Life Sciences - Pharmaceutical

10.00am

[Keynote] Challenging Asia's medicinal supply chain: A focus on non-tariff barrier in plasma collection and manufacture of plasma derivatives

Asia is dependent on Europe and the USA with regard to its plasma collection and the manufacture of plasma derivatives. The keynote will challenge the influence of non-tariff barriers that cause this dependency.

Speaker:

Svenja Barckhausen, Founder & CEO, Blood Plasma Strategy Experts UG, Germany

10.25am

Accelerating Innovation: Evolving Regulatory and Market Access Pathways in APAC 

Regulatory agencies are evolving to adapt to the rapidly changing landscape of drug development, aiming to facilitate faster approvals of innovative therapies while maintaining safety standards.

Speaker:

Shriharsha Sarkar, Partner, L.E.K Consulting, Singapore

10.45am

Nurturing innovation within Pharma Manufacturing in Singapore

Pharma manufacturing in Singapore has grown rapidly over the past two decades and is now a key contributor to the economy. The talk will cover the evolution of this industry and the role innovation has played in establishing Singapore as a global centre of manufacturing excellence. The Pharma Innovation Programme Singapore (PIPS) is a public private partnership set up in 2019 with core members from the pharma industry and a pool of extended members who support it. Public funds and industry contributions are channelled to support projects at research institutes and institutes of higher learning in Singapore to address the problems identified by industry partners. Experience from PIPS will be shared.

Speaker:

Dr. Prasad Kanneganti, Programme Director, Pharma Innovation Programme Singapore (PIPS),  A*STAR - Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI), Singapore

11.05am

Digitalisation and Automation as Key Drivers for Operational Efficiency

When considering digital transformation as part of any Biopharma 4.0 initiatives, digitalization and automation are always found to be among the top areas of interests for driving operational efficiency. However, a more thorough analysis of your current personnels, capabilities, technologies and overall readiness should be done as part of developing a digital strategy and roadmap. Process Analytical Technologies, Connectivity, and Data Management should be among the top five areas of importance. This presentation will outline the key considerations for digital transformation and the main drivers for operational efficiency.  

Speaker:

Minh Tran, Global Head of Bio4C Commercial, Merck, Singapore

11.30am

Embracing Innovation in MES for Digital Transformation: Key Dos and Don’ts for Effective Execution

In today’s pharma manufacturing landscape, digital transformation is essential, with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) at its core. MES optimizes operations, ensures compliance, and boosts efficiency, yet successful implementation requires careful planning. This session offers insights and practical lessons from real-world MES projects, covering key steps and challenges such as enterprise integration, managing data silos, and navigating organizational change. Attendees will gain proven strategies to streamline MES transitions, fostering sustained innovation and growth in the digital age.

Speaker:

Rajesh Vedak, President, Körber Pharma India, India

11.50am

[Panel Discussion] Opportunities & Hurdles to Achieve Operational Efficiency in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing in Southeast Asia

Traditional batch manufacturing processes are being replaced with continuous manufacturing systems, Modular Platforms, Single-Use Technologies, Process Analytical Technology, and Advanced Process Modelling, which require significant investments to enable faster scale-up, reduced cycle times, enhanced process control, and increased flexibility to market changes.

Moderator:

Jan Mach, Managing Director, Inosolve Group, Germany

Panelists: 

1. Svenja Barckhausen, Founder & CEO, Blood Plasma Strategy Experts UG, Germany 

2. Minh Tran, Global Head of Bio4C Commercial, Merck, Singapore

3. Dr. Prasad Kanneganti, Programme Director, Pharma Innovation Programme Singapore (PIPS), A*STAR - Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI), Singapore

4. Teerapong Cheepchol, President Asia, Körber Pharma Software

Life Sciences - Biotechnology  

2.00pm 

[Keynote] How BioTech addresses Global Health Challenges

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of biotechnology in addressing global health crises. It has accelerated vaccine development processes and highlighted the need for rapid response platforms and flexible manufacturing capabilities.

Speaker:

Dr. Sebastian Maurer-Stroh, Executive Director, Bioinformatics Institute (BII), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore

2.25pm

Nature Identical Ingredients - with Biotech Process Innovations

Recent progress in biotechnology along with advances in precision fermentation technology has made it posisible to produce nature identical products.  This development has enormous potential across many industries in reducing carbon footprint and secure local and global supply chain issues.

Speaker:

Rajesh Krishnamurthy, Chief Executive Officer, Laurus Bio

2.50pm 

Accelerating Alternative Proteins Production with AI Bioprocess Optimisation Software for Scalable and Sustainable Bioprocessing

Professionals and organisations in the alternative protein and biotechnology sectors looking to improve their RD efficiency and scalability. Industry experts interested in understanding how AI can be applied to optimise bioprocessing and reduce development costs. Stakeholders and investors seeking insights into cutting edge technologies that enhance sustainable and cost-effective production processes.

Speaker:

Dr. Victoria Outram, Bioprocess Engineering Lead, New Wave Biotech, UK

3.15pm

The Power of Biotechnology

Part 1: Biotech and Food Tech Innovation made in Singapore

The Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI) brings together end-to-end research capabilities encompassing biotechnology, nutrition, food process engineering and cutting-edge analytics under one roof. We are strongly supporting the Singapore Food Story (https://www.sfa.gov.sg/food-farming/sgfoodstory/our-singapore-food-story) with our “Alternative Protein Production Platform”. As a powerful SIFBI Synbio example, the terpene platform will be introduced.

Importantly, Singapore is closing the ecosystem gap for biotech process development and food prototyping via the Food Tech Innovation Center (FTIC) which is operated by Nurasa (https://nurasa.com/), a fully-owned Temasek subsidiary, SIFBI and other players. As such, the FTIC will be introduced within this talk as a dedicated player to accelerate the commercialisation of sustainable food companies via innovations from bench to pilot-scale.  

Part 2: Chemistry and Biology Connected – The Development of BASF’s Insecticide InscalisTM 

BASF’s InscalisTM is a novel insecticide active ingredient which was enabled by connecting state-of-the-art tools from biology and chemistry.  Deep understanding of the influence on the process parameters for all three steps (fermentation, downstream processing, and chemistry) was fundamental to yield a robust, safe, and economically viable process. The R&D process was successfully scaled up to commercial production for market launch in 2018. 

Speaker :

Dr. Melanie Weingarten, Director Biotransformation at Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore

3.40pm 

[Panel Discussion] The potentials for BioTech applications in Southeast Asia

Explore the vast potential for biotech applications in Southeast Asia, focusing on the region’s role in driving innovation and development. Industry experts will discuss key opportunities, challenges, and collaborations that could position Southeast Asia as a leader in biotechnology. How can the region shape the future of biotech in areas such as healthcare, agriculture, and sustainability.

Moderator:

Dr. Milind Sabnis, Regional Leader, Consulting, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Asia Pacific, Frost & Sullivan

Panelists: 

1. Rajesh Krishnamurthy, CEO, Laurus Bio

2. Dr Melanie Weingarten, Director Biotransformation at Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation,  Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore

3. Dr. Victoria Outram, Bioprocess Engineering Lead, New Wave Biotech, UK 

5.00pm 

End of Day 2 Programme