40 Years of PharmTech

This year marks the 40th anniversary of our sister publication Pharmaceutical Technology, and it is our tradition to reflect on how far the industry has come over the past four decades. The global pharmaceutical market continues to grow, but one thing that stands out is the increasing need to balance cost and value. Despite criticisms on Pharma’s ability and willingness to adapt to change, the industry has made manufacturing improvements to meet market demands for cost efficiency while ensuring that product quality is not compromised. 

Anil Kane, executive director, Global Head of Technical & Scientific Affairs at Patheon, notes that the shrinking drug discovery pipeline has led to significant changes in dosage form development and manufacturing strategies. Existing molecules are being evaluated for newer indications in the same or different therapeutic categories, he says. Drug developers are exploring the possibility of combining new drug entities with off-patent drug candidates to produce synergistic effects or other clinical benefits.

Biotech has contributed to the discovery and manufacture of large-molecule drugs and the development of biosimilars, observes Mike Arnold, board chair of the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE). He adds that medicines are becoming more personalized to the benefit of the patient. 

Technology has made a significant impact on the pharmaceutical industry, Jim Agalloco, president of Agalloco & Associates, says. Automation and computerization of systems have reduced manual labour requirements and the potential for mistakes, he says; and data can now be assembled, analyzed, and used in ways not previously possible.

In reviewing the history of contract manufacturing and outsourcing trends, Matthew Moorcroft, vice-president, global marketing for Cambrex, reflects how services and capacities have evolved in response to changing pharma models--from small-scale boutique operations specializing in individual technologies or chemical processes, to the rise of one-stop shops and low-cost providers in India and China. 

These are just some of the trends shaping the industry. You can access the complete content of Pharmaceutical Technology’s special anniversary issue at www.PharmTech.com/PT/PharmTech40

Article Details

Pharmaceutical Technology Europe
Vol. 29, No. 7
Page: 5

Citation

When referring to this article, please cite it as A. Siew, “40 Years of PharmTech,” Pharmaceutical Technology Europe 29 (7) 2017.