October 11, 2017

The pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical community faces many challenges in our changing global environment. New technologies are required for manufacturing and control of a more diverse product portfolio; new techniques are needed for managing a global supply chain; and regular information is needed about the changing regulatory landscape.

Fortunately, there are nonprofit organizations that work through their members to educate our industry, and also work together to define and disseminate consensus guidance and best practices. Nonprofit organizations fund these activities through membership dues, publication sales, and, in large part, through registration fees from education conferences and training courses. We pride ourselves on providing neutral, high-quality and reliable information to our members and attendees.

Today, we see an increasing number of for-profit conference organizers who duplicate the content developed by nonprofit organizations, employ aggressive marketing techniques and charge high prices for that content. This siphons much needed support from nonprofit organizations such as ours.

As leaders of two global member-driven organizations, ISPE and PDA, with nearly 30,000 members between us, we value the support that the community gives us. We are committed to fulfilling our missions, to guide our members and stakeholders toward using the best science and engineering to continue to provide high-quality, safe and effective medicines to serve patients.

Furthermore, we are committed to continuing our collaborations that provide unbiased platforms for dialogue, such as in cross-industry initiatives and interassociation groups, among others, that benefit the global pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical community.