DCAT Week, held again on March 23-26, 2020, in New York City, is a premier business development event for companies engaged in pharmaceutical development and manufacturing, bringing together DCAT member companies for high-level strategic meetings, networking events, and education programs. 

DCAT Week is hosted and organized by DCAT, the Drug, Chemical & Associated Technologies Association, a not-for-profit global business-development association supported by more than 500 member companies composed of innovator and generic drug manufacturers and suppliers of ingredients, development and manufacturing services, and related technologies.

Business Development
DCAT Week offers member companies the opportunity to host private meetings with customers, suppliers and potential business partners in their reserved Business Meeting Space in eight Official DCAT Week Hotels. Although those meetings are mostly pre-scheduled, DCAT Week’s activities and events offer additional opportunities for introductions, impromptu meetings and other business connections.

Networking
From impromptu meetings to lively receptions to an elegant black-tie dinner, DCAT Week offers countless opportunities for members to build their network of industry colleagues, suppliers, and customers.

The Monday Night Meet-Up is a fun, casual networking event where members can connect with colleagues, old and new.

Early Tuesday morning, the DCAT Week Run/Walk through Central Park offers participants a way to explore the park at the own pace with guides, transportation and alternate routes provided.

At the DCAT Member Company Reception on Tuesday, over 700 member representatives meet, mingle, and make new contacts before heading out to private dinners with customers, suppliers, and industry colleagues.

A perennial favorite, the DCAT Women’s Networking Breakfast, on Wednesday will feature an engaging presentation by Erica Dhawan, founder and CEO of Cotential, and author of Get Big Things Done: The Power of Connectional Intelligence, who will help participants understand the practice of using connectional intelligence as the key to collaboration success and leadership.

The final networking event of the week is the 94th DCAT Annual Dinner—a black-tie event attended by over 2,000 DCAT members and their guests. This year’s guest speaker is Matthew McConaughey an award-winning actor, producer, Minister of Culture, Moody Center, University of Texas, and philanthropist.

Industry Education
From a global market overview to on-stage executive interviews to panel discussions, DCAT Week provides in-depth analysis, insights and best practices.

The Pharma Industry Outlook program on Monday, March 23 begins with an in-depth market overview, presented by IQVIA, of the current and projected performance of the global pharmaceutical industry for both innovator and generic drugs with key data on the leading therapeutic areas and growth prospects in developed and emerging markets. The market overview will be followed by a panel discussion on the growing number of drug candidates receiving Breakthrough Therapy and Fast-Track designations from the FDA and how these accelerated approval mechanisms impact development and commercialization timelines, including manufacturing.

The Power Breakfast: Executive Insights from Industry Leaders program will feature an on-stage interview with industry executives, who will offer an inside view on what they view as the key issues impacting the current and future direction of pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical manufacturing and supply. Featured speakers include Mark Bamforth, President and CEO of Arranta Bio, a new CDMO focused on the human microbiome and former CEO and President of Brammer Bio, which was acquired by Thermo Fisher for $1.7 billion in 2019.

New for 2020 is a program focused on private equity’s expanding role in the industry. The program, Private Equity's Expanding Role in the BioPharma Industry: The Impact on the Pharma Customer – Supplier Relationship, will provide insight into the opportunities and challenges presented by growing private equity (PE)-ownership in the industry and its impact on the pharma customer–supplier relationship. This program will provide in-depth analysis of the financing levels, trends, and deal-making by PE firms into biopharma companies and CDMOs/CMOs and the implications for the industry, including on development and commercialization strategies of biopharma companies and how ownership structure influences sponsor companies’ CDMO/CMO selection and supplier relationship management. Bain & Company and William Blair and Company are among the speakers.

On Wednesday, Dual Priorities for Sourcing 2020: Navigating China's Supply Challenges + Digitally Transforming Pharma will explore two topics. Sourcing from China will examine the impact of new environmental regulation and enforcement on chemical production in China as well as how trade and other issues are affecting sourcing of raw materials, intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients from China. An expert from Johnson & Johnson will discuss the impact on supply chains and supplier risk assessment and mitigation strategies. Digital Strategies in Sourcing and Supply Management will look at disruptive digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of things, blockchain, and advanced analytics, and their potential to transform supply chains. Experts from IBM and North Carolina State University’s Supply Chain Resource Cooperative will share current and potential use in the pharma manufacturing value chain.