Author Archives: S Anne Montgomery

May 2023: From the Editor

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While editing and proofreading an issue, we often see statements that suggest other intriguing angles to explore. But deadlines loom, and our notes to follow up on those ideas can get lost in the shuffle. And because we pursue a good portion of our manuscripts (cue image of editor chasing after conference speakers in crowded hallways), those notes have value. Seemingly casual statements in talks and manuscripts can help us focus our acquisition efforts. Working through those mental “loops,” adding…

April 2023: From the Editor

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The biopharmaceutical industry is continually reinventing itself. It evolved from a science-driven entrepreneurial approach and has worked over five decades to weave its network of business, regulatory, and process-development modes somewhat after the fact. The origin of so many bioprocesses in academic research laboratories prompted some of us in the editorial world to propose article series on “biobusiness 101 for scientists” back even in the early 1990s. Much of the industry’s progress toward its current form depended on adapting processes…

April 20, 2023

March 2023: From the Editor

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The first event that we editors attend each year usually is the annual WCBP (Well-Characterized Biopharmaceutical Products) conference hosted by CASSS, formerly the California Separations Science Society. Held in Washington, DC, each January, the meeting is prefaced by a day-long offering of two CMC Strategy Forums. The combined event brings together scientists and regulators from around the world to explore current issues in biopharmaceutical development from a chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) perspective. Presentations often include updates and progress reports…

March 21, 2023

January-February 2023: From the Editor

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The “happy new year” routines are pretty much over with by now, with their many variations on “shhh, don’t scare the new year away” and “2023 has got to be an improvement” among other expressions of “good riddance to 2022” and our collective anxiety over ongoing global crises. Meanwhile, as it has done since its inception, the biopharmaceutical industry continues adapting to survive and thrive as it celebrates considerable milestones. BPI devoted much of 2022 to retrospective analyses of progress…

February 9, 2023

November-December 2022: From the Editors

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With this issue, we bid a reluctant farewell to our managing editor as she retires. Cheryl and I have known her and appreciated her friendship for 26 years. Her accumulated knowledge of cell and gene therapy development and the ease with which she can interpret the nuances of automation, digitalization, and equations will be sorely missed. To honor her time with us, I asked her to share her perspectives below. Maribel — it has been a thorough joy to work…

December 12, 2022

October 2022: From the Editor

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Happy autumn! I am writing this a few days before the editors head to Biotech Week Boston and the BPI conference. This is my first travel since January of 2020, and I am eager to see everyone again. As usual, the fall months coincide with our finalizing next year’s editorial calendar. I will be able to share those details (and other BPI news) with you in our next issue. One major project that came our way a few months ago…

October 20, 2022

20th Anniversary Issue: From the Editors

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Founded in the middle of 2002, BPI published its first issue in January of 2003. Our 20th-anniversary issue thus takes the form of a state-of-the-early-21st-century industry report. Assembling this content has reinforced our appreciation of the remarkable paths that this industry has taken and continues to take — and our journey alongside it. Having worked as editors in this industry since August 1988 (Montgomery) and September 1996 (Scott), we’ve found it difficult to maintain a chronological grasp of developments —…

August 22, 2022

June 2022: From the Editor

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Although somewhat of an arbitrary practice, celebrating an anniversary milestone offers a chance for useful and productive reflections. Events of the past couple of years placed a number of projects on hold — especially some that we wanted to launch at in-person events. But finally, coming this month, we are introducing the BPI Best Places to Work in Biotech awards. In the midst of celebrating the publication’s 20-year anniversary, and given the current job market, we feel that this is…

June 24, 2022

March 2022: From the Editor

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As you receive this issue, Informa’s BPI West conference is taking place at the San Diego Convention Center on 14–17 March 2022, with live digital panel discussions the following week. People appear to be cautious but eager to get back to live-conference attendance. BPI’s senior technical editor, Cheryl Scott, will make the journey down there to represent us this year, so if you plan to be there, please take a moment to visit with her. BPI West was the first…

March 16, 2022

January/February 2022: From the Editor

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Happy 2022 to all of BPI’s loyal and supportive authors, readers, and advertisers. Despite continuing pandemic impediments, your industry continues to show remarkable flexibility and resilience. As technologies evolved to meet the demands for vaccines, tests, and treatments for COVID-19, new hybrid options have opened up opportunities for people to meet and collaborate. Given the changing fortunes of our own publishing industry, managing this hybrid, controlled-publication model (peer-review + trade/B2B content) requires some agility of our own. So it should…

February 4, 2022