Accelerating the Fight Against Chickenpox and Shingles
by Rochelle Runas
This is a case study on Merck’s Vaccine Bulk Manufacturing Facility (VBF) Program of Projects, Overall Winner of the 2012 Facility of the Year Awards.

Why Conduct Pilot Studies for Agitated Gas-Liquid Mass Transfer?
by Gregory T. Benz
This article presents the rationale for conducting detailed mass transfer correlation studies in aerobic fermenters, in order to minimize power consumption in full scale design and maximize the chance of having correctly designed equipment.

Facility of the Future: Next Generation Manufacturing Forum Part I: “Why We Cannot Stay Here” – The Challenges, Risks, and Business Drivers for Changing the Paradigm 
by Mark F. Witcher, PhD, Ruben Carbonell, PhD, Jeff Odum, CPIP, Peter Bigelow, Patricia Lewis, and Michael Zivitz
This article is the first of a three-part series focused on defining the facility of the future required for manufacturing biopharmaceuticals in the 21st Century.

A Science-Based Approach to Selecting Air Filters
by Steve Devine, Sean O’Reilly, Andy Stillo, and Don Thornburg
This article provides an overview of science-based factors to consider when selecting HEPA filters.

Pharmaceutical Engineering Interviews 
George Gsell, President, MECO, Inc.

ASEAN Harmonization on GMP Inspection and Training of Inspectors
by Sia Chong Hock, Robert Tribe, and Dr. Chan Lai Wah
This article provides a progress report on the harmonization of GMP inspection and training of inspectors being led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Automating a Manual Cleaning Program in a Multi-Product Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Operation
by Gordon Leichter, PhD, and John Spohn, CPIP
This article discusses how to implement automatic washing in facilities where manual washing is conducted and provides valuable insight into lessons learned and key considerations in the planning for their future-state process.

Expanding the Process Validation Paradigm and Applying it to the Biopharmaceutical Product Lifecycle from Development to Commercial Manufacturing
by Mark F. Witcher, PhD
This article presents a combination of critical process and product definition issues with a QbD approach to define the Validation Lifecycle Matrix (VLM) used to build a Validation Master Plan (VMP) that guides development of the product through its complete lifecycle.

President's Message: The Year Ahead: New Initiatives to Achieve ISPE’s Mission
by Nancy Berg, ISPE President/CEO
Berg reviews what’s on the horizon in 2013, including surveys, relationship-building, technical study initiatives and new events that will position the Society to become the leading technical organization for professionals engaged in producing quality medicines and pharmaceutical delivery devices throughout the lifecycle.