Pharma Predictions

Ahead in active pharmaceutical ingredients: "The opportunities lie" in biologics-based drug candidates, and "the innovation is in" emerging or small- to medium-sized pharmaceutical companies.

Ahead in analytical technology: "[Supercritical fluid chromatography] is maturing for analytical and preparatory chromatography."

Ahead in outsourcing: Readers felt that outsourcing, including "mergers," "India and China," and "clinical/biological testing outsourcing," would have a major impact on industry as it allows for "cheaper" costs, "increased flexibility," and "more independent firms." Others felt outsourcing was leading to a "shutdown of Big Pharma manufacturing sites," and job loss.

Ahead in dosage forms: "The [technique] of developing a solid dosage from a liquid version, even though it is very advanced, is still in its beginning stages."

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Ahead in manufacturing: "We hope the [Critical Path Initiative] will speed up approval times." "Pharmaceutical companies need to keep their investigation of new drugs to compensate for the competition of generic drugs." "ICH [International Conference on Harmonization] is now the benchmark for determining regulatory requirements." "The formation of the EP [European Pharmacopoeia] is leveling, but has not leveled, the playing field." And, said another participant, "[The EP] will help the harmonization process... [and] facilitate global drug development markedly."

Ahead in compression technologies: "We are definitely seeing the desire for using APIs [active pharmaceutical ingredients] in combination [for bi- and tri-layered tablets.]"

Ahead in containment: "...There is more awareness of extracting, leaching, and cleaning residues contamination. There appears to be a drive to do real-time surfaces analysis."

Ahead in analytical testing: "More advanced water testing instruments are gaining acceptance in pharmaceutical laboratories."

Ahead in process development: "Green chemistry is openly challenging the best minds to look for greener alternatives to current chemical issues."

See the July 2007 issue for more coverage of the 30th Anniversary Survey.

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