David Zermeno-Perez, is a Business Development Manager at Ashland, specialising in bioresorbable polymers. With a doctorate in Biomedical Sciences from UCD, Ireland, he combines deep scientific expertise with strategic acumen to drive innovation in life sciences. David leads initiatives that translate advanced biomaterials into commercial solutions improving patient outcomes.

Ashland’s bioresorbable polymers platform is a scalable and customisable technology with potential applications including long-acting injectables, advanced drug delivery for mRNA therapeutics, regenerative medicine, medical devices, and dermal fillers.

CCO

Andreas Niens leads Kinematica, advancing Swiss-engineered homogenizing solutions across pharma, biotech, cosmetics, and food sectors. With a background in international business and scale-up coaching, Andreas focuses on enabling precision in microsphere formulation through innovation, partnership, and performance — helping customers bridge lab-scale discovery to full-scale GMP production.

Kinematica provides advanced homogenizing solutions essential for creating uniform microspheres in complex pharmaceutical formulations and injectables, ensuring precise particle size control, reproducibility, and stability in drug delivery systems.

Dr. Mirco Wegener is a chemical engineer from the Technical University of Berlin. After working for CSIRO Australia and Sulzer Chemtech Switzerland, he joined SOPAT, a leading provider of inline measuring devices with unique automated image analysis software, in 2016, where he now heads the Sales and Marketing department.

SOPAT develops and sells photo-optical inline measurement technology that quantitatively analyzes particle size distribution in multi-phase systems. Its software delivers real-time particle characterisation for improved process monitoring and optimisation.

David has spent the last 25 years working in the field of microencapsulation across a range of different industries. Currently the Technical Manager at Micropore, David assists clients to use their patented membrane emulsification equipment, to improve control of Microsphere particle size distributions and final product quality.

Micropore Technologies utilise their patented membrane technology to effortlessly produce emulsions and microparticles with precisely controlled particle size distributions, from R&D to full manufacturing scale.

Sylvain Querol has been supporting global pharmaceutical drug manufacturers with GMP advice for over 11 years. His expertise centres around the common manufacturing challenges associated with the aseptic production and processing of polymeric microparticle-based drugs.

Powder Systems Limited (PSL) designs and engineers advanced technology to support process development. We help clients and partners address challenging manufacturing processes by providing fit-for-purpose solutions from our Microsphere Processing, Filtration and Drying ranges.

Business Development Director Fill/Finish

Philippe Sporen has been Business Development Director, Fill/Finish at ROMACO since 2024. With over 20 years’ experience in sales and product management of injectable packaging machinery, he understands the pharmaceutical industry’s technical and commercial needs. A French native, Philippe focuses on driving growth and delivering customer-centric solutions globally.

Romaco Group delivers advanced processing and packaging technologies for pharmaceutical production. Their integrated solutions ensure precise, safe, and efficient primary filling and secondary packaging of powders, liquids, and microspheres.

Dr. Farshad Ramazani is a Senior Expert in Science & Technology at Novartis pharmaceutical company, Basel, Switzerland. He has over a decade of experience in the R&D of parenteral drug delivery systems, with a particular focus on long-acting injectable formulations. Dr. Ramazani has played a pivotal role in developing several long-acting injectable systems that are currently in different clinical trials phases.

Dr. Ramazani is actively engaged in academic work. He serves as a guest editor for the Journal of Controlled Release, focusing on long acting injectables, and teaches a PHD course on the same topic at the University of Geneva, reflecting his commitment to scientific education and mentorship. In 2021 and 2023 he was awarded TRD Culture Award for process development and GMP manufacture of a complex formulation in addition to the innovation award of the year 2016 at Novartis. In 2015 he completed his PhD in polymeric micro and nanoparticles for local drug delivery from Utrecht University.

Dr. Richey is an expert on microparticle technology. She has decades of industry experience designing and developing controlled release systems from initial feasibility projects to scaled-up late-stage clinical assets. She has been with Oakwood since 2001 and has designed and prepared dozens of successful sustained release injectable formulations in her career. Dr. Richey has a Masters from Case Western Reserve University and a Ph.D from the University of Akron. Her post-doc work was completed at Kyoto University in Japan.

Global CDMO providing end-to-end services for long-acting injectable (LAI) development. Offer R&D capabilities through use of our Chroniject™ technology and operate FDA-approved aseptic GMP facility for clinical & commercial manufacturing.

Dr. Ravi Kiran Kaja has over 20 years of experience in Pharmaceutical Analytical Research, including pharmaceutical development, regulatory science, and compendial standards. His expertise spans Complex Formulation Characterization, Extractable & Leachable studies, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, and Science and Technology as well as Technology Transfer. He believes that collaboration and knowledge sharing are key to advancing the industry.

U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) is an independent, scientific non-profit organisation focused on building trust in the supply of safe, quality medicines. They work to strengthen the global supply chain so that the medicines people rely on for health are available when needed and work as expected.

Colin Dalton holds a masters in Physics from Trinity College Dublin. He has 15 years field and R&D experience in vision based process instrumentation, for a wide range of industries including Pharmaceutical, Biotech, Chemical, Oil and Gas, Food and Mining.

Canty is a global leader in specialised process control equipment for pharmaceuticals and biotech. Products include vision-based particle analysis, (lab and inline), vessel lighting, sight glasses, process cameras, ensuring precise process monitoring and control.