Editor's letter

Welcome to this special CPHI edition, and to our coverage as a proud media partner of CPHI Milan 2026.

Welcome to this special October edition, and to our insights as a proud media partner of CPHI Milan 2026.

Pharma is being pulled in every direction at once: more complex, more connected, more uncertain. Yet the industry keeps moving, and its momentum shows no sign of slowing.

In this issue, we examine the themes shaping this year's CPHI, beginning with cold-chain logistics. As biologics reach new markets, the storage, transport, monitoring and last-mile infrastructure behind them increasingly decide whether temperature-sensitive medicines reach patients reliably. It is fitting, then, that Cold Chain & Logistics is one of four new zones at this year's event.

Sustainability also takes centre stage. The inaugural CPHI Sustainability Summit brings sustainability stakeholders and pharma decision-makers together for two days, focused on practical challenges and collaborative solutions across the value chain.

Supply chain resilience remains a defining concern. Geopolitical disruption and capacity constraints are reshaping how manufacturers approach sourcing, while packaging and drug delivery evolve in step with ever more complex therapies.

We also explore new excipient approaches that could enable the next generation of oral peptide therapies, and turn to cryogenic storage, where the primary container has become integral to cell and gene therapy products, prompting a rethink of what "integrity" truly means.

Alongside AI & Tech, contamination control and labelling, these are the conversations that will define CPHI Milan 2026.

We hope this issue serves as a valuable guide to them, and we look forward to seeing you in Milan.

Background video credit: CineVI / Shutterstock.com