Attending PTMC 2026: Why Formulation Strategy Matters

By Dr. Bastian Arlt. Attending PTMC 2026 in Lisbon is more than adding another conference to the calendar. For me, it is an opportunity to connect product thinking with scientific development, regulation, manufacturing and real market needs.

PTMC 2026 takes place on September 10–11 at the Academia das Ciências de Lisboa. The eighth international conference brings together experts, policymakers and industry leaders. The event also has an intentionally intimate format, with participation limited to 250 people.

As a product manager, that combination interests me.

From active ingredients to better products

The development of cannabinoid-based medicines raises a familiar product question: how do we turn an active ingredient into a product that patients and healthcare professionals can actually use effectively?

Dronabinol and CBD provide good examples. Both have attracted significant scientific and commercial interest. However, the active ingredient represents only one part of the product proposition.

The formulation can make a major difference.

For example, oral dosage formulations can influence administration, patient experience and the overall product profile. Furthermore, an extended release profile may offer opportunities where controlled drug exposure could support a specific therapeutic objective.

That leads to an important product development question: what problem are we solving through the formulation?

Why oral dosage formulations deserve attention

Oral administration offers practical advantages. Yet, formulation design can become complex when developers seek consistent performance, stability and predictable drug release.

Therefore, oral dosage formulations require more than selecting an appropriate active pharmaceutical ingredient.

Developers must consider factors such as:

• Dose and dosing frequency
• Bioavailability
• Release characteristics
• Patient adherence
• Manufacturing feasibility
• Stability and shelf life
• Regulatory requirements
• Cost and scalability

An extended release profile could become particularly interesting when the product strategy focuses on convenience and differentiated patient value.

However, the technology needs to support a genuine clinical or patient benefit. Otherwise, formulation complexity may simply increase cost without creating sufficient value.

Modified release solutions and women’s health

One topic on the PTMC 2026 programme particularly caught my attention: women’s health and wellness economics. The session will explore areas including chronic pain, endometriosis, menopause and gynaecological disorders.

This creates an interesting intersection with formulation development.

Modified release solutions for women health applications could potentially support more patient-centred product concepts. Yet, the development strategy should start with the unmet need rather than the technology.

In other words, we should ask what patients need first. Then, we can determine whether a modified release approach provides a meaningful answer.

This product mindset matters because formulation innovation should solve a defined problem.

Science, regulation and commercial reality

PTMC 2026 also puts strong emphasis on the connection between science, regulation and industry. The programme addresses clinical practice, prescribing, supply-chain efficiency, EU-GMP operations, market development and policy.

For product managers, this broader perspective is valuable.

A technically impressive formulation still needs a viable development pathway. Likewise, a commercially attractive product needs credible evidence and a regulatory strategy.

Therefore, product development sits at the intersection of several disciplines.

The questions become practical:

• What evidence supports the product?
• Can we manufacture it consistently?
• Can we scale production?
• Will healthcare professionals understand its value?
• Does the formulation provide a meaningful advantage?
• And finally, can the business defend that advantage?

What I want to take away from PTMC 2026

Attending PTMC 2026 gives me the opportunity to listen to different perspectives and challenge some of my own assumptions.

I am particularly interested in the relationship between formulation technology and product strategy. Dronabinol, CBD, oral dosage formulations and extended release profiles are not simply technical topics. They can become important parts of a broader product proposition.

At the same time, women’s health offers an important reminder. Product innovation should begin with real patient needs.

Ultimately, good product management connects science with purpose.

That is what I hope to explore in Lisbon: how better evidence, smarter formulation strategies and stronger product thinking can create solutions with genuine value.

And, of course, the best insights often come from the conversations between the sessions. 🇵🇹

PTMC 2026 official website