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Pharma Tech Outlook | Tuesday, April 07, 2026
Singapore — As pharmaceutical manufacturers face increasing regulatory scrutiny, evolving contamination control expectations, and growing pressure to demonstrate inspection readiness, the PDA Pharmaceutical Manufacturing C Quality Conference 2026 will convene a distinguished international faculty of scientific experts, senior industry leaders, and former regulators in Singapore this May.
Taking place 12–13 May 2026 at Andaz Singapore, the conference brings together professionals from manufacturing, quality, microbiology, and regulatory functions to explore how regulatory expectations are interpreted, implemented, and sustained in real‑world GMP environments. The two‑day program is designed to deliver practical, science‑based insights from individuals who have shaped global regulatory thinking and modern pharmaceutical manufacturing practices.
Among the featured speakers are Edward C. Tidswell, PhD, Executive Director of Quality Assurance at Merck C Co., Inc., who will share perspectives on USP environmental monitoring documentary and reference standards and their evolving role in pharmaceutical quality systems; Erika A. Pfeiler, PhD, Senior Consultant in Microbiology at ValSource, Inc. and former FDA microbiology reviewer, who will address regulatory considerations and compliance strategies for alternative microbiological methods; and Crystal Lau, Senior Director of CMC Regulatory (Asia Pacific) at MSD International GmbH, formerly with Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA), offering a dual regulatory and industry perspective on inspection behavior and compliance expectations.
The conference opens with a focused examination of knowledge management and regulatory behavior, highlighting how inspection outcomes are influenced not only by technical controls, but by how organizations investigate, document, and respond to deviations. Real‑world case studies will explore deviation management within contamination control strategies (CCS), emphasizing root‑cause determination, CAPA effectiveness, and the critical role of microbiologists in supporting robust investigations and sustainable compliance.
Innovation in pharmaceutical manufacturing will be a central theme throughout the program. Sessions will examine how advanced technologies—including isolators, closed systems, automation, enhanced monitoring, and continuous manufacturing—can reduce contamination risk, improve operational reliability, and support scalable and sustainable production models. Speakers will share experience from both traditional and emerging manufacturing environments, including CDMO and sterile operations, illustrating how these technologies are best deployed within a well‑executed CCS.
Annex 1 implementation remains a key focus of the conference, with scientific and regulatory perspectives on its application across aseptic operations and bulk drug substance manufacturing. Presentations will address risk‑based contamination control, isolator set‑up and pre‑VHP interventions, and sterility assurance practices that continue to receive close regulatory attention. Attendees will gain practical guidance on establishing and maintaining a defensible state of control aligned with current regulatory expectations.
Quality risk management and supplier oversight are further explored through sessions aligned with the PDA/ANSI Standard 03‑2025, highlighting a holistic approach to aseptic manufacturing risk management. Case‑based discussions will demonstrate how organizations are evolving supplier quality from transactional oversight to strategic partnership, strengthening resilience across increasingly complex global manufacturing networks.
The second day of the conference places strong emphasis on microbial and environmental control, featuring updates on USP’s environmental monitoring framework, regulatory thinking on alternative and rapid microbiological methods, and the integration of automation and sustainability in endotoxin and microbial testing. Additional case studies will address facultative anaerobe contamination, advanced investigation techniques, and data‑driven approaches to microbial control in biological processes.
High‑purity water systems will also be examined in depth, with sessions covering Water for Injection (WFI) by reverse osmosis and risk‑based, data‑driven microbial control strategies. Real‑world examples will illustrate how validated online microbial analyzers and integrated data analysis can support proactive decision‑making, operational efficiency, and regulatory confidence.
Conference Chair Andy Hopkins emphasized the significance of this year’s high-caliber speakers, stating: “This year's PDA Pharmaceutical Manufacturing & Ǫuality Conference brings together some of the most respected scientific and regulatory voices in our field—experts whose work has helped define modern manufacturing and quality standards. I’m proud to chair such a distinguished group of speakers, and I encourage every professional committed to advancing pharmaceutical excellence to join us.”
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