Nominations are now open for The Medicine Maker’s Power List 2026 – our annual feature which celebrates inspiring individuals who are shaping the present and future of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical development. We invite professionals across the industry to put forward colleagues, collaborators, or mentors whose work is making a meaningful difference in the field.
The Power List has become a well-recognized fixture in the pharmaceutical calendar, profiling scientists, engineers, business leaders, and innovators whose contributions are helping to advance the discovery, development, manufacture, and delivery of medicines.
The nomination form is available here. Nominees can come from any part of the value chain, including but not limited to: academic research, commercial R&D, process development, manufacturing operations, quality control, regulatory affairs, vendors, consultancies, and executive leadership. The individual should be considered a true inspirational and influential professional in the field – perhaps through publishing research, collaborating with societies, participating in working groups, or other key contributions to the field.
Names on the 2025 list included:
Kiran-Mazumdar-Shaw (Group Chairperson, Biocon Biologics): “From the outset, I was driven with the purpose to harness the power of science to create meaningful benefits for society. I was inspired to work in drug development because I saw first-hand the stark inequities in global healthcare as life-saving medicines were often out of reach for those who needed them most. This was unacceptable to me.”
Kevin Kreutter (Senior Vice President, Drug Discovery, Empress Therapeutics): “My uncle gave me a microscope when I was 12, and the rest is history. I became a science fair kid and never looked back. Years later, it has been a real privilege to give back as a science fair organizer and to give talks in classrooms on drug discovery. Just sharing a bit of the excitement of discovery and the scientific method goes a long way. Everyone, from kindergarten up, can understand how important this work is.”
Charlotte Alleron (Head of Preclinical and Translational Research, Pfizer): “We need to paint a compelling picture of the transformational impact that talented scientists can have on addressing the world's greatest healthcare challenges. This will inspire people to join and make a real difference. There is also tremendous opportunity in drug discovery to continue to advance specific scientific disciplines, and to publish, teach, and push the boundaries of the field.”
To ensure balance across the major modalities in drug development, the final list will be divided into three categories: traditional small molecule drug development, biopharmaceuticals, and cell and gene therapies. If you are unsure which category is the best fit for your nomination, pick the one you think matches best and our judging team will move them to a more appropriate category if necessary.
Nominations will close in early 2026, with the final list published in April. Questions? Contact stephanie.vine@conexiant.com.
Since its launch, the Power List has aimed to showcase not only technical excellence but also the collaboration and vision that drive progress in drug development. Check out some of the inspiring interviews and amazing stories featuring previous Power Listers below.
Advancing CAR T and translational research, with John Maher
From refugee to biotech CEO, with Stella Vnook
Taking sustainability to heart, with Hanns-Christian Mahler
From master brewer to amazing medicine maker, with Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
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