Pearls of Wisdom

Sunday, July 23
What can you expect during a Pearls of Wisdom discussion – just about anything! Controversial topics, outrageous points-of-view, and audience participation are guaranteed. The debates kick-off with the presentation of a motion and evidence to support the motion. This is followed by the opponent of the motion presenting counter evidence. Once the presenters conclude, the floor is open.

• Bioactive Materials

  Sunday, July 23
  Topic: Gastroretentive Systems: Can It Be Done or Can It Not Be Done
  Moderator: Sevda Senel, Hacettepe University, Turkey
  Pro Presenter: Amnon Hoffman, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
  Con Presenter: Werner Weitschies, Ernst Moritz Arndt-Universitat Greifswald, Germany

  Gastroretentive systems are designed to provide continuous/controlled delivery of the drug to the stomach and upper parts of the GI tract and, hence, improve the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs with anarrow absorption window. Although many approaches are being used currently at different stages of development and clinical use, achieving prolonged gastroretentivity remains challenging. This session will embrace a lively and interactive debate on gastroretentive systems.

• Consumer & Diversified Products

  Sunday, July 23
  Topic: Formulation Development is More Art Than Science
  Moderator: Irwin Jacobs, Particle & Coating Technologies, Inc., U.S.A.
  Pro Presenter: Jack Burger, Quest International, The Netherlands
  Con Presenter: Claudio Ortiz, Colgate Palmolive, U.S.A.

  The Formulation Development Is More Art Than Science session is a debate involving the role of experimental design based on knowledge of chemical properties and process fundamentals versus intuition and experience, as well as some fundamental understanding, especially in light of cost and time constraints in today’s research environment.

• Local Chapters (UKI CRS)

  Sunday, July 23
  Topic: The Death of Innovation - Big Pharma Guilty!
  Moderator: Yvonne Perrie, Aston University, U.K.
  Pro Presenter: William Dawson, BIONET, U.K.
  Con Presenter: Gino Martini, Glaxo Smith Kline, U.K.

  The large pharmaceutical industry stands accused of stifling innovation and showing disinterest in supporting novel ideas, preferring to stick with standard low-risk drugformulations and systems. Don’t biotechs and start-ups leavethem standing? Are they guilty, or are they the true innovators, since only big pharma can genuinely considerbringing important medicines all the way through topatients?