7th Drug-Device Combination Products

7th Drug-Device Combination Products Summit Brings Industry Professionals Together in Berlin to Explore Integrated Drug Delivery

The 7th Drug-Device Combination Products Summit brought together professionals from across pharmaceutical and device development in Berlin on September 24–25, 2025, for two days of knowledge exchange, technical discussion and professional networking.

The summit provided a focused platform to explore the challenges of integrating drug products with their delivery systems, particularly during early development. With an emphasis on design, regulatory compliance, safety and sustainability, the programme examined approaches to advancing reliable, patient-focused combination products.

Digital health, connected devices and wearable injectors formed part of the wider discussion around how delivery technologies can support evolving therapeutic requirements and patient needs.

Two Days of Expertise and Practical Industry Exchange

The programme addressed key considerations across the combination product development lifecycle, including:

• Integrating Quality by Design (QbD) principles with device design controls

• Establishing device specifications early in development

• Assessing material compatibility and product safety

• Navigating EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) requirements and global regulatory expectations

• Implementing robust quality management systems

• Defining essential performance criteria and conducting design verification

• Applying risk management strategies throughout development

• Exploring sustainability, wearable injectors and connected delivery systems

These topics connected technical development decisions with the broader requirements of product quality, regulatory compliance and patient use.

Particular attention was given to early alignment between pharmaceutical and device development teams. Defining specifications, evaluating compatibility and understanding performance requirements at an early stage were central to the programme’s focus on reducing development risks.

Connecting Drug and Device Development

A central theme of the Berlin edition was the need to develop the medicine and its delivery mechanism as an integrated system.

The programme explored the relationship between formulation requirements, material selection, device functionality and design verification. It also addressed how cross-functional collaboration can support more informed decisions and help teams manage the complexity of combination product development.

Alongside these technical considerations, the summit examined sustainability and connected technologies, considering how innovation can support patient experience while addressing environmental impact and cost.

Creating Space for Collaboration

Beyond the technical programme, the summit offered opportunities for professionals to connect around shared development challenges and exchange perspectives across disciplines.

Bringing pharmaceutical and device expertise together created a setting for discussions that linked scientific understanding, engineering practice and regulatory considerations. These exchanges formed an important part of the summit’s purpose: supporting collaboration between the teams responsible for developing medicines and the systems used to deliver them.

Thank You to Our Speakers and Moderators

We sincerely thank all speakers and moderators who contributed their knowledge, experience and time to the seventh edition.

Your contributions helped connect the programme’s scientific and technical themes with practical development questions. Your willingness to share perspectives and guide discussions supported a valuable exchange of expertise across the combination products community.

Thank You to Our Sponsors and Attendees

We also extend our appreciation to all sponsors and partners for supporting the summit and contributing to an environment where industry professionals could explore technologies, exchange ideas and discuss development needs.

To our attendees, thank you for joining us in Berlin and bringing your experience, questions and perspectives to the event. Your participation was an essential part of the conversations and connections that shaped the two days.

Building on the Berlin Edition

The seventh edition highlighted the importance of early integration, cross-functional collaboration and patient-focused design in drug-device combination product development.

From establishing device specifications and demonstrating performance to navigating regulatory requirements and exploring sustainable technologies, the programme reflected the range of expertise required to advance integrated drug delivery.

We look forward to continuing these conversations and bringing the combination products community together for future editions.

Thank you to our speakers, moderators, sponsors, partners and attendees for contributing to the 7th Drug-Device Combination Products Summit in Berlin.

Etapa Pharma Team

7th Drug-Device Combination Products Summit
September 24–25, 2025 | Berlin, Germany