The top pharmaceutical trade shows bring together the people and tools that drive drug development forward. These events are key spaces for learning, building partnerships, and seeing the newest machines in action. From packaging and production to biotech, they offer a clear view of where the industry is headed.
Trade Name | Date of Establishment | Visitors |
CPHI Worldwide | 1990 | ≈ 45,000 |
BIO International Convention | 1993 | ≈ 19,500 |
INTERPHEX | 1979 | ≈ 9, 000 |
Pharmapack Europe | 1997 | ≈ 6, 000 |
Pharmtech & Ingredients | 1999 | ≈ 10, 000 |
FCE Pharma | 1996 | ≈ 21, 575 |
Expopharm | 1949 | ≈ 25, 000 |
DIA Global Annual Meeting | 1964 | ≈ 5, 000 |
AAPS PharmSci 360 | 1986 | ≈ 4, 100 |
BioJapan | 1986 | ≈ 15, 800 |
CPHI Worldwide
Year Founded: 1990
Who You’ll Connect With
- Global pharmaceutical ingredient suppliers, including active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), excipients, fine chemicals, and natural extracts
- Finished dosage formulation experts, encompassing formulation scientists and finished-product manufacturers
- Machinery and equipment providers specializing in pharmaceutical production, process development, and automation
- Packaging and drug-delivery system innovators offering primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging solutions
- Contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) and contract research organizations (CROs)
- Bioproduction and biotechnology companies working on biologics, cell & gene therapies, and bioprocessing
- Regulatory, compliance, and quality-assurance service firms
- Outsourcing partners across logistics, supply-chain management, and pharmaceutical distribution
CPHI Worldwide is a big show in London for drug companies. It began in 1990 as a very small meeting in Germany. Only 16 companies and 250 people were there. They all wanted to talk about medicine ingredients.
Today, it is the biggest medicine show in the world. Over 45,000 people from the drug industry come. More than 2,500 companies from 170 countries set up booths. It is a good way to meet new business partners and learn about new trends.
The show focuses on the machines used to make drugs. It even has six other events happening at the same time. One is for machines, and another is for packaging. This means you can find everything you need all in one place.
You can also listen to over 100 talks by experts. They talk about what is next for the drug industry. There are special areas for certain tools, like tablet presses. You can also see an Innovation Gallery with brand new tech.
The show is great if you are looking for new tools. You can talk directly to the people who make the machines. This helps you find the right answers for your company’s problems.
BIO International Convention
Year Founded: 1993
Who You’ll Connect With
- Biotechnology and life-sciences leaders from startups, mid-sized firms, and global pharma corporations
- Investors and venture-capitalists focusing on next-generation biotherapeutics, digital health, and AI in drug discovery
- Government agencies, regulators, and policy-makers shaping global healthcare frameworks
- Service providers, including contract manufacturing, clinical-trial management, and regulatory affairs consultants
- Academic and research institutions driving basic science, translational research, and cell & gene therapy innovation
- Patient-advocacy groups and non-profit organizations engaging in access and affordability initiatives
- Business-development professionals facilitating partnerships, licensing deals, and M&A transactions
The BIO International Convention is in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the world’s largest show for biotechnology. Biotech uses living cells to make things like medicine. The group BIO started the event in 1993.
This big show brings together over 20,000 leaders from the biotech world. They come from more than 70 countries. There are over 180 classes and talks on topics like using AI in health.
The event shows off the special tools used in biotech. You can find systems for growing cells or making vaccines. Companies bring their newest and most advanced machines to the show.
The show floor is full of companies showing their tools. You can see things like single-use bioreactors. Some machines check a product’s quality as it’s being made.
You can also go to talks about how to make biotech products better. Experts talk about how to grow a small process into a big one. They also discuss how to follow all the government rules for safety.
One of the most famous parts of the show is the one-on-one meetings. The event holds a world record for how many meetings happen. This helps small companies find bigger partners to help them grow.
INTERPHEX
Year Founded: 1979
Who You’ll Connect With
- Process, chemical, mechanical, and pharmaceutical engineers designing and optimizing manufacturing workflows
- C-level executives and senior management driving capital investment and technology adoption
- Procurement, purchasing, and outsourcing professionals sourcing equipment and services
- Technicians and operations staff implementing clean-room systems, contamination control, and facility design
- Exhibitors offering bioprocess equipment systems, lab instrumentation, and single-use technologies
- Contract packaging and inspection & testing service providers
- Compliance, validation, and environmental-health-safety specialists ensuring FDA and global regulatory adherence
INTERPHEX is a top show for drug and biotech making in North America. It happens in New York City and started over 40 years ago, in 1979. The event has a big show floor with machines and also expert talks.
Each year, more than 9,000 people and 500 companies come to the show. It is a main hub for the U.S. drug industry. You can see people from every part of the business there.
The main point of the show is the equipment used to make drugs. The show floor has the latest machines from top companies. You can find tools that press tablets, fill capsules, and package medicines.
The show has special zones for different kinds of tech. There are areas for processing tools, packaging machines, and lab gear. Big companies come to show off their latest ideas and new machines.
INTERPHEX also has many classes you can join. There are over 90 talks on topics like AI or quality control. A special Learning Lab lets you use headsets to listen to talks so you can focus better.
Many kinds of people go to this show, like engineers and project managers. It is a great place to meet American drug companies. These companies are looking for new tools to improve how they make medicine.
Pharmapack Europe
Year Founded: 1997
Who You’ll Connect With
- Pharmaceutical packaging engineers and designers focused on primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging innovations
- Drug-delivery device developers working on autoinjectors, inhalers, transdermal patches, and nasal systems
- Materials-science experts in plastics, polymers, and advanced sustainable packaging substrates
- Contract packagers, labelers, and serialization solution providers addressing track-and-trace requirements
- Regulatory affairs specialists ensuring compliance with EU packaging and device regulations
- Procurement and supply-chain managers sourcing packaging materials and finished-device assembly services
- Start-ups and technology scouts showcasing disruptive packaging and containment concepts
Pharmapack Europe is a major show in Paris, France. It is about how drugs are packaged. The show started in 1997. It was small at first, but now over 5,000 people and 370 companies attend.
This event is a center for new ideas in drug packaging. It covers everything from the bottle that holds the pills to the box it ships in. You can also learn about devices that deliver drugs, like inhalers.
You can see a lot of packaging machines at the show. Some machines make blister packs or fill bottles. Companies show their newest automatic machines and tools for checking quality.
At Pharmapack, you can find packaging machines of all sizes. There are small tools for labs and big, fast machines for factories. The show also has smart packaging with chips that can be tracked.
The event gives awards for the best new ideas in packaging. This points out new tools and materials that are changing the industry. Experts also give talks about new rules and common problems in packaging.
This show is a key meeting place for drug makers and their suppliers. If you work with packaging machines, it’s a great way to meet European drug companies. You can see the latest tech and find new business partners.
Pharmtech & Ingredients
Year Founded: 1999
Who You’ll Connect With
- Equipment manufacturers offering turnkey production lines, containment solutions, and cleanrooms
- Raw-material and ingredient suppliers, from APIs to nutraceuticals and cosmetic-grade actives
- Technology providers in formulation, granulation, pelletizing, and continuous-processing methodologies
- Laboratory-instrument and analytical-reagent companies supporting R&D and QC-release testing
- Packaging-machinery and materials vendors for primary and secondary packaging applications
- Logistics and cold-chain service providers ensuring product integrity across EAEU markets
- Engineering and turnkey-project firms delivering end-to-end pharma-facility solutions
Pharmtech & Ingredients is a big show in Moscow, Russia. It is for companies that make the machines and materials to produce drugs. It’s the most important meeting for the drug industry in Russia and nearby countries.
The show has over 472 companies from 14 countries. They show all kinds of tools for making medicine. The event gives visitors a look at a drug market that is growing very fast.
This show focuses a lot on the machines used to make drugs. You can find a huge range of production and packing machines. Companies show tools for making tablets, filling capsules, and more.
You can see machines made just for the Russian market. There are also live demos of the tools. This lets you see how a machine works before you think about buying it.
The show brings in key people from big drug companies. Many of the visitors are there to buy things. This means machine suppliers can connect with people ready to make deals.
There is also a large program of expert talks. People from Russia and other countries share what they know. They talk about new tech and how to follow the rules. This event is the best way for companies to enter the Russian market.
FCE Pharma
Year Founded: 1996
Who You’ll Connect With
- Latin America’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors.
- Suppliers of industrial automation, contamination-control, and quality-assurance systems.
- Packaging and drug-delivery device innovators serving the Brazilian market.
- Raw-material and excipient distributors specializing in Latin American regulations.
- Logistics, transportation, and cold-chain companies ensuring on-time delivery.
- Laboratory and analytical-equipment vendors supporting process development and QC.
- Regulatory-affairs experts navigating ANVISA and Mercosur requirements.
FCE Pharma is the biggest drug industry show in Latin America. It is held in São Paulo, Brazil. For almost 30 years, it has been the main event for drug tech in the area.
The show gets over 21,000 visitors and has over 600 brands. It is a key place for people in the industry to do business. People from all over Latin America come to see new ideas.
This show is all about the machines used in making drugs. It shows tools for every step of the process. The machines are often made for the needs of drug makers in Latin America.
You can find modern machines here, like tablet presses and packing tools. Big global companies and local makers both show their products. This gives you a good mix of choices.
The show covers all the parts of making drugs. It focuses on the making process and how to ship the drugs. You can see machines for every step, from start to finish.
FCE Pharma is a great place to meet people. Workers can share ideas and find new partners. For anyone working with these kinds of machines, this show is the best way to reach the Latin American market.
Expopharm
Year Founded: 1949
Who You’ll Connect With
- Community pharmacists, pharmacy-owners, and PTAs/PTKs managing retail-pharmacy operations
- Pharmaceutical wholesalers and institutional buyers sourcing OTC and prescription-only products
- Healthcare-service providers, including home-care and long-term-care organizations
- Software and digital-health vendors offering pharmacy-management and e-prescribing solutions
- Drug-storage, dispensing, and automation-equipment suppliers for retail and hospital pharmacies
- Pharmacy-umbrella associations, government stakeholders, and professional-development bodies
- Start-ups and innovators in personalized medicine, telepharmacy, and digital-patient engagement platforms
Expopharm is Europe’s biggest trade fair for pharmacies. It happens in Germany, in either Düsseldorf or Munich. It started in 1949 and has been the main meeting for European pharmacies for over 75 years.
The show gets around 24,000 visitors and has 500 companies from over 28 countries. It is where pharmacy owners and workers meet to talk about the future. It is the most important industry meeting in Europe.
This show is all about the tools and tech that pharmacies use. It shows ways to help pharmacies run better. You can see things like robots that hand out medicine and software that manages prescriptions.
Expopharm covers all kinds of gear made for pharmacies. This includes automatic systems that fill pill bottles. You can also find software to run the pharmacy and new health tech.
The event has a big program of talks. There are over 200 talks from more than 100 speakers. They talk about what is new in running a pharmacy.
This show is a great place for companies to show their new products to pharmacies. For companies that make pharmacy tools, this show lets them meet their main customers. It is the best place to reach the European pharmacy market.
DIA Global Annual Meeting
Year Founded: 1964
Who You’ll Connect With
- Regulatory leaders from global authorities (FDA, EMA, MHRA, PMDA)
• Drug-development executives and program heads spanning preclinical, clinical, and regulatory functions
• Clinical-operations specialists, including trial-management and pharmacovigilance professionals
• R&D scientists and technology innovators focusing on novel modalities (cell & gene therapy, biologics, biomarkers)
• Patient-advocacy representatives and nonprofit organizations driving patient-centric development
• Government policymakers shaping healthcare policy and reimbursement frameworks
• Academic researchers translating breakthrough science into clinical applications
• Quality-assurance, compliance, and data-governance experts ensuring global standards adherence
• Business-development and licensing professionals pursuing partnerships, M&A, and out-licensing deals
• Health-economics and market-access strategists influencing product launch and reimbursement strategies
The DIA Global Annual Meeting happens in Washington, D.C. A group called the Drug Information Association (DIA) runs the show. It is a big event for people in the drug and health science fields. It brings together company leaders, government workers, teachers, and new thinkers from all over.
The goal of the meeting is to talk about the future of health. People there share ideas on how to fix problems in the drug industry. You can speak with people from the FDA. The FDA is the group that makes the rules for medicines in the U.S.
A main part of the event is the big show floor. It is filled with new tools and machines for making medicine. Companies display their latest tech for making drugs, checking quality, and handling data. You will see a lot about how computers, like AI, are making this work better.
The schedule has many talks and classes on big topics. You can learn about new ways to make drugs and how to focus more on patients. The event is also a great place to meet people. It helps sellers of new tools connect with bosses from top drug companies.
AAPS PharmSci 360
Year Founded: 1986
Who You’ll Connect With
- Pharmaceutical scientists across discovery and translational research, including medicinal-chemistry and target-validation experts
• Bioanalytical and clinical-pharmacology specialists developing and validating assays for PK/PD, biomarker, and immunogenicity studies
• Manufacturing and bioprocessing engineers optimizing API synthesis, formulation scale-up, and continuous-processing workflows
• Formulation and drug-delivery scientists focused on novel excipient systems, controlled-release platforms, and advanced delivery devices
• Poster authors and rapid-fire presenters sharing cutting-edge research in small molecules, biologics, and advanced therapies
• Exhibitors showcasing CDMO services, single-use bioprocess technologies, PAT solutions, and digital manufacturing tools
• Career-development mentors, industry-career coaches, and graduate-student networking volunteers
• Connect 360 AI-driven networking participants scheduling one-on-one meetings with peers and potential collaborators
• Solution-Center partners offering hands-on demonstrations of lab instrumentation, analytics, and software platforms
• Regulatory-affairs and quality-systems consultants advising on IND/NDA strategies, ICH-compliance, and GMP/FDA requirements
AAPS PharmSci 360 is an event for scientists who create new medicines. It’s run by the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. The event happens in a different big U.S. city each year. It focuses on how drugs are made and the tools used to make them.
The show is split into different science topics. These topics cover new ideas and challenges in the world of medicine. You can find talks on new production methods, like 3D printing. The show floor has the latest tools, from lab machines to systems that check for quality.
The event looks at new ways to get medicine into your body. This includes tiny particles or devices that release a drug slowly over time. You can go to classes about FDA rules and learn how to follow them. It’s a great chance to meet other scientists and experts.
BioJapan
Year Founded: 1986
Who You’ll Connect With
- Biotech and pharmaceutical company representatives spanning small molecules, biologics, cell & gene therapies, and regenerative medicine
• Academic and government R&D leaders seeking industry partnerships for translational research and clinical development
• CMOs and CROs offering contract development, manufacturing, analytics, and regulatory-submission support
• Investors, venture-capitalists, and licensing scouts targeting Asia-Pacific innovation and cross-border alliances
• Digital-health and bioinformatics firms integrating AI, omics, and high-throughput screening into drug discovery workflows
• Device-and-delivery innovators specializing in formulations, prefilled syringes, autoinjectors, and inhalation systems
• Business-development executives leveraging BioJapan’s partnering system to arrange 1:1 meetings with prospective collaborators
• Government-trade bodies and regional-economic organizations promoting biotech export, IP protection, and regulatory harmonization
• Service-providers in clinical-trial management, regulatory consulting, and market-access tailored to Asian healthcare markets
• Startup founders and technology scouts showcasing novel platforms at the Belgian, European, and national pavilions
BioJapan is a trade show held in Tokyo, Japan. It is Asia’s top event for the biotech and drug-making fields. It is one of the oldest and biggest biotech shows in the world. Its main goal is to help turn research ideas into real products that help people.
The event brings together all kinds of different people. There are workers from big drug companies. There are also people from small biotech firms and research schools.
BioJapan has three main parts. It has a large hall with many displays. It has a series of talks and classes. It also has a special system for setting up meetings.
This system helps experts schedule private meetings with each other. It’s a great way to make business deals. It’s a very popular part of the show.
The show floor is where you see the newest tools for making medicine. Companies display the latest machines, including tools for making new gene and cell drugs. The business matching program is a big reason people go, as it helps companies from other countries get into the market in Asia.
Conclusion
These leading trade shows offer more than exhibits—they connect experts shaping the future of pharma. Each event brings hands-on access to the latest equipment, ideas, and partnerships. Attending the right show can give companies a real edge in a fast-moving industry.