Powder to patient: revolutionizing pharmaceutical development through advanced characterization & AI
Johny Berthels, Principal Formulation and Process Scientist – Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine
Johny Bertels holds a Master of Science degree in Industrial Chemical Engineering from the University of Leuven, Belgium.
He possesses 20 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry and is currently working as principal process andformulation scientist in Pharmaceutical Product Development and Supply at J&J Innovative Medicine in Beerse, Belgium with end-to-end responsibility.
His expertise lies in oral solid development, specifically in tableting science and technology transfer between different sites.
He developed and co-developed multiple new oral solids that are successfully marketed, resulting in various patents.
Stéphane Caubergh, PhD, Head of Sales – Granutools
After a master’s in chemistry in Belgium and Sweden, Stéphane Caubergh received his PhD in Science from the University of Liège, in Belgium, in 2020.
His research background is about the chemical synthesis and physical characterization methods of semiconductor oxide powders for environmental and energy applications.
After his PhD, Stéphane joined Granutools to solve industry challenges involving powder properties and bring solutions to R&D and production. After 4 years as account manager, Stéphane now leads the business activities in Europe and America.
Sébastien Croquet, Global Technical Developer – Roquette
Sébastien Croquet is a Global Technical Developer – Pharma at Roquette Pharma Solutions, where he leads customer technical relationship and pharmaceutical development projects. His responsibilities include supporting product development, coordinating technical studies, and contributing to promotional campaigns.
With over 16 years of experience in pharmaceutical technology, he is specialized in the development of highly functional excipients. During his career at Roquette, he held various roles within the Customer Technical Service department, where he developed scientifically validated solutions and contributed to innovation and research projects. In his most recent role, he led the digitalization of Roquette Pharmaceutical Laboratories, bridging the gap between laboratory operations and digital specialists.
Sébastien holds a master’s degree in Business Development Management from EDHEC Business School and a bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Technology from IMT Paris.
Nicolas Descamps, PhD, Global Technology Liaison Manager, Pharma GBU – Roquette.
Nicolas has an Engineer degree (Master) from Ecole Centrale de Marseille (France) and holds a PhD degree in Powder Technology and Material Science from University College of Cork (Ireland).
In his position (since 2020), he manages the technical part of digital innovation projects within the Pharma GBU aiming at improving customer relationship, laboratory efficiency and competitiveness.
Nicolas was previously managing the Functional Properties Analytical Laboratory (Roquette R&D, 2009-2020) where he acquired an extensive knowledge of the structure/function relationship of Roquette products in their applications.
Steve Flynn – Global Pharma Marketing Lead – Roquette
Dynamic marketing professional with over 15 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, showcasing a proven track record in global marketing, business strategy, and project management. Currently serving as the Global Pharma Marketing Lead at Roquette since 2023, I am responsible for leading innovative marketing strategies for oral dosage forms. Prior to this role, I held the position of Global Marketing Director at Norgine from 2022 to 2023, where I oversaw the marketing efforts for colorectal cancer screening products. My experience also includes serving as the Director of International Marketing at STADA / Britannia Pharmaceuticals from 2018 to 2022, where I successfully developed and executed comprehensive international marketing strategies. My expertise spans B2B marketing, global strategy, business development, and project management, making me a valuable asset in driving business growth and enhancing brand presence in the competitive pharmaceutical landscape.
Filip Francqui, Managing Director – Granutools
Before founding Granutools, Filip managed various businesses for the electronic microscopy subsidiary of Thermo Fisher Scientific known as FEI company famous for high resolution imaging.
Filip started his career working for the Dutch semiconductor equipment manufacturer ASML in R&D.
Filip holds a master’s degree in applied physics from the Free University of Brussels (Belgium) and an MBA from INSEAD (Singapore). He has numerous publications in scientific journals and holds multiple patents.
Aurélien Neveu, PhD, Head of laboratory and applications – Granutools
Dr. Aurelien Neveu research activities mainly focus on the understanding of granular materials and powders at different scales. During his PhD he developed discrete numerical models to describe fragmentation mechanics of cohesive granular materials by taking into account the complex micro-properties of the grains. He then moved to a larger scale to study segregation in gravity-driven rapid flows as well as aeolian transport of granular materials, with huge implications on natural disasters. He is now doing research on powder characterization at Granutools, with numerous applications in pharmaceutical industries and additive manufacturing. He currently holds the Head of Laboratory and Applications position at Granutools.
Christop Portier, PhD – General Manager CESPE – Ghent University
Christoph Portier holds a Master’s degree in Drug Development and an Advanced Master’s in Industrial Pharmacy from Ghent University. He began his academic career as a PhD researcher in the Pharmaceutical Technology group at the same institution. His doctoral work focused on formulation and process optimization in twin-screw wet granulation, resulting in several peer-reviewed publications. Additionally, he co-authored multiple formulation patents in the field of hot melt granulation.
After completing his PhD in 2021, Christoph joined the CESPE platform at Ghent University, whichc focuses on sustainable (bio) pharmaceutical manufacturinng innovations. In 2023, he advanced from Operational Manager to General Manager, taking on responsibilities in strategic alliances, business development, and policy making.
Arnaud Verhaeghe, Marketing Director for Oral Dosage – Roquette
Arnaud Verhaeghe is a bilingual (French & English) global business executive with over 25 years of management experience in life sciences, oil and energy, electronics and chemicals. Currently, he is the Marketing Director for Oral Dosage at Roquette Pharma Division.
Previously, Arnaud took part in the digital transformation at Roquette as the Omnichannel Group Program Leader. At Honeywell, he managed the integration and growth of the Research Chemicals division post-acquisition as the GM of that division.
His tenure at Sigma-Aldrich included roles as Vice-President of Research Chemicals and EMEA Sales Director, where he was key in divesting the Lab Chemicals business to Honeywell and developing a strong European distributor network.
Arnaud’s early career at Air Liquide saw him in various roles, including Financial Controller, Production Site Director, and Branch Manager in South Korea, handling financial control, site management, and sales of industrial gas plants.
He holds an Executive MBA from EM Lyon, executive education from Northwestern Kellogg and INSEAD, and an engineering degree from ICAM.