The 6th Edition Drug Safety Symposium 2026 – India Chapter, organized by Eminence Business Media, concluded successfully in Mumbai, reaffirming its position as one of India's leading knowledge-sharing platforms dedicated to pharmacovigilance, drug safety, regulatory affairs, and patient safety.
The two-day symposium brought together senior leaders from pharmaceutical companies, CROs, regulatory bodies, technology organizations, and healthcare institutions to discuss the rapidly evolving pharmacovigilance landscape. With artificial intelligence, automation, regulatory transformation, and global collaboration reshaping the industry, the focused on practical solutions that organizations can implement to strengthen patient safety and operational excellence.
The conference was inaugurated with an inspiring keynote address by Dr. Nilima Kshirsagar, one of India's most respected clinical pharmacologists, whose distinguished career has significantly influenced clinical research, rational use of medicines, and patient safety in the country. Her address highlighted the importance of scientific integrity, regulatory excellence, and patient-centric innovation as healthcare continues to evolve.
The symposium featured an outstanding faculty of experts, including Dr. Dharini Bhoopathi (PVPi, Government of India), Dr. Rahul Somani (Alkem), Dr. Rajendra Kasi (Glenmark), Dr. Manoj Swaminathan (Sandoz), Dr. Jamal Baig (MSD), Dr. Greame Ladds (PharSafer), Dr. Devang Patel (Zydus Lifesciences), Dr. Neha Vala (Emcure), Dr. Mayuresh Kiran (Centaur Pharmaceuticals), Dr. Gopal Muralidharan (Pivot Path), Dr. Mangesh Kulkarni (Lupin), Dr. Mukesh Gori (Amgen India), Dr. Vikram K (Bristol Myers Squibb), Dr. Pranjal Bordoloi (Lambda Therapeutic Research), Mr. Chaitanya Kulkarni (Marksans Pharma), Dr. Girish Bassavaraju (Cossett Pharma), Dr. Kabil Kalathingal (Dr. Reddy’s), Dr. Abhay Chimankar (Rhyme Life Sciences), Dr. Vipin Sethi (Biomatrix Healthcare), Sriram Varma (Techsol), Umesh Khadale (Veeva Systems), and Sridivya Palacharla (SafeVig Solutions) along with several distinguished leaders from the Indian pharmacovigilance ecosystem. Together, they shared practical experiences and strategic insights on regulatory intelligence, signal management, artificial intelligence, inspection readiness, medical review, literature surveillance, and the future of Pharma–CRO collaboration.
One of the most talked-about sessions of the symposium was the interactive Signal Management Workshop, where delegates were divided into teams and challenged to step into the role of global regulators. Working on landmark case studies inspired by the FDA, EMA, Health Canada, and the World Health Organization, participants evaluated safety data, literature evidence, media reports, and regulatory information before making benefit-risk decisions. The workshop demonstrated that pharmacovigilance is not merely about detecting safety signals, it is about making informed regulatory decisions when evidence is still evolving.
Reinforcing its commitment to healthcare beyond pharmacovigilance, the conference also featured a special #EminenceHealthAwareness Initiative, led by Guneet Hayer, who conducted an engaging hands-on CPR training session for delegates. The session equipped participants with practical life-saving skills and emphasized that patient safety extends beyond medicines, preparedness, timely intervention, and the confidence to act can make the difference between life and death.
The symposium concluded with a leadership panel on "The Future PV Operating Model: AI, Automation & the Next Generation Collaboration," moderated by Vrushali Negandhi, Research & Conference Head for Drug Safety Symposium. Bringing together perspectives from Pharma and CRO leaders, the discussion encapsulated the key themes that emerged throughout the conference, embracing AI and automation to transform pharmacovigilance operations while reaffirming that scientific judgment, strong governance, ethical decision-making, and patient-centricity will remain the foundation of effective drug safety.
Throughout the conference, delegates also gained practical insights into evolving global regulatory expectations, FDA inspection readiness, E2B(R3) implementation, benefit-risk assessment, real-world evidence, risk management, and operational excellence. Rather than focusing solely on emerging technologies, the discussions emphasized the importance of combining innovation with robust quality systems, regulatory compliance, and cross-functional collaboration.
The success of DSS 2026 was made possible through the support of its valued industry partners like PharSafer, Pivot Path, Techsol, Synapmed, SafeVig Solutions, Vizen Life Sciences, Rhyme Life Sciences, Navatio and 4C Pharma, whose continued commitment to advancing pharmacovigilance education and innovation played a significant role in the event's success. Their participation enabled delegates to explore emerging technologies, digital solutions, and best practices that are helping transform drug safety operations across the industry.
Speaking on the occasion, Guneet Hayer, Managing Director, Eminence Group, said:
"Our vision has always been to create a platform where meaningful conversations take place, conversations that extend beyond presentations and continue long after the conference concludes. 6th Edition Drug Safety Symposium 2026 – India Chapter demonstrated that while technology is transforming pharmacovigilance, collaboration, scientific excellence, and patient safety remain the foundation of everything we do. We are grateful to our speakers, partners, and delegates for making this edition one of our most engaging and impactful yet."
Building on the momentum of this successful edition, the Drug Safety Symposium will continue its journey of fostering year-round engagement through technical workshops, LinkedIn Live discussions, publications, and international editions, including the upcoming 7th Edition Drug Safety Symposium 2027 – Middle East, 8th Edition Drug Safety Symposium 2027 – Canada, and 9th Edition Drug Safety Symposium 2027 – India Chapter further strengthening its mission of creating a connected global pharmacovigilance community.
