Introduction
One of the great parts of living in Boston is the access to so many local conferences each year. BPI East is always a highlight, offering a chance to step back from daily demands and look at where the biopharma industry is heading. The event brings together leaders across science, operations, and business, all focused on the challenge of bringing therapies to patients faster while maintaining the highest standards of quality.
As I look ahead to BPI East 2025, three themes stand out. I am particularly interested in hearing more about digital transformation in process analytics, the move toward chemically defined media in upstream processing, and the future of tangential flow filtration for continuous manufacturing.
1. Automation in Process Analytics
In-process testing has always been critical, but it is still very manual. Automation and digital transformation could be the key to unlocking faster and more consistent results. Robotic automation and advanced data tools are making it possible to analyze results in real time and reduce delays that slow down decision making.
What excites me most is how these tools can help us keep up with increasingly complex drug modalities. I am looking forward to hearing case studies on how companies are measuring success, not just in terms of efficiency, but also in speed, scalability, and productivity.
2. Consistency in Upstream Processing
Another important area is the continued shift to chemically defined media in upstream processes. Moving away from protein hydrolysates is about more than raw materials. It is about achieving consistency, ensuring supply chain reliability, and supporting scalability.
I am especially interested in how teams are incorporating new media feeds earlier in development, which can shorten timelines and improve reliability as projects move to larger scale. It will also be valuable to hear how companies are balancing the need for flexible platforms with the realities of raw material variability, while still delivering high performance across multiple programs.
3. Tangential Flow Filtration for Continuous Manufacturing
Finally, I am looking forward to the conversations around tangential flow filtration and its role in continuous manufacturing. Supporting high cell concentrations in large bioreactors requires filtration systems that can handle throughput, product quality, and operational demands without compromising performance.
What is most interesting is that some of the latest data shows counterintuitive results. In certain cases, high flux filtration is actually improving capacity and reducing operational demands. This opens the door to new ways of thinking about efficiency and facility design. I am also eager to hear more about advances in filter regeneration during processing, which could allow continuous operations to run more smoothly and with fewer interruptions.
Looking Ahead
BPI East continues to be a place where ideas move from theory to practice. This year, the discussions on automation, upstream reliability, and continuous manufacturing highlight how the industry is pushing toward smarter, faster, and more resilient processes.
I am excited to hear from experts leading these efforts and to connect with peers who share the same commitment to advancing biologics manufacturing.
Contact GBI to learn more about our capabilities and your CMC program!
Nick has a track record of developing partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology executives to support the biologic CMC activities required to support their clinical trials and hit development milestones. With a background as a bench scientist specializing in manufacturing scale-ups, Nick brings a unique skillset that bridges the business and technical communications between GBI’s team and external stakeholders. Nick’s recent experience involved business development roles for Tokyo Chemical Industry and Cytovance Biologics. He has a B.S. in chemistry and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.
