AGENDA AT A GLANCE
Day 1 | 17 February 2027 |
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Commercialising Cell & Gene Therapies: Scaling for Global Success
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The Future of Biologics Manufacturing: Building Scalable, Resilient and Intelligent Operations
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Current State of Oligo & Peptides Manufacturing in DACH Region
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| Networking Break | ||
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Scaling Cell Therapy Manufacturing
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Next-Generation Upstream Manufacturing
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Analytical Characterization & Quality Control
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| Lunch | ||
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Overcoming Bottlenecks in Viral Vector Manufacturing
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Optimising Downstream Throughput
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Formulation and Delivery Strategies
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| Networking Break | ||
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Industry Roundtables: The Future of CGT Manufacturing
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Industry Roundtables: Solving Tomorrow's Manufacturing Challenges Today
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Industry Roundtables: The Future of Tides
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| End of Conference Day 1 | ||
Day 2 | 18 February 2027 |
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Bridging the CGT Scale-Up & Tech Transfer Gap
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Advancing CMC for Next-Generation Biologics
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Process Development & Scale-Up
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| Networking Break | ||
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Quality, GMP & Regulatory Control in CGT Manufacturing
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Novel Approaches to Biosafety Testing
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Supply Chain and Outsourcing Strategies
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| Lunch | ||
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Novel Biosafety and Contamination
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AI, Digitalisation & Smart Biomanufacturing
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Scaling Oligo & Peptide Manufacturing
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| Networking Break | ||
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Supply Chain, Logistics & Commercial Readiness
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Building Flexible Facilities for a Multi-Modality Future
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CMC Strategy and Fill-Finish for Oligos & Peptides
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| End of Conference | ||
AGENDA
Chairman’s Welcome Address
Scaling Viral Vector & Cell Therapy Manufacturing for Commercial Readiness
- Overcoming scale-up bottlenecks in viral vector production (lentiviral, AAV)
- Managing process consistency from development to GMP manufacturing
- Manufacturing considerations across T-cell, NK-cell, and CD34 stem cell therapies
- Bridging the gap between small-scale development and industrial production
Building Sustainable CGT Business Models: From Clinica
- Impact of funding constraints and milestone-driven investment
- Cost of goods and manufacturing scalability challenges
- Ensuring long-term operational and commercial sustainability
- Aligning manufacturing strategy with market access and growth
Scaling Non-Viral T-Cell Engineering: Bridging Process Development and GMP Manufacturing (TBC)
- Translation from small-scale development to clinical manufacturing
- Large-scale CRISPR knock-in and knock-out
- Maintaining editing efficiency, viability and cell quality
- Reproducibility across different donors and starting materials
Scaling CAR-T Manufacturing: From Clinical Success to Commercial Delivery
- Overcoming manufacturing bottlenecks in autologous CAR-T production
- Improving vein-to-vein timelines through process optimisation
- Increasing manufacturing capacity while maintaining product quality
- Preparing CAR-T platforms for sustainable commercial supply
Scaling Viral Vector Manufacturing: From Development to GMP Production
- Addressing scale-up challenges in lentiviral and AAV production
- Managing process variability between R&D and GMP environments
- Bridging development processes with commercial manufacturing requirements
- Reducing risk during tech transfer and engineering runs
Improving Yield, Consistency & Cost Efficiency in Viral Vector Production
- Enhancing process robustness and reproducibility at scale
- Tackling low yields in complex vector manufacturing processes
- Optimising upstream and downstream performance for efficiency gains
- Balancing cost pressures with clinical and commercial demand
Chairman’s Welcome Address
Why CGT Tech Transfer Fails — From R&D to GMP Reality
- Fundamental mismatch between lab-scale and GMP manufacturing environments
- Limited opportunity for full-scale optimisation due to cost and material constraints
- Environmental and operational differences between development and production sites
- Hidden failure points emerging only during GMP execution
Manufacturing Strategies Across CD34 Stem Cell, T Cell & NK Cell Therapies
- Platform-specific manufacturing challenges across CD34 stem cells, T cells, and NK cells
- Optimising process development and scale-up for different cell therapy modalities
- Technology transfer considerations from clinical to commercial manufacturing
- Ensuring process robustness, comparability, and manufacturing consistency across diverse cell therapy platforms
Rethinking QA in CGT — From End-Point Release to Continuous Quality Control
- Shift from traditional end-point QC to in-process quality monitoring
- Real-time process data to prevent deviations instead of reacting via CAPA
- High variability in CGT driving increased deviation and investigation burden
- Balancing speed-to-patient with GMP compliance requirements
Navigating GMP & Regulatory Complexity in Cell & Gene Therapy
- Non-harmonised expectations across EMA vs FDA and global regulators
- Evolving GMP expectations for early-phase vs commercial CGT manufacturing
- Assay validation, comparability, and starting material scrutiny challenges
- Regulatory uncertainty during tech transfer from academic to GMP environments
How can CGT manufacturers strengthen biosafety controls without slowing development?
- Managing contamination risk across donor material, starting materials, viral vectors, and open processing steps
- Balancing rapid methods, assay sensitivity, and GMP/regulatory expectations
- Strengthening investigation and decision-making pathways when atypical results arise
- Building scalable contamination-control strategies as programmes move from early clinical to commercial supply
Building a Phase-Appropriate Biosafety Strategy for Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing
- Defining biosafety-testing needs according to modality, process risk, and clinical stage
- Integrating cell-bank, raw-material, in-process, and product testing into one coherent control strategy
- Reducing turnaround-time risk while maintaining confidence in product safety and quality
- Preparing biosafety methods and controls for tech transfer, scale-up, and commercial readiness
Managing Critical Material Shortages in CGT Manufacturing
- Viral vectors, plasmids and raw material bottlenecks
- Long lead times and limited supplier base
- Impact of material constraints on GMP production timelines
- Practical mitigation strategies used by manufacturers today
What Breaks When CGTs Move from Clinical to Commercial Supply?
- Tech transfer failures impacting supply continuity
- Scaling manufacturing networks under GMP constraints
- Misalignment between development timelines and manufacturing reality
- Operational challenges in sustaining commercial supply

AGENDA
Chairman’s Welcome Address
Commercial Manufacturability by Design: Why Scale-Up Success Starts During Development
- Integrating manufacturability into early development
- Bridging process development and commercial manufacturing
- Embedding QbD and process understanding from day one
- Avoiding costly scale-up and tech transfer failures
The Biologics Factory of 2030: AI, Digital Twins and the Future of Manufacturing Excellence
- Where AI is delivering value today
- Digital twins versus reality
- PAT and real-time process understanding
- Building GMP-compliant digital manufacturing environments
The Intensification Paradox: When More Upstream Productivity Creates Downstream Problems
- Are upstream teams optimising the wrong KPIs?
- When increased titres overwhelm downstream capacity
- Facility implications of intensified processes
- Balancing yield, quality and throughput
AI-Driven Upstream Development: Can Digital Twins Predict Scale-Up Success?
- Current state of digital twin deployment
- Predictive cell culture modelling
- AI-assisted process development
- Separating hype from practical value
Maximising Yield Without Compromising Quality in Commercial Biologics Manufacturing
- Reducing product loss across the manufacturing process
- Balancing yield and product quality
- Process robustness at commercial scale
- Cost-of-goods optimisation
From Process Understanding to Product Quality: Linking CPPs, CQAs and Downstream Performance
- Process understanding strategies
- Managing critical quality attributes
- Data-driven validation
- Regulatory expectations for commercial manufacturing
Chairman’s Welcome Address
Platform Processes Are Not Plug-and-Play: Adapting CMC Strategies for Complex Biologics
- When platform processes accelerate development
- When customisation becomes essential
- CMC considerations for ADCs and emerging modalities
- Balancing speed and flexibility
Quality by Design in Practice: Strengthening Process Understanding for Commercial Scale-Up
- Building process understanding early
- Linking CPPs and CQAs
- Supporting comparability and validation
- Regulatory expectations for scale-up
Building a Risk-Based Biosafety Testing Strategy for Complex
- Defining biosafety-testing requirements based on product modality, process risk, and development stage
- Integrating rapid and compendial methods without compromising data integrity or regulatory acceptability
- Establishing clear decision pathways for atypical results, investigations, and batch-impact assessment
- Aligning development, quality, manufacturing, and external testing partners around a coherent testing strategy
From Cell Bank to Commercial Supply: Strengthening Contamination Control Across the Biologics Lifecycle
- Building viral-safety strategy into cell-bank qualification
- Identifying contamination risks across the manufacturing process
- Using monitoring and trend analysis to strengthen control
- Protecting supply continuity during investigations and scale-up
Smart Manufacturing for a Sustainable Future (TBC)
- AI and digital tools for greener manufacturing operations
- Improving resource efficiency through connected manufacturing
- Building resilient and sustainable production networks
- Measuring sustainability through real-time operational insights
Digital Twins for Bioprocess Development and Manufacturing: Are We There Yet?
- Current capabilities and limitations
- Process modelling and multivariate analysis
- Predicting scale-up performance
- Moving from equipment-level models to end-to-end process simulation
Single-Use vs Stainless Steel: What Will Define the Next Generation of Biomanufacturing?
- Drivers behind the shift toward single-use technologies
- When stainless steel still makes strategic sense
- Supporting flexible manufacturing models
- Implications for scale, cost, and operational efficiency
Designing Facilities for Process Intensification and Perfusion Manufacturing
- Facility implications of intensified processing
- Supporting perfusion at commercial scale
- Infrastructure requirements for higher productivity
- Balancing flexibility and capacity

AGENDA
Chairman’s Welcome Address
Challenges in the Synthesis of Isotopically Labelled Peptides
Overcoming Operational and Regulatory Challenges in the DACH Region
- Navigating regional regulatory expectations for complex oligos and peptides
- Strategies to address supply chain risks and raw material availability
- Integration of digital tools and analytics for process control and quality assurance
- Best practices for cross-site technology transfer and operational excellence
Advanced Analytics for TIDES Molecules
- LC-MS methods for complex peptides and oligonucleotides
- Impurity profiling and identification of critical quality attributes
- Stability-indicating methods to monitor degradation pathways
- Reference standards & method validation
Digitalisation and Automation in QC Labs
- Integrating automated platforms for high-throughput analysis
- Real-time release testing: opportunities and limitations
- Predictive analytics and AI for process and product quality monitoring
- Data integrity, regulatory compliance, and digital record-keeping
Advanced Formulation Strategies for Stability, Efficacy and Developability of Biologics and Complex Modalities
- Designing robust formulations to improve stability and shelf-life of biologics and advanced therapies
- Managing aggregation, viscosity, and degradation challenges in high-concentration formulations
- Selecting optimal excipients and buffer systems for antibodies, ADCs, and novel modalities
- Integrating developability assessments early to reduce downstream formulation risks
Innovative Drug Delivery Approaches for Next-Generation Biologics and Targeted Therapies
- Advancing delivery technologies for improved tissue targeting and therapeutic efficiency
- Overcoming biological barriers to enhance bioavailability and intracellular delivery
- Evaluating delivery systems such as nanoparticles, LNPs, and sustained-release platforms
- Aligning formulation design with clinical performance and patient-centric delivery requirements
Chairman’s Welcome Address
New Approach to Recombinant Peptides
- Next-generation recombinant peptide manufacturing
- Scaling peptide production efficiently
- Advances in purification & analytics
- Integrated CMC for recombinant peptides
Process Optimisation and Continuous Improvement for Complex Peptides and Oligonucleotides
- Process intensification strategies for complex peptides and oligonucleotides
- Implementing digital tools and automation to enhance process control
- Reducing variability and improving reproducibility across batches
- Lessons learned from troubleshooting scale-up challenges
Building Resilient and Agile Supply Chains for Biologics, Oligos and Peptides
- Strengthening end-to-end supply chain resilience in a volatile global environment
- Managing cold chain, logistics and distribution risks for complex modalities
- Improving visibility and digitalisation across global supply networks
- Aligning supply chain strategy with clinical, scale-up and commercial demand
Strategic Outsourcing Models and CDMO Partnerships for Efficient Manufacturing
- Selecting the right CDMO partners across development and commercial stages
- Balancing in-house capabilities vs outsourcing for cost, speed and flexibility
- Strengthening governance, quality oversight and performance management of CDMOs
- Optimising tech transfer and collaboration models for seamless external manufacturing
Process Scale-Up Strategies for Efficient and Reproducible Oligonucleotide and Peptide Manufacturing
- Transitioning from lab-scale synthesis to GMP and commercial-scale manufacturing
- Managing scale-dependent challenges in solid-phase synthesis and purification
- Ensuring process robustness, reproducibility and batch-to-batch consistency
- Establishing scalable manufacturing platforms for clinical and commercial supply
Overcoming Manufacturing and Quality Challenges in Large-Scale Oligo and Peptide Production
- Addressing impurity control and purification challenges during scale-up
- Optimising yield, cycle time and cost of goods (COGS) in large-scale production
- Ensuring analytical consistency and quality control across manufacturing scales
- Strengthening tech transfer and CDMO collaboration for seamless industrialisation
Integrated CMC Strategies for Efficient Development of Oligonucleotide and Peptide Therapeutics
- strategies from early development to commercial manufacturing
- Managing complexity in synthesis, purification and analytical control for oligos and peptides
- Aligning process development with regulatory expectations and quality requirements
- Enabling scalable and robust manufacturing platforms for clinical and commercial success
Advancing Fill-Finish Operations for Oligonucleotides and Peptides: Ensuring Quality and Scalability
- Overcoming fill-finish challenges for low-dose, high-potency oligonucleotide and peptide drugs
- Ensuring product stability and integrity during formulation, filling and packaging
- Selecting appropriate primary packaging systems for different delivery formats
- Scaling aseptic fill-finish processes from clinical to commercial production
MEET THE SPEAKERS
BIG PHARMA
Volker Derdau
BIG PHARMA
Baerbel Grossmann
BIG PHARMA
Daniel Hurni
BIG PHARMA
Dr. Ulrich Rümenapp
BIG PHARMA
Marion Hitchcock
Hagen Cramer
BIG PHARMA
Dr. Cecile Brocard
Chris Baldwin
BIG PHARMA
Karoline Bechtold-Peters
BIG PHARMA
Bettina Knapp
BIG PHARMA
Alessio Epifanio
BIG PHARMA
Gulbengu Kuzgun Yuksel
CHAIRMAN
Nicoletta Loggia
Interested in Sharing Your Expertise and Insights?
Sponsors & Media Partner
Special thanks to our event partners, without whom we would not be able to provide
this networking, learning, and collaborating platform to the community
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Service & Solution Providers
Biopharma & Big Pharma
Decision Makers
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By Profile
By Job Title
Cell Isolation & Processing Systems
Cryopreservation, Storage & Cold Chain Logistics
Viral Vector Manufacturing
Analytical Testing, Quality Control & Release Assays
Gene Editing & Cell Engineering Technologies
Sterility Testing & Microbiology Solutions
Cell Culture Media, Reagents & Consumables
CDMOs & Contract Manufacturing Services
Cell Expansion & Bioreactor Technologies
Raw Materials, Plasmids & Critical Components
Single-Use Bioprocessing Systems
Engineering, Cleanroom & Facility Design
Process Monitoring, Automation & Digital Manufacturing
Regulatory, Validation & Quality Services
Cell Harvesting, Washing & Formulation Technologies
Chain of Identity / Chain of Custody Solutions
Aseptic Fill-Finish Solutions
Clinical Supply Chain & Logistics Providers
Bioprocess Equipment Providers
Engineering And Facility Design Firms
Cell Culture Media Providers
Filters And Chromatography Columns
Cell Line Providers
Automation And Process Analytical Technology Firms
Contract Development Manufacturing Organizations
Fill & Finish And Drug Delivery Solutions
Peptide Synthesis Platforms
Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) Formulation Providers
Purification & Chromatography Technologies
Automation & Robotics Providers
Linker & Conjugation Technology
Toxicology & Bioanalytical Service Providers
Analytical & Characterisation Solutions
Solid-Phase & Flow Chemistry Systems
Regulatory & Quality Software Providers
Oligonucleotide Synthesis Technology
Drug Delivery Systems
Bioprocessing Equipment
Microfluidics & Continuous Manufacturing Systems
HPLC, LC–MS, & Spectroscopy Systems
Clinical Trial Logistics & Cold Chain Partners
Automated Synthesisers
Bioinformatics & AI Tools
Nanotechnology & Targeted Delivery Platforms
mRNA & RNA Therapeutics Platforms
Peptide & Oligo Design Software
Single-Use Manufacturing Solutions
Cryopreservation & Storage Solutions
Packaging & Delivery Device Innovators
Raw Material & Reagent Suppliers
CROs & CMOs
Stability Testing & Formulation Experts
Thought Leadership Speaking
Panel Participation
Solution Showcases
Engagement and Visibility Opportunities
Branding and Digital Visibility
Exclusive Networking
Our DACH Series Partners
The Biologics and CGT Manufacturing DACH conference 2026 was very well planned and coordinated. It provided high-quality talks for staying up-to-date in our industry and I specifically enjoyed the time for networking.
Thanks for the invite to speak at the event. It was a really enjoyable meeting and a great opportunity to present our work to the community. Identifying key partners for ImmunoKey’s development plan is a critical aspect of getting our therapies to patients; the CGT and Biologics Manufacturing DACH meeting offered us the opportunity to engage with key CDMOs who can help us achieve this goal.
Just back from an incredible time at the Biologics Manufacturing DACH congress! I have to be honest - as someone in Procurement, some of the deep-dives into Cell & Gene and biologics development were definitely above my scientific capabilities! However, the exchange of knowledge was fantastic, and it was a privilege to learn from such brilliant minds. A true highlight was the fantastic collaboration with Christopher Pawlak (PhD) . I had the privilege of co-hosting a round table with him focused on the impact of tariffs in the biopharma world. Christoph, thank you for the partnership - it was a truly dynamic discussion! 🤝 One of my biggest takeaways is that we have officially entered the era of "The Great Reshoring". We are moving past the days when drug manufacturing decisions were purely scientific; they are now deeply geopolitical. As we discussed in our round table, we can no longer just react to change. We have to treat scenario planning like a muscle that we train constantly to design for volatility. The event really hit home how much our world is changing - from the incredible progress in biologics manufacturing to the AI evolution. I’m excited to see how we can implement these insights to build resilience and benefit BMS biologics manufacturing. Back to my desk, I will start with socializing the learnings with my colleagues. A huge thank you to Drishti G. for the flawless organization and to Noel Murphy for approving the trip and supporting this critical learning opportunity!
Really well organised conference with great attendees and high engagement - I was delighted to have taken the time to attend and really enjoyed sharing my thoughts on Accelerating Biologics Pipeline and ensuing discussion. Thank you to all organisers and facilitators
A fantastic deep dive into the DACH region’s CGT landscape. This conference made one thing clear: efficacy is proven, but industrialization is the new frontier. To truly move the needle, we must look beyond the lab and focus on scaling automation, streamlining supply chains, and tackling COGS. The diversity of voices - from large corporations, to tech suppliers and academic pioneers - provided a 360-degree view of the manufacturing challenges we must solve together.
Thanks for the invite. The conference was really excellent, due to the caliber and engagement of the attendees.
Thanks for putting this together! I enjoyed the discussions, atmosphere and engagement of participants. Great to be there!
I thoroughly enjoyed attending the CGT Manufacturing DACH 2026 by IMAPAC. The program featured exceptionally industry-relevant talks that provided deep insights into the current landscape. Beyond the sessions, the networking opportunities were top-tier, thanks to the high caliber of participants.
I had the pleasure of collaborating with the IMAPAC team during the Irish leg of the Biologics World event in February 2026. The organisers were exceptionally receptive and helpful, ensuring a seamless experience throughout the planning, exhibition logistics, partnering sessions, and sponsor visibility. Their proactive approach in connecting us with potential partners significantly enhanced our ROI. We are already exploring future opportunities to work with the IMAPAC team.
Thank you for your email and organising this wonderful event. It was a pleasure to participate. Congratulations on organising this event. It was a wonderful opportunity to present our work and to collaborate with others in the area. Looking forward to your next event
Thank you, it was a pleasure meeting you, and your enthusiasm made it an engaging and positive event.
I hope we have opportunity to connect again in the future.
Well done on a very informative and successful event.
VENUE
Radisson Blu Hotel, London Heathrow
Travel Options
We look forward to welcoming you to our event at the Radisson Blu Hotel, conveniently located just minutes from Heathrow Airport. Please find travel guidance below to help you plan your journey.
By London Underground
Take the London Underground Piccadilly Line toward Heathrow Airport.
- Alight at Heathrow Terminal 2 & 3 Underground Station
- From the station, the hotel is a short taxi or bus journey away
Estimated travel time: 45–60 minutes from central London.
From Heathrow Airport
The hotel is located along Bath Road, with regular bus services connecting all terminals.
- Local bus routes: 105, 111, 140, 285
- Hotel Hoppa shuttle service also available
- Alight on Bath Road, a short walk from the hotel
Estimated travel time: 10–20 minutes
Taxi or Ride-Hailing
Taxis and ride-hailing services are readily available at all Heathrow terminals.
Estimated travel time: 5–10 minutes Estimated cost: £10–£20
By Car
The hotel is easily accessible by road:
- Address: 140 Bath Road, Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 5AW
- Located just off the M4 motorway
From Other UK Cities
For guests travelling from outside London:
- Arrive at London Paddington Station
- Continue via:
- Heathrow Express (fastest option), or
- Elizabeth line (cost-effective alternative)
- Transfer to bus or taxi for the final leg
Accommodation Options
Explore recommended hotels near the venue.
Venue Hotel
Radisson Blu Hotel, London Heathrow
To book a room at this hotel, please click the button below
London Heathrow Mariott Hotel
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Ibis Style London Heathrow Airport
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Premier Inn London Heathrow
To book a room at this hotel, please click the button below