Charm and charmonium physics have gained renewed interest in the past decade. Recent spectroscopic observations strongly motivate these studies. Among the several possible reactions, measurements in proton-antiproton annihilation play an important role, complementary to the studies performed at B-factories. The fix-target PANDA experiment at FAIR (Darmstadt, Germany) will investigate fundamental questions of hadron and nuclear physics in the interactions of antiprotons with nucleons and nuclei. With reaction rates as large as 2 * 10^7 interactions/s, and a mass resolution 20 times better as compared with the most recent B-factories, PANDA is in a privileged position to successfully perform the measurement of the width of narrow states such as the X(3872). PANDA will investigate also high spin particles, whose observation was forbidden at B-factories, i.e. F-wave charmonium states. Original contributions are expected for the ppbar annihilation cross section measurements to open charm, too, for which several theoretical models exist, leading to different expectations. Extrapolations on cross sections and rates with PANDA are given, with evidence on the original contribution that PANDA will be able to deliver in the study of the X-Y-Z-family states above the DD^* threshold.

The physics program of the PANDA experiment at FAIR is illustrated, with a particular attention to the planned activity in the field of the doubly strange systems. The investigation of these systems can help, among others, to shed light on the role of the hyperons in the composition of the neutron stars. The great advantages that can be reached in the field of the charmed systems and nucleon structure by using high quality and intense antiproton beams are also recalled.