The European Pharma Outsourcing Summit proved to be a cornerstone event for the pharmaceutical industry. Held on 5–6 June at the Maritime Hotel in Düsseldorf, Germany, the summit convened over 120 senior leaders for two days of strategic dialogue, high-impact networking, and exchange of critical insights shaping the future of pharma partnerships and external manufacturing.
This year’s program offered a deep engagement across key topics—from supply chain resilience and CDMO strategy to regulatory alignment and innovation in biomanufacturing.
We’re deeply grateful to all who helped make this year’s gathering so impactful. A special thank you to our emcees, Daniela Allhenn, Ph.D. of Pharma Deutschland, and Linda Intoft Gauffin of Calliditas Therapeutics, whose expertise and presence brought cohesion, energy, and momentum to every session. It was an honor to have you lead the conversation.
Day 1: Building the Foundation for Partnership-Driven Innovation
The summit opened with a compelling keynote from Christina Da Cunha, Ph.D., Vice President of CMO Business Operations and Transformation, External Manufacturing and Supply at Sanofi. In her session, "Strategic Leadership and Partner Collaboration in Pharma Outsourcing," Christina explored how Sanofi is strengthening capacity and agility through long-term, trust-based relationships with manufacturing partners. Her insights highlighted the critical role of proactive collaboration in driving operational flexibility across the global supply chain.
Next, Tina Self, Senior Vice President of Global Biologics Manufacturing and Berkeley Site Head at Bayer, took the stage with a powerful plenary on transforming operational models to unlock greater value. She illustrated how Bayer is implementing Dynamic Shared Ownership (DSO) to foster accountability and accelerate performance, and how empowering teams with true asset ownership is reshaping their Product Supply Systems (PSS) for the future.
Henry Ames of TraceLink’s Digital Network Platform closed out the morning with a high-impact plenary that brought digital transformation to the forefront. Through real-world case studies, he demonstrated how leading pharmaceutical companies are leveraging no-code platforms to seamlessly integrate with external partners, enabling smarter orchestration of manufacturing, logistics, and commercial processes.
The morning set the tone for a summit grounded in strategic insight and practical solutions. Attendees continued the momentum during the networking break and structured 1:1 meetings, fostering new partnerships and deepening conversations sparked by the day’s opening sessions.
Attendees took a closer look at the evolving landscape of External Manufacturing and External Quality through two focused workshop streams led by industry experts shaping the future of pharmaceutical operations.
Felipe Furiati, Senior Director of External Supply Operations at Grünenthal Group, delivered a compelling session on building a risk-based framework to support seamless transitions from clinical development to commercial launch. He shared how Grünenthal is aligning supplier capabilities, integrating maturity models, and driving end-to-end visibility across its external supply network, laying the groundwork for sustainable scalability.
Meanwhile, Lars Jörgen Stubberud, Vice President of Technical Operations at Calliditas Therapeutics, offered a candid look into supplier relationship management. He emphasized the importance of maintaining open lines of communication to foster transparency, swiftly address issues, and drive continuous improvement—key ingredients for operational excellence.
The afternoon concluded with a high-energy plenary from Simon Hilton, Global SVP of Business Development and Marketing at RS Integrated Supply. His session showcased how AI, clean data, and smarter sourcing are reshaping MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) to significantly reduce costs while building a more resilient, future-ready indirect supply chain.
Over lunch in the exhibit hall, attendees continued the conversation in a small-group Lunch & Learn Roundtable hosted by Novartis, where participants explored how the company is redefining innovation in pharma through advanced manufacturing approaches and cross-functional collaboration.
After lunch, attendees wrapped up the focused workshop streams with impactful sessions from two industry leaders. Maik Helmut Talarczyk of Sandoz offered critical perspectives on managing complex tech transfers and streamlining supplier consolidation to improve operational continuity. Colleen Severyn of Jazz Pharmaceuticals followed with an in-depth look at how the company’s GRADS (Global Regulatory Affairs and Drug Safety) team leads strategic sourcing initiatives to uphold quality, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive vendor performance across key functions.
In parallel, our afternoon workshops continued to challenge conventional thinking. Yann Béthuel, Ph.D., of Axplora captivated audiences with a forward-looking session on accelerating delivery of GLP-1s and ADCs through accountable API partnerships, highlighting how innovation in active pharmaceutical ingredient strategy can redefine speed-to-market. Meanwhile, TraceLink returned to the stage with another standout session, demonstrating how no-code platform tools are empowering companies to orchestrate entire supply chains—from manufacturing to logistics to commerce—using real-world case studies to illustrate scalable, efficient, and high-value execution.
A second networking break offered attendees a chance to recharge and connect in 1:1 meetings before returning to the main stage for a standout plenary by Matt Bolger, Senior Director, External Supply API at Pfizer. In his talk, “Strategic Production Dynamics: Balancing In-House Capabilities and Outsourcing for Competitive Advantage,” Matt shared how a flexible production strategy—one that leverages the right blend of internal strengths and external partnerships—can reinforce supply chain resilience and unlock competitive edge in an evolving global market.
Day 1 concluded with a powerhouse panel discussion featuring Suyamburam Sathasivam of Sun Pharmaceutical, Diego Mora of Grünenthal, Liesbeth Foesters of UCB, Stephen Sheehan of Alkermes, Juan Rodríguez Dehli of Boehringer Ingelheim, and Suki Toguchi of Gilead Sciences. Together, they explored what it truly takes to manage CDMO partnerships for long-term success, emphasizing the importance of transparent communication, defined performance metrics, robust quality agreements, and digitally enabled collaboration to ensure alignment and mutual value creation.
The day closed on a high note with a vibrant Networking Drinks Reception sponsored by PCI Pharma Services, featuring their signature Dose of Distinction and lively conversation that set the tone for an equally impactful Day 2.
Day 2: Empowerment, Strategy, and Forward Thinking
Day 2 opened with a powerful plenary from Dominik Loitz, Ph.D., SVP and Head of External Manufacturing at Bayer. In his session, “Optimizing Pharma Outsourcing: Strategies for Effective External Partnerships,” Dominik outlined Bayer’s approach to strengthening external manufacturing through smart partner selection, digital integration, and transparent collaboration—ultimately driving greater efficiency, quality, and long-term value across the supply chain.
The conversation then expanded to the European regulatory and policy landscape, as Aurelius Veryga, Member of the European Parliament, took the stage. In his session, “Balancing Innovation and Accessibility: EU Health Priorities in Pharma Outsourcing,” he explored how EU health policy is shaping the future of pharmaceutical outsourcing, emphasizing the need to balance innovation with patient access, reinforce strategic partnerships, and develop sustainable and resilient supply networks.
Aleksandra Kristic, Director of Global Launch Management at STADA, delivered the final plenary of the morning. Her session focused on building a resilient and agile CMO ecosystem—one that manages risk while maintaining flexibility and securing long-term value for pharma companies navigating complex launch cycles.
A mid-morning networking break provided attendees with a valuable opportunity to reconnect with exhibitors, exchange ideas with peers, and reflect on the strategic insights gained from the morning sessions, setting the stage for a thought-provoking afternoon.
After the networking break, attendees split for the final time into two streams with Suki Toguchi, Chief of Staff at Gilead Sciences and Hiba Boujnah, Ph.D., Head, International Cooperation and Partnerships, Charité Competence Center for Traditional and Integrative Medicine (CCCTIM) at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Together, they reframed pharma outsourcing as a driver of social impact, not just efficiency. They highlighted how integrating Traditional and Integrative Medicine (TIM) and fostering inclusive partnerships can lead to more meaningful, patient-centered outcomes. Through a strong DEIB lens, they emphasized culturally grounded collaboration as key to building a resilient and globally relevant pharmaceutical ecosystem.
Simultaneously, Martin Nolan of Bristol Myers Squibb and Daniel Orford of Chartwell shared pragmatic strategies for embedding procurement into the heart of external manufacturing operations. They emphasized the importance of aligning sourcing and manufacturing priorities to enhance supply continuity, reliability, and agility across global networks.
The highly anticipated Women in Leadership Panel, moderated by Tina Self, SVP of Global Biologics Manufacturing and Berkeley Site Head at Bayer, Maria Palha, Associate Direcotror and External Manufacturing at UCB, Manda Pasarkar, Director, Global Regulatory Affairs, CMC at Sanofi, and Colleen Severyn, Head, Global Regulatory Affairs and Drug Safety Alliance Management at Jazz Pharmaceuticals shared personal stories and practical guidance on navigating leadership in the pharma space. Panelists spoke candidly about their journeys and the importance of authenticity, mentorship, and purpose-driven leadership. Attendees left inspired by the collective wisdom on how to grow, lead boldly, and create lasting impact.
Over the final lunch of the summit, attendees joined additional Lunch & Learn Roundtable Discussions, led by experts from Alkermes, Bayer, and Grünenthal Group, continuing the day’s momentum with focused dialogue and peer exchange.
Concluding Discussions: Strengthening Supply, Strategy, and Innovation in Pharma
The summit concluded on a high note with a powerful plenary from Fabio Russo, Chief Technical Operations Officer at Alfasigma. Attendees gained practical insights into how Alfasigma strategically leverages branding and CDMO partnerships to enhance product visibility, streamline operations, and maintain quality across the commercial supply chain.
The final panel brought together innovators from HansaBiopharma, Sanofi, and Calliditas Therapeutics to explore strengthening vendor oversight through standardized procedures, audits, and close collaboration, ensuring consistent quality and compliance across the external network.
The Future Is Now: How Pharma Can Get Ahead of 2026 Disruption
As the Chair delivered the Closing Remarks, it was clear the momentum in the room wasn’t ending—it was just beginning. Over two days, the European Pharma Outsourcing Summit sparked bold conversations, forged new partnerships, and laid the groundwork for the future of pharmaceutical collaboration and innovation.
If you couldn’t be with us this year, you didn’t just miss the sessions—you missed the ideas and connections shaping what’s next.
Join us in 2026 as we continue the conversation. Stay connected and reserve your place at: eposummit.com
“It was exciting, very well organized, relevant presentations by the speakers, excellent Q&A, and exhibition stands.”
Abhaykumar Hering, Head of CDMO, Zentiva
“It was really well organized, great speakers and presentations! Very Close to the speakers. Thank you for this outstanding Event Format!”
Ulrike Chappelat, Head of Quality Assurance, Supplier Management, Cheplapharm
“It was a pleasure to connect with so many existing and potential partners, clients, and peers, and to exchange views on how CDMOs can add value to the development pipeline and commercial manufacturing.”
Andrea Nicola Hering, Global Head CDMO Business, Medac
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