How Many Health System Leaders Attend THMA Forums?

When biotech and pharma teams plan their travel and partnering calendars, a top question invariably arises: how many health system leaders will be in the room? This is especially true when considering high-impact events like the THMA (Therapeutic Health Management Association) forums, known for drawing key stakeholders involved in health system adoption and formulary decisions. In this post, we’ll answer that question and unpack the larger themes around executive conference selection, the role of partnering platforms like BIO and LSX, and the intersection of capital markets with health system decision makers—all illustrated with examples from industry giants like Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, and Amgen.
Understanding THMA Attendance Numbers: Who Actually Shows Up?
Industry insiders often throw around headline claims like “over 600 health system C-suite members present” at THMA forums. But what does that number really mean, and is it meaningful for a meeting planner focused on tangible business development outcomes?

What Does “600 Health System C-suite Members” Mean?
The figure typically includes a broad cross-section of health system executives, from CEOs and CFOs to formulary directors and clinical executives. THMA forums focus on engagement with payers, providers, and health systems, so many attendees are involved directly or indirectly in decision-making about drug adoption, reimbursement frameworks, and patient pathways. This scale offers an unmatched opportunity to interface with health system decision makers managing formulary access and therapeutic budgets.
For context, high-profile pharma companies such as Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, and Amgen all send sizable teams to THMA forums, leveraging these gatherings for both strategic networking and product positioning within key health systems. These companies know that accessing hundreds of health system leaders at once is an efficient way to augment their formulary access strategy.
Objective-First Executive Conference Selection
When assessing whether to attend THMA forums, the question should always be: what is the executive engagement objective? This clarifies whether the claimed attendance numbers align with your measurable goals.

Some common objectives for pharma and biotech companies at such conferences include:
Building relationships with health system C-suite executives and formulary decision-makers. Capital markets engagement via curated investor sessions and access to potential funding partners. Securing one-to-one time with health systems for clinical partnership discussions.
By mapping specific objectives to the conference’s attendee profile—including verifying the number of usable health system decision-makers—business development teams can avoid “agenda padding” and spending budget on vanity metrics.
Partnering Platforms and the Power of Pre-Scheduled 1-to-1 Meetings
THMA forums, like many executive health management gatherings, now integrate powerful partnering platforms to streamline meeting scheduling. These tools are game changers for identifying and locking in the right health system leaders ahead of time.
BIO Partnering Platform
The BIO Partnering platform has become a favorite for companies prepping for week-long meeting marathons. Its interface allows participants to:
Review detailed profiles of health system executives and payer representatives well before the forum. Schedule 1-to-1 meetings weeks in advance, eliminating last-minute scrambling. Optimize calendars based on objective-first strategies—e.g., prioritize formulary directors or C-suite individuals from targeted health systems. LSX Partnering Platform
Similarly, the LSX partnering platform excels at securing on-site, tailored one-to-one meetings. Many users report:
Higher-quality interactions as meetings are pre-arranged versus random networking. Ability to balance clinical discussions with capital markets conversations in separate sessions. Reduced time wasted on “panel spam” or vague “networking breaks” with questionable ROI.
For companies like Bristol Myers Squibb and Amgen, adopting these partnering platforms at THMA forums helps transform attendance numbers into actual, measurable meetings with health system decision makers.
Capital Markets and Investor Access at THMA
One surprising draw of THMA forums is the presence of an active capital markets environment. Investor access sessions and curated fundraise presentations offer biotech companies a rare chance to meet potential backers alongside health system leaders.

Consider the example of a recent oversubscribed $5 Million fundraise for PlaqueTec Limited, which was highlighted in the Editor Picks list at the forum. This type of capital raise underscores how these events serve as a bridge connecting innovation, health system adoption, and financial support—all in one place.

The coexistence of investor pitches with health system leaders allows companies to:
Validate clinical pathways with decision-makers while simultaneously showcasing financial viability. Build investor confidence by demonstrating stakeholder buy-in from health systems. Leverage capital raises to accelerate adoption processes through payer or provider channels. Health System Adoption and Formulary Decision-Makers at THMA
Ultimately, the value of attending THMA forums hinges on direct access to the people driving drug adoption. Health system formularies are gatekeepers who can speed or stall access—and their presence in numbers is a critical metric.

The presence of nearly 600 health system C-suite members coupled with formulary directors means a strong cohort to engage with. However, quality trumps quantity; programs with structured agendas that emphasize one-to-one meetings scheduled through partnering platforms yield the highest conversion rates.

Companies like Pfizer leverage these curated meetings to fine-tune formulary discussions, explore real-world evidence needs, and gather insights on patient pathway integration. This targeted approach enables faster decision-making and smoother integration into health systems.
Summary Table: Key Considerations for Evaluating THMA Forum Attendance Key Factor Details Approximate Health System Attendance ~600 health system C-suite members plus formulary and clinical executives Major Pharma Attendees Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Amgen among key sponsors and participants Partnering Tools BIO and LSX partnering platforms used for pre-scheduled 1-to-1 meetings Capital Markets Presence Investor sessions including examples of oversubscribed fundraises (e.g., PlaqueTec Limited $5M raise) Primary Benefits Focused executive engagement, formulary decision-maker access, synergistic capital and clinical discussions Recommendations Use objective-first conference selection and leverage partnering platforms for maximizing meeting ROI Final Thoughts: Getting the Most Out of THMA Forums
Having staffed partnerships and executive agendas for over a decade, my advice is simple: don’t just chase headline attendance numbers or vague “great networking” claims. Confirm how many actual, https://www.biopharmaboardroom.com/news/71/4854/pharmaceutical-conferences-for-executives-in-2026.html https://www.biopharmaboardroom.com/news/71/4854/pharmaceutical-conferences-for-executives-in-2026.html usable health system decision-makers will be present and—critically—secure your meetings ahead of time.

Leveraging partnering platforms like the BIO Partnering tool or LSX platform is essential for putting meeting math front and center. The difference between a worthwhile trip and wasted budget often comes down to how many targeted one-to-one meetings you book beforehand.

When your team aligns objectives—whether it’s formulary access, capital fundraising, or clinical collaborations—with data-backed attendance numbers and partnering platform usage, events like THMA forums can become powerful accelerators for health system adoption and long-term commercial success.