The Bio-Process Systems Alliance (BPSA), a business unit of the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI), Inc., will begin accepting “end-user” members into the organization. Complete membership information will be available at BPSA booth number 369 at INTERPHEX, taking place March 26-28 2008 in Philadelphia. The upcoming participation of biopharmaceutical and biotherapeutic drug companies completes the business plan initiatives that BPSA set down when it was formed in 2005. Currently, the majority of BPSA’s 44 member companies are single-use component manufacturers, systems integrators, or contract manufacturers. Now, end-users will be accepted as BPSA members, under the umbrella of the SPI, the plastics industry trade association. “Bringing the end-users into the BPSA fold completes the value-chain circuit for us” said Rick Sullivan (Thermo Fisher Scientific), chairman of BPSA’s executive board. “Single-use technology is still in its infancy. But the speed, economy and process flexibility are so compelling that we must now come together to drive the creative process around all that the single-use concept promises for the future. The single use format is destined to help humanity lead longer, healthier lives. I welcome the dialog that adding our friends on the end-user side of single-use will bring. It represents a great opportunity for us all.” “End-user members of BPSA will have every opportunity to participate in BPSA,” commented Kevin Ott, BPSA executive director. “Ultimately, end-users will be actively involved in the deliberation of our technical proceedings, and will be provided a seat on our executive board. They will also have their own information-exchange forum and committee structure within BPSA. Their expertise, coupled with the work that BPSA has already accomplished in the areas of best practice guides for quality tests, irradiation and sterilization, extractables and leachables, and disposal, will add a great deal of value to our future deliberations. The end-users really complete the business picture for BPSA.” Membership fees for end-user members of BPSA are on a tiered scale based on annual sales. Detailed information and membership applications will also be available at the BSPA web site (www.bpsalliance.org), or by calling (202) 974- 5200.
