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Takeaways from the Risk & Compliance Pharma & Life Sciences Conference 2025
By Natasha Martin, Head of Product & Proposition, Ethixbase360
Earlier this month, Ethixbase360 was delighted to sponsor the third annual Risk & Compliance Pharma & Life Sciences Conference, held in London. This was our second year participating in the event, which brings together pharmaceutical and life sciences compliance leaders, regulatory experts, and risk professionals from across the region for a day of in-depth discussions, networking, and shared learning.
Key Conference Themes and Takeaways
1. Agility in a shifting regulatory landscape
Regulation across the life sciences sector continues to evolve rapidly, shaped by geopolitical dynamics, ESG expectations, and new digital reporting requirements. Participants emphasized the importance of globally consistent yet locally adaptable compliance frameworks that allow organizations to respond swiftly to change while
maintaining control. Proactivity remains the gold standard, but agility in a rapidly shifting environment is essential.
2. Reputational risk as a strategic priority
Trust and reputation remain among an organization’s most valuable — and fragile — assets. In an era of heightened scrutiny, a single ethical or compliance failure can cause lasting damage. Building integrity, transparency, and accountability into every stage of product development, manufacturing, and commercialization is fundamental to business resilience. Compliance leaders emphasized the need to communicate what’s truly at stake — companies that stay the course stand to gain the most over the long term. Storytelling also emerged as a powerful tool to engage stakeholders and reinforce the value of ethical decision-making across the organization.
3. Culture as the cornerstone of compliance
Culture repeatedly surfaced as the foundation of any effective compliance program. Policies and procedures alone are not enough; ethical behavior must be modeled by leadership and reinforced daily. A culture of integrity and openness empowers employees and third parties to speak up, supports ethical decision-making, and prevents misconduct before it occurs. In times of uncertainty, ethics and culture remain the north star.
4. AI is here – but what for?
The growing role of artificial intelligence in compliance and third-party risk management sparked lively discussion. AI offers transformative potential and efficiency gains, but human judgment remains indispensable. Adoption is accelerating, with several examples of companies leveraging AI for greater visibility, insight, and scalability — with a strong focus on data quality. Both practitioners and regulators agreed that while AI can serve as a powerful efficiency tool and force multiplier for human expertise, caution remains around its role in final decision-making.
5. The fundamentals of anti-bribery compliance remain constant
Despite shifts in FCPA enforcement priorities, the expectation of ethical business conduct under global anti-bribery laws remains unchanged. Organizations must continue to uphold integrity across all operations.
Managing third-party relationships — particularly with distributors, who can be both growth drivers and sources of risk — remains a top concern. The event underscored the importance of rigorous onboarding, continuous monitoring, and cross-functional collaboration to mitigate risks associated with silos and hidden liabilities.
Globally, regulators are also strengthening cooperation, as seen in the joint anti-bribery prosecutorial task force among the UK, France, and Switzerland — reinforcing cross-border accountability.
Moving Forward
The conference underscored the sector’s shared commitment to collaboration, agility, and ethical leadership in navigating a rapidly changing risk environment. It reaffirmed that strong compliance is not only a regulatory necessity but a strategic advantage for sustainable growth.
Explore more insights on managing third-party risk in our Life Sciences Information Hub. Download our latest Point of View Report and Industry Outlook to learn how leading pharmaceutical and life sciences companies are strengthening transparency, resilience, and integrity across their global value chains.
