The winners of the CPHI Pharma Awards 2026 were announced in Milan, honoring companies and individuals who are advancing the global pharmaceutical industry through innovation and meaningful progress. The competition received hundreds of entries spanning 15 categories, such as drug delivery systems, digital transformation initiatives, manufacturing innovations, and sustainability efforts.
Award Ceremony and Judging Process
The winners were revealed on 6 October during the CPHI Celebration, an event that gathered industry professionals, nominees, and exhibitors for networking and recognition. Tara Douga, Events Director at Informa Markets, highlighted the exceptional quality of submissions, emphasizing that “Every year, the CPHI Pharma Awards allow us to recognise the outstanding work taking place across our industry, and the quality of this year’s entries has been incredibly impressive.”
The judging panel is composed of global, independent experts who were carefully selected based on their extensive expertise and unwavering objectivity. Loic Bishop, a Global Change Facilitator at BioPhorum, noted that the submissions reflected rapid innovation and increased collaboration, making the selection process exceptionally challenging for the panel.
Winners Across Key Categories
In the API Development category, MODAG won for its neurodegeneration platform that combines PD DETECT® and Emrusolmin, showcasing significant advancements in therapeutic development. Evonik received the Digital Transformation award for its Self-Driving Labs, which represents a leap forward in laboratory automation. ForgeStop and EM Microelectronic were recognized for their work in secure connected packaging within Drug Delivery, Devices & Packaging Innovation, enhancing product safety and traceability.
The Excellence With Purpose category was awarded to Uzbekistan’s Medical and Pharmaceutical Industry Development Agency for its initiatives to make affordable medicines accessible. SeraNovo’s NanoGlass platform won the Finished Formulation award, while Touchlight’s dbDNA™ platform earned the Innovation Catalyst recognition for its new approach to genetic engineering.
Anemocyte won Manufacturing Excellence for its enzymatic mRNA production process, which streamlines manufacturing efficiency. Almac Clinical Services received Supply Chain Excellence for its work in ultra-rare gene therapy, ensuring timely delivery to patients. Celtic Renewables led Sustainable Pharma Excellence, and AstraZeneca partnered for Sustainable Transformation, demonstrating a strong commitment to environmental responsibility.
Aurigene Pharmaceutical Services won True Partnership Excellence, highlighting collaborative efforts in clinical research. Primogene earned the Start-Up Initiative award for its innovative approaches in pharmaceutical development. Dr. Pauline van der Wijst-Janssen was named Future Leader for her contributions to the industry, while Emma Charles and Anil Okay received the Woman and CEO of the Year awards, respectively.
