I just joined PDA in January as the vice president of science and technology following a long career in the pharmaceutical industry. Being mostly from the biopharmaceutical side of the house, the issue of environmental quality was always on my mind. Whether it was seed development, culture inoculation and fermentation or downstream processing, careful maintenance of environmental standards was essential in assuring that the process was in control. In fact, I view the environment as part of the product; the content of a vial is, after all, mostly air!
The PDA SciTech Summit and CleanRooms East is a natural partnership. The events are two distinct, yet perfectly complementary conference programs, and by combining these two events, PDA members will benefit from specialized tracks focusing on the use and application of new science and technologies in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries.
PDA was founded in 1946 as the not-for-profit Parenteral Drug Association by a small group of pharmaceutical manufacturers who recognized the need for an organization to disseminate technical information to manufacturers of injectable products in an industry dominated by oral solid and oral liquid products. Over the years, PDA members have played an indispensable role in the development of industry and regulatory standards for clean room and aseptic processing in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical communities. The various noteworthy contributions PDA members have made include the drafting of technical books and guidances, journal articles, science-based regulatory commentary and a host of conference presentations and training lectures.
Today, PDA is recognized as the leading international association of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical science and technology with a scope that has expanded beyond parenteral drugs. Nevertheless, with an increasing number of biopharmaceutical therapies under development, PDA’s expertise in aseptic manufacturing will only grow in importance.
PDA’s 10,500 members work very hard to fulfill the PDA mission which is to : “Advance pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical technology internationally by promoting scientifically sound and practical technical information and education for industry and regulatory agencies.”
PDA volunteers worldwide carry out this mission by bringing together pharmaceutical manufacturers, suppliers, users, academics and regulatory officials to discuss issues of mutual interest at conferences, meetings and open forums. These exchanges of technical knowledge and expertise assist the advancement of pharmaceutical science and technology in the interest of public health.
Through the development of PDA Technical Reports, Technical Bulletins and responses to regulatory initiatives, PDA and its members influence the future course of pharmaceutical products science, technology and regulations. Moreover, PDA publishes the PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, a bimonthly scientific journal covering various topics relevant to pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Overseeing PDA’s technical and scientific endeavors is the Science Advisory Board. This committee of well-qualified volunteers establishes PDA’s scientific agenda, ensuring that the Association continues to produce relevant, timely and useful reports, publications, courses and meetings.
The Science Advisory Board establishes PDA “Interest Groups,” which provide PDA members with common interests a vehicle to interact with one another, exchange information, network, and directly impact the science, technology, and regulation of bio-pharmaceutical manufacturing. Current PDA Interest Groups are active in the following areas: