Focus on pharma’s Covid-19 response for BDIC

HOW Covid-19 brought the pharmaceutical sector together to “push the boundaries” will be discussed at this year’s BioDundee conference.

The BioDundee International Conference will return as a free online event on May 12.

Celebrating its 20th year, the conference highlights and promotes the life sciences and healthcare sectors in Dundee.

Among the six sessions packed with industry experts is a focus on the pharmaceutical supply chain and its response to the pandemic.

Dave Tudor, managing director of the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC), will chair the session.

He will be joined by Dr Julie Brady, business development manager for drug discovery at Dundee University; Tom Shepherd, chief executive of Captor Therapeutics; Colin MacKay, chief executive of Symbiosis Pharmaceutical Services; and John Arthur, operations director at MMIC.

They will discuss the next steps in implementing the response plan, including improved use of data and collaboration between industry, the NHS and government.

Ms Brady highlighted the importance of the session.

She said: “A successful industry co-exists with a successful supply chain, including materials and manufacturing capacity, and innovation.

“In the pharmaceutical sector the thriving industry base feeds upon innovation, often from the academic base.

“This is both in terms of new ideas for medicines and vaccines as well as improving manufacturing processes.

“This session will look at how Covid-19 has brought the pharmaceutical sector together to push the boundaries of scientific response whilst maintaining safety and public trust.”

BioDundee will be delivered by DC Thomson & Co Ltd.

People can register for the free event at biodundee.co.uk