Industry leaders will address topics such as manufacturing transformation and future therapies

The pharmaceutical industry is undergoing an era of innovation and change. Over the next few years, companies will need to navigate opportunities and challenges, from geopolitical shifts to new technologies and increasing regulatory requirements.

At this year’s CPHI Milan conference, delegates will hear from industry thought leaders on how to address these challenges. The event, taking place at Fiera Milano from 6-8 October 2026, will feature more than 260 speakers exploring themes from biomanufacturing to supply chain resilience, regulation and policy, market insights, packaging and drug delivery, and emerging technology.

CPHI Milan will also mark the debut of the CPHI Sustainability Summit, a two-day conference designed to encourage delegates to discuss and address key sustainability priorities.

This year’s programme is centred around the theme of “Insights from leaders navigating real-world industry constraints” and will feature sessions led by people and organisations who are shaping pharmaceutical innovation.

Featured speakers at CPHI Milan 2026 include:

Catalina Vargas, Senior Vice President, Global Business Unit at Bristol Myers Squibb, who will present a talk on “Building the Future of Manufacturing: The Leadership Behind Digital Transformation.” She will explore what it takes to embed digital capabilities at scale and the roles people, processes and operating models play in moving transformation forward.
Steffen Saltofte, CEO of Zentiva and President of Medicines for Europe, who will address how geopolitical change, regulation and evolving market dynamics are driving companies to build supply chains around resilience rather than efficiency.
Elisabeth Stampa, CEO & Board Member, Medichem SA, who will present “From Commodity to Critical: Reframing APIs for Complex Formulations and Resilient Supply.” This talk explores how manufacturing can adopt a more differentiated API strategy. She will share how to recognise when APIs are critical to formulation performance, regulatory continuity and supply security and when they can remain a commodity.
Ronald T. Piervincenzi, CEO, United States Pharmacopeia (USP), will explore “Pressures and Strategic Imperatives of Resiliency: Rethinking Pharma Supply Chains.” This speaker will explore how countries are translating policy ambitions into practical supply chains, and how sourcing strategies are being reshaped by factors such as resource nationalism and geopolitical fragmentation.
Marco Farinelli, Chair of the Supply Chain working group at EFPIA and Global Supply Chain Director at AstraZeneca, will also feature on a panel discussion titled “From Policy to Practice: Europe’s Integrated Approach to Medicine Security.” The panel will investigate how industry leaders are translating coordinated policy intent into operational outcomes across various fragmented regulatory environments.

CPHI Milan will also provide a range of opportunities for collaboration and networking, with nearly 3,000 companies scheduled to attend. The conference features a diverse exhibition space, with new zones dedicated to themes such as contamination control, cold chain and logistics, labelling, and AI and technology.

Registration for CPHI Milan 2026 is now open. To view the full conference programme and register, visit: here