma and Biotech Convergence

MAARSSEN, Netherlands -

CPhI Worldwide and connected events - the global pharma ingredients and services community’s largest annual meeting - returns to Madrid on 12 - 15 October for its 20th staging.

The co-located ICSE contract services and P-MEC equipment and technology events are joined for 2009 under the Where Pharma Meets banner by the new, biotech-focused BioPh. The new platform markedly reflects the notable convergence of the pharma and biotech business models since Madrid first hosted CPhI in 2005.

Across the four events at Feria de Madrid, organisers UBM International Media expect a combined total approaching 1,700 exhibitors. First-time exhibitor bookings are 8% ahead of 2008. Significantly, CEO-level visitor pre-registrations are also up on last year.

One of several new features for 2009 is the all-new Pre-Show Seminar series on Monday 12 October, setting event context through the valuable insights of opinion leaders over a range of key sectors and topics.

Similarly, and returning after 2008’s highly successful launch, the Tuesday and Wednesday morning Breakfast Briefings team the European Fine Chemicals Group (EFCG) and Euromonitor International with the CPhI Conferences group to focus on industry-critical issues.

The year’s standout development - and the second event launched in Madrid after P-MEC in 2005 - is the debut of BioPh, Bio-solutions for Pharma.

BioPh marks the convergence of pharma and biotech business models in global healthcare - and the increasing bio-pharma partnerships in drug innovation, production and market delivery. The new exhibition is a timely link between the biotech innovation that increasingly drives pharma and the proven networking platform of CPhI for ingredients and production interests.

Within BioPh, UBM is teaming with PCM - Parque Scientifico de Madrid, a member of Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) - to offer a pharma and biotechnology “partnering” brokerage event at Feria de Madrid on Wednesday 14 October. (Stand 10A56)

Other highlights this year include the sixth staging of the annual CPhI Innovation Awards and the return of the popular Speakers’ Corner within both CPhI and ICSE.

UBM Pharma Portfolio Group Director Eliane van Doorn commented: “New event features this year reflect ongoing industry changes and the expanding role of healthcare biotechnology since CPhI’s first Madrid visit in 2005.

“They also mark our determination to add interest and value year-on-year for established and new audiences alike - building business value across events, conferences, networking opportunities and online.”

Regarding the business outlook she continued: “We expect the long run of year-over-year growth in visitor numbers for CPhI Worldwide to be interrupted for 2009. However, after the tough global business conditions since late 2008, we are now seeing more positive forecasts. There are better indicators for the global economy and also that the key emerging pharma markets of China, India and Russia will see returns to double-digit growth.”

For 2010, the Europe events are timed a week earlier, when the CPhI family will return to Paris-Nord Villepinte, on Tuesday 5 - Thursday 7 October. Paris last hosted the events in 2006.

Worldwide locations of annual sister events for the pharma sector hosted by UBM include Japan (April); China (June); South America - Argentina (August 2010) and India (November).See: www.wherepharmameets.com; www.cphi.com; www.icsexpo.com; www.bioph-online.com and www.p-mec.com.

Source: CPhI Worldwide

Rob Sahi (CPhI), UBM International Media, +31(0)346-559-461; or Ian O’Malley (ICSE, P-MEC, BioPh), UBM International Media, +31(0)346-559-426; or Roger Johnstone, GyroHSR Public Relations, +44(0)161-614-1450 / Notes for Editors: The “CPhI” family has grown beyond Europe to include dedicated annual events in China (2001); Japan (2002); India (2006) and South America (2008). Co-located events embrace pharma contract services (ICSE, started 2000); production equipment (P-MEC, started 2005) and BioPh (the biotech/pharma interface - starting this year). UBM International Media operates market-leading global exhibition brands and their complementary media products. The CPhI pharmaceutical ingredients and related sector exhibitions currently number over 12 highly-regarded annual events. The portfolio also includes Informex (speciality chemicals), Food Ingredients, HBA (health & beauty industry) and Sea Trade (cruise industry). Worldwide locations for its events include China, India, Japan, North America, Brazil, Africa and Europe. More than 330,000 business professionals and marketers visit UBM exhibitions each year. The exhibitions portfolio is managed from Holland. UBM International Media has approximately 1,200 employees in the UK, US, Asia and Europe. See www.ubm.com