Program - Pharma 2026 (english)

About the event Program Speaker Partner Organisation

Monday, 9 February 2026

Focus Day Technology – AI in Pharma

From molecule to market: How much efficiency and quality lies in the AI revolution?

The Focus Day explores concrete application areas of artificial intelligence across the entire pharmaceutical value chain – from molecules to healthcare delivery. The emphasis: transferable business relevance and best practices.

09:45

Registration and Networking Breakfast

10:15

Welcome

10:20

Live Editorial

Insights on current investigations and industry news from the Handelsblatt editorial team

Helena Smolak Editor for Pharmaceuticals – Handelsblatt

10:30

Keynote

Scaling Agentic AI in Pharma – From Vision to Value

Aditya Kudumala Global Life Sciences & Healthcare AI Leader – Deloitte Mehr Informationen

10:50

Panel Discussion

Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Delivery: Opportunities and Limits Between Patients, Physicians and Industry

Moderator: Sandra Groeneveld, Editor & Host of “Handelsblatt Today” – Handelsblatt

Alexander Engel Project Lead “Artificial Intelligence for Good Aging” – Federal Association of Senior Citizens’ Organisations (BAGSO) Mehr Informationen

Andreas Pollner General Manager – Moderna Germany Mehr Informationen

Dr. Alexandra Widmer Physician and Founder – docsdigtial Mehr Informationen

AI for Discovery – Molecules & Targets: How Algorithms Accelerate the Development of New Therapeutics

11:10

AI Biotech in Action: How Multimodal Data Is Shaping the Next Generation of Drug Discovery and Development

Thomas Clozel Chief Executive Officer – OWKIN – New York

11:30

Toward Pharmaceutical Superintelligence: From Speed Benchmarks to Genuine Invention

Ricardo Gaminha Pacheco Longevity and Biotechnology Strategic Partnering, BD&L Director – Insilicio Medicine, Cambridge, USA Mehr Informationen

11:50

Panel Discussion

From Superintelligence to Safe Innovation: How AI-Driven Drug Discovery Will Transform Evidence, Trials and Regulation

Moderator: Helena Smolak, Editor Pharma – Handelsblatt

Prof. Dr. Karl Broich President – Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM)

Ricardo Gaminha Pacheco Longevity and Biotechnology Strategic Partnering, BD&L Director – Insilicio Medicine, Cambridge, USA Mehr Informationen

Christiane Rothkegel, Ph.D. Regulatory Senior Program Director – Roche – Basel Mehr Informationen

12:20

Networking Break & Lunch

Smart Clinical Trials – Clinical Development: How AI Makes Trials Faster, Smaller and Smarter

02:00

Best Practices: AI Digital Twins with Foundation Models

Jean-Philippe Vert Co-Founder und CEO – Bioptimus – Paris Mehr Informationen

AI in Market Access – Pricing & Reimbursement: From Dossier to Deal – AI in Benefit Assessment

02:20

Automated Market Access: How AI Radically Accelerates the Path from Evidence to Reimbursement

Jonas Ils Co-Founder – RYVER.AI

02:40

From File to Formula: How AI Is Redefining Pricing and Market Access in Drug Launches

Daniel Moreira Co Founder – Cellbyte

03:00

Networking Break

Beyond Approval – Care Delivery, Framework Conditions & Post-Market

03:50

Panel Discussion

Research, Talent, Investment and Business Models – What Framework Does Technology Need in Germany and Europe?

Moderator: Helena Smolak, Editor Pharma – Handelsblatt

Dr. Steffen Meyer State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Finance (Germany)

Dr. Daniel Steiners CEO – Roche Pharma AG Mehr Informationen

Dr. Justus Wolff Member of the EU Focus Group on AI – Member ISPOR

04:10

Enhancing Efficiency & Quality in Medical Evidence Generation: AI in Post-Approval Studies and Communication

Dr. Monika Gratzke European Head of Medical Innovation & Digital Strategy – Daiichi Sankyo Europe Mehr Informationen

04:30

Transforming Clinical Research: Advancing into the Future with AI and Real-World Data

Dr. Benjamin Gmeiner Director Medical Data Strategy & Science – Novartis Deutschland

04:50

AI Is the Insurance for Your IHC Biomarker Trial

Felix Faber Founder & Chief Executive Officer – Mindpeak

05:10

Summary of the Day

05:30

End of “Focus Day Technology – AI in Pharma”

from 06:30

International Strategic Meet-Up (sold out)

Science, Strategy & Scale – Shaping Europe’s Pharma Transformation

(Event held in English; off-site location)

06:45

Welcome

07:00

Panel Discussion

Science, Strategy & Scale – Shaping Europe’s Pharma and Healthcare Transformation under Global Pressure

Moderator: Martin Knobbe, Member of the Editorial Board, Handelsblatt

Chantal Friebertshäuser Senior Vice President Europe, Middle-East and international tenders – Moderna

Prof. Dr. Prof. Dr. Heyo Kroemer Chair of the Executive Board – Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Dr. Marc Alexander Mahl President Pharma, Nutrition & Sustainability – Fresenius Kabi Mehr Informationen

Marc P. Philipp Partner & Managing Director – Kearney Mehr Informationen

Host International Strategic Meet Up

Tuesday, 10 February 2026

Focus Day: Industrial Competitiveness
Europe as a Business Location – Opportunities, Risks, Future Outlook

09:00

Registration

09:30

Welcome

09:40

Live Editorial

Insights on current investigations and industry news from the Handelsblatt editorial team

Britta Rybicki Editor for Health Policy – Handelsblatt

Helena Smolak Editor for Pharmaceuticals – Handelsblatt

Europe as a Pharma Location – Between Innovation Strength and Relocation Risks

09:50

Opening Commentary

Renewing Europe’s Strength: Pharma as a Strategic Industry

Han Steutel President – Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (vfa)

10:10

Political Keynote

(in final coordination)

10:30

Interview with the Handelsblatt Editorial Team

Britta Rybicki Editor for Health Policy – Handelsblatt

10:40

Tailwinds or Headwinds for a Key Industry? Market and Economic Outlook for the Pharmaceutical Sector from a Financial Perspective

Dr. Jürgen Michels Chief Economist & Head of Research – Bayrische Landesbank Mehr Informationen

11:00

Networking Break

11:30

Short Key Insight

New German Speed: Germany’s Pharma CEOs Competing for the Future

Marc P. Philipp Partner & Managing Director – Kearney Mehr Informationen

11:40

Round Table

Leave or Stay? Strategic Trade-Offs and Framework Conditions Shaping Germany’s Attractiveness as a Pharma Location

Moderator: Dr. Gerd Wirtz, Science Journalist & Expert in Future Medicine

Christiane Bardroff Chief Operating Officer (COO) – Rentschler Biopharma

Dorothee Brakmann Chief Executive Officer – Pharma Deutschland e.V. Mehr Informationen

Marc P. Philipp Partner & Managing Director – Kearney Mehr Informationen

Prof. Dr. Jens Südekum Government Advisor and Professor of International Economics – Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

12:10

Live Correspondent Links

Competing on Equal Footing? International Locations in Comparison

Martin Benninghoff China Correspondent (Shanghai) – Handelsblatt Mehr Informationen

Laurin Meyer U.S. Correspondent – Handelsblatt

12:30

Panel Discussion

Industrial Growth at the Expense of the Future? Balancing Competitiveness and a Solidarity-Based Healthcare System

Moderator: Britta Rybicki, Editor Health Policy – Handelsblatt

Thomas Ballast Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board – Techniker Krankenkasse

Frank Lucaßen Chief Executive Officer – medac Mehr Informationen

Dr. Maria Lena Weiss Member of the Health Committee & Rapporteur for the Healthcare Industry – CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group (German Bundestag) Mehr Informationen

13:00

Networking & Lunch

02:00

Impulse

The Regional Medical Affairs Perspective on AI Across the Lifecycle of Innovative Therapies

Dr. Sarah Adams, MD, eMBA Senior Country Medical Director Germany – Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Mehr Informationen

Dr. Monika Gratzke European Head of Medical Innovation & Digital Strategy – Daiichi Sankyo Europe Mehr Informationen

EU Frameworks – Pharma Package, EU HTA, EHDS & AI Regulation

02:20

Health Data in Germany and Europe: How Evidence, Data Infrastructure and AI Redefine Care

Dr. Frank Wartenberg President & GM – Germany & Austria – IQVIA Mehr Informationen

02:40

A Regulatory Turning Point for Europe? What New Frameworks mean for Data, Research, and Business Models in Europe’s Healthcare and Life Sciences Ecosystem

Moderator: Dr. Gerd Wirtz, Moderator, Expert in Future Medicine, Science Journalist and Author

Dr. Jasmina Kirchhoff Project Lead Pharma Location Germany – German Economic Institute (IW)

Dr. Marco Penske Head Market Access & Healthcare Affairs – Boehringer Ingelheim Mehr Informationen

Prof. Dr. Bernhard Wörmann Medical Director – German Society of Hematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO) Mehr Informationen

03:10

Networking Break

New Business Foundations, Supply Security & Supply Chain Resilience

03:40

Best Practice Session

Building Sustainable and Resilient European Production

Dr. Sandra Kluge Head of Communications & Health Policy – Chiesi GmbH Mehr Informationen

04:00

The Future Pharma Commercial Model: Resilience by Design

Kevin Santo Co-Head Germany – ZS

04:20

Panel Discussion

Resilience or Bottleneck? Supply Security, Location Conditions and Supply Chains in Germany and Europe

Moderator: Helena Smolak, Editor Pharma – Handelsblatt

Dr. Kai Joachimsen Chief Executive Officer – German Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry (BPI) Mehr Informationen

Kerem Inanc Chief Executive Officer – Alliance Healthcare Germany

Tim Steimle Head of Pharmaceuticals Division – Techniker Krankenkasse

Thomas Weigold Country President Sandoz Germany & CEO – Hexal

05:00

Closing Summary & Farewell

05:20

End of “Focus Day: Industrial Competitiveness”

from 06:30

Networking Dinner

Strengthen and expand your network at our central evening event.

Host

Wednesday, 11 February 2026

Focus Day: Market Access & Approval
AMNOG 2.0 – Market Approval and Pricing in Transition

09:30