PharmTech Weekly Roundup—May 1, 2026

Welcome to PharmTech’s Weekly Roundup. I’m Susan Haigney, lead editor of PharmTech.

Industry themes seen across the industry this week include the continued integration of artificial intelligence and robotics to enhance quality and efficiency, a strengthened focus on sustainability to reduce the carbon footprint of bioprocessing and evolving regulatory pathways that prioritize data trust and international alignment. From novel drug delivery devices to lean construction methodologies, these stories highlight a sector-wide push toward smarter, more resilient operations.

In news, the FDA approved AstraZeneca’s Breztri Aeorsphere s the first and only single-inhaler triple maintenance therapy for asthma in the U.S. for patients aged 12 and older. This is the product’s second approved indication since 2020.

The use of virtual control groups instead of animals in drug development was explained by Laura Lotfi of Charles River in the first episode of PharmTech’s new Pharma Fundamentals video series. The new approach method would help to reduce the number of animals used in the development of pharmaceuticals.

David Schoneker of Black Diamond Regulatory Consulting explained how novel excipients are not approved as standalone substances but are evaluated by the FDA exclusively as part of specific drug product applications in part 2 of a multipart interview.

The unique challenges of visual inspecting prefilled syringes were addressed by Daniele Ansaldi, technical manager for Automated Inspection Machines at Antares Vision Group North America, who explained that advanced AI-native vision platforms and specialized handling technologies are now being used to overcome these unique geometric challenges.

PharmTech’s coverage of INTERPHEX 2026 continued this week with interviews with experts on topics ranging from sustainability, bioprocessing, and automation.

George Kwiecinski, CEO and co-founder of Global Key Solutions Corp, spoke with PharmTech about how manufacturers are encouraged to reassess their GMP audit strategies to address rising regulatory scrutiny regarding supplier oversight and the use of AI in documentation.

Leslie Weaver and George Hunt, IPS discussed howearly alignment of lean principles and sustainability goals in pharma construction is critical for reducing costs and absorbing schedule disruptions.

Todd Vaughn and Christa Myers of CRB explained howimplementing robotics in aseptic manufacturing improves repeatability and compliance but requires a shift toward more technically skilled operator roles.

Richard Sanderson of IPS stressed that the large engineering, procurement, and construction management model is a tool for pharmaceutical capital projects, allowing teams to overlap design and construction phases to compress overall timelines.

Bryan Poltilove discussed howadopting point-of-use cell culture media manufacturing can reduce the carbon footprint of bioprocessing by approximately two-thirds while providing logistical flexibility.

Successful smart manufacturing adoption depends on establishing foundational data trust and focusing on deep problem definition rather than just technical solutions, according to Jason Pennington and Bethany Silva of Endress+Hauser and Mel Radford of Rockwell Automation.

And finally, Stuart Tindal of Sartorius and David Chau of Thermo Fisher talked about how collaborative industry standards are driving the development of integrated multi-modal sensor models to enhance precision in continuous bioprocessing.

As we look ahead, the ability to balance technical innovation with rigorous regulatory compliance will define the next generation of pharmaceutical excellence. Staying informed on these shifts in construction, manufacturing, and drug development is essential for maintaining a competitive and compliant operation. Thank you for watching.